The Joint Pipeline Office, a consortium of State and Federal agencies, will regulate the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System and other Alaskan oil and gas pipelines in the best interests of the people of the nation and the State of Alaska. Safety, environmental protection, pipeline integrity, and regulatory compliance will be achieved through partnering with industry. All agencies retain their individual authorities, however. A unique aspect of this arrangement is the integration of staff into the various sections. A State employee can supervise Federal personnel and vice versa.
All agencies coordinate activities such as permitting projects as needed.
This was designed to secure full participation by Alaska Natives in Alaska's burgeoning oil and gas industry. This Agreement helped secure a route for the pipeline unencumbered by Alaska Native land selections. A new Alaskan Native Utilization Agreement designed to remedy past under-employment of Alaska Natives on TAPS was signed in October 1995 by the Assistant Secretary of the Interior and Alyeska . The Agreement stipulates scholarships spending, recruiting, placing Natives, mentoring, job counseling, and cross-cultural awareness training. The Agreement was renewed in 1998.