Merging U.S., Canadian arctic areas considered. (Arctic National wildlife Refuge, Alaska, Vunntut and Ivvavik Canadian National Parks)

The Natural Gas Supply Association has urged the U.S. gas industry and its regulators to include mutual assistance agreements in their contingency plans.

Linda Burns, chairman of NGSA's state regulatory affairs committee, said, "Advance agreements can assure that customers like residences and hospitals get gas if an emergency strikes."

NGSA urges cooperation and communication between industry participants to solve unexpected gas shortfalls. The group cites recommendations, including mutual assistance agreements, as workable substitutes for federal rules that permit interstate pipelines to divert gas to top priority customers.

Mutual assistance …