Committees

NPRA relies on advice and support from the many experts among its over 450 member companies. Our standing committees assist the Board of Directors to meet our goals. With the exception of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors, appointments to the standing committees are made by the President with the oversight of the Executive Committee. Applications for committee membership from member companies are always welcome.

Committee Descriptions

Board of Directors and Executive Committee

NPRA is governed by a Board of Directors, comprised of representatives from each of our regular members. When the Board is not in session, it delegates authority to the NPRA Executive Committee to render judgments and govern the Association. The Board of Directors elects a chairman, seven vice presidents and a treasurer who, together with the immediate past chairman, comprise the Executive Committee. The Board also elects a president to serve as chief administrative officer of the Washington-D.C-based staff and the headquarters office.

Click here to view the Executive Committee Roster

Plant Automation & Decision Committee

The Plant Automation & Decision Committee advises the NPRA Board and the NPRA staff on information technology issues. The committee develops the program for the annual NPRA Plant Automation and Decision Support Conference which focuses on practical experience with the application and management of information technology in areas including process control, modeling, IT networks, and Internet-based applications.

Cyber Security Subcommittee

The Cyber Security Subcommittee advises and assists the Plant Automation and Decision Support Committee, the NPRA Board and Staff on matters pertaining to cyber security and cyber terrorism targeting business systems and/or control systems in the refining and petrochemical industries. It solicits and develops recommendations from NPRA members on these matters and ensures that recommendations receive consideration by governmental bodies and industry groups concerned. It develops programs on cyber security that are presented at NPRA cyber security workshops, the Plant Automation and Decision Support Conference, the NPRA Annual Meeting and NPRA Security Conference.

Environmental Committee

The Environmental Committee provides information and advice to the Board of Directors and NPRA staff on environmental laws/regulations and other matters that affect the operation of the petroleum refining and petrochemical manufacturing industries. The Environmental Committee provides a forum for members to exchange views and discuss their activities in the environmental area through an annual Environmental Conference.

Safety & Health Committee

The Safety & Health Committee advises the NPRA Board and the NPRA staff on the prevention and control of accidents and fires, developments in safety legislation and regulation, and industry safety. The committee also develops the program for the NPRA National Safety Conference and reviews and monitors the annual Safety Awards Program.

Fuels Advisory Subcommittee

The Fuels Advisory Subcommittee provides information and recommendations to the Manufacturing Committee concerning legislative, regulatory, and fuel specification developments and other matters that affect fuel quality and manufacturing. Committee members directly interact with regulatory agencies on fuel-related issues.

Government Relations Committee

The Government Relations Committee includes government affairs representatives from NPRA's refining and petrochemical companies. Committee members meet monthly to exchange information and to strategize on environmental, fuels and facility security issues at both the federal and state levels. The goals and objectives of the Committee are to ensure that the viability of the refining and petrochemical industry is maintained and that its economic importance is recognized as the Congress and regulatory agencies deliberate on industry-related public policy issues.

Labor Relations and Human Resources Committee

The Labor Relations and Human Resources Committee advises the NPRA Board and the NPRA staff on industrial relations-related issues and facilitates the exchange of information among the members of the Association pertaining to industrial and labor relations, human resources practices and collective bargaining in the petroleum refining and petrochemical manufacturing industries. The committee also develops the program for the annual National Labor Relations and Human Resources Conference.

Issues Committee

The objective of the Issues Committee is to establish public policy for the Association consistent with the interests of NPRA membership. It serves as the senior strategy-setting body for the Association. The Issues Committee advises the Executive Committee and assists the NPRA staff on current policy issues important to the refining and petrochemical industries. It reviews, coordinates and develops Association policy that is relevant and that reflects the views of the membership.

Lubricants & Waxes Committee

The Lubricants & Waxes Committee provides advice and assistance to the Board of Directors on fuels, lubricants, and wax matters; develops technical programs for presentation at the Annual Meeting and the National Lubricants & Waxes Meeting; compiles data pertaining to the manufacture and marketing of lubricants and waxes, and arranges for the timely dissemination of this information.

Lubricants & Waxes Statistical Subcommittee

The Lubricants & Waxes Statistical Subcommittee assists the Lubricants Committee in the collection and dissemination of lubricant statistical data; conducts surveys of lubricant sales and refinery capacities, and compiles other lubricant-related statistical data.

Waxes Subcommittee

The Wax Subcommittee leads the effort of promoting and showcasing the benefits of petroleum wax through endorsement of current and new wax uses and technologies to the marketplace. The group also educates the public, media and opinion leaders about the vital role of wax in the marketplace and provides leadership related to the safe handling, transportation and specifications of petroleum wax products.

Maintenance Committee

The Maintenance Committee advises the NPRA Board of Directors on issues related to process plant reliability and maintenance practices. The Committee promotes the exchange of technical information and proven practices on reliability, maintenance, inspection, procurement, project engineering, and turnarounds through the annual NPRA Maintenance Conference and Exhibition, the Cat Cracker Seminar, and the Clean Fuels Challenge.

Manufacturing Committee

The Manufacturing Committee makes recommendations to the NPRA Board on technical developments, federal, state and local laws/regulations, and on other matters that affect facility operations and the products of the refining and petrochemical industries. The Manufacturing Committee is responsible for the development of the technical programs for the Annual Meeting and the Technology Q&A Meeting.

Petrochemical Committee

The Petrochemical Committee advises the NPRA Board, the Issues Committee and NPRA staff on current issues of importance to the petrochemical industry. The Committee participates in the planning, preparation and conduct of the annual NPRA International Petrochemical Conference.

Petrochemical Steering Committee

The Petrochemical Steering Committee advises and assists the Petrochemical Committee on matters of interest to the petrochemical membership and takes action on any issues as requested by the Petrochemical Committee.

Petrochemical Statistics Subcommittee

The Petrochemical Statistics Subcommittee advises and assists the Petrochemical Committee on matters pertaining to the collection and dissemination of statistics on petrochemicals, including trade, production and inventories.

International Petrochemical Information Forum (IPIF)

The International Petrochemical Information Forum is responsible for the development and/or exchange of information of interest to its members to further the well being of the world petrochemical industry.

Subcommittee on Petrochemical Issues

The Subcommittee on Petrochemical Issues supports the Petrochemical Committee's activities associated with federal and significant state legislative and regulatory issues as appropriate.

Science Teacher Education Program Committee

The Science Teacher Education Program Committee (STEP) reports to the Petrochemical Committee and coordinates an NPRA-sponsored teacher orientation program based on a highly successful, award-winning curriculum developed at Miami University of Ohio. In this two-week workshop, teachers explore chemistry and physics using toys and other common objects. STEP is a unique opportunity to enhance a schools' science curriculum through innovative activities that support national science standards. Valuable supplies and books are provided to each teacher as is the opportunity to follow up with instructors and fellow participants once the teacher is back at school.

Security Committee

The Security Committee advises and assists the Board of Directors and NPRA membership concerning security-related practices and policies, standards and guidelines, and regulatory and legislative trends. It solicits and assembles recommendations from members on these matters and ensures that recommendations receive consideration by governmental bodies and industry or trade groups concerned. The Security Committee is also responsible for developing the program for NPRA's security conferences.