Project Summary

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company (Tennessee), a subsidiary of El Paso Corporation (El Paso) and a major supplier of natural gas to utilities and power generators in the northeastern United States, proposes to develop the Northeast Passage Project (Project) from supply points in Ohio and/or the Gulf Coast to a number of locations throughout the mid-Atlantic, Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey areas. The proposed Project will interconnect with other major pipelines and utilities to provide reliable and economical natural gas transportation service to help meet growing energy demands in the northeastern United States. The Project will provide customers with access to prolific and diverse supplies of primarily domestic natural gas from several key producing basins in the Rocky Mountains and the Gulf Coast. The capacity created by the Project will help meet the needs of both power generators and local gas distribution companies for clean natural gas.

In order to provide transportation service via the Northeast Passage Project, Tennessee will enhance its existing pipeline system by constructing certain pipeline and compression facilities and anticipates acquiring by lease a new pipeline that Tennessee will construct extending from Clarington, Ohio to Atglen, Pennsylvania and to Tennessee’s existing Compressor Station 325 (Station 325) in Sussex County, New Jersey. The new pipeline will include approximately 400 miles of 36-inch pipeline extending between Clarington, Ohio and Station 325; approximately 20 miles of 24-inch pipeline extending from the 36-inch pipeline to Atglen, Pennsylvania; and three compressor stations totaling approximately 72,000 horsepower. To minimize environmental impacts, the new pipeline will follow existing pipeline and power line corridors for much of the route. The initial capacity of the new pipeline from Clarington, Ohio to Station 325 will be approximately 1.1 billion cubic feet per day. Additional capacity can be efficiently and economically added with incremental increases in compression to meet future energy needs. Enhancements to Tennessee’s existing system will include adding a short pipeline segment and compression facilities in Ohio as well as adding looping pipeline to its existing system downstream of Station 325 in New Jersey. The Ohio segment, extending from a point near Cambridge, Ohio to a point near Clarington, Ohio will include approximately 46 miles of 24-inch pipeline and a compressor station of approximately 18,000 horsepower. The looping pipeline beginning at Station 325 will be 30-inches in diameter and will extend approximately 24 miles toward Mahwah, New Jersey. If supported by market interest the looping can be extended to meet additional demand. Please note that mileage and horsepower values are initial estimates that are subject to revision to comply with the regulated siting process that includes a thorough and substantial outreach process.

The pre-filing process encouraged by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) will be used to coordinate outreach efforts with key stakeholders and to receive public comments. Extensive environmental studies will be undertaken to ensure that this proposed Project minimizes any impact to the environment and communities along the route. Tennessee currently estimates that the necessary applications will be filed with the FERC in late 2008. Pending the FERC certificate and other regulatory approvals, construction could commence in 2010 allowing facilities to be placed in service in the fall of 2011. Please note the description of the project will evolve as it moves through the developmental and regulatory review stages.

El Paso Corporation provides natural gas and related energy products in a safe, efficient, and dependable manner. El Paso Corporation owns North America's largest natural gas pipeline system and one of North America's largest independent natural gas producers.

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