Project Summary

To address our nation’s growing demand for natural gas and associated transportation infrastructure, El Paso Corporation is proposing the construction of the Ruby Pipeline.

The Ruby Pipeline is a win-win project for natural gas consumers and producers. The project represents an approximate $3 billion dollar investment in new pipeline infrastructure that will connect clean-burning and competitively priced natural gas reserves in the Rocky Mountain region with growing markets in the western United States.

As proposed, the project is expected to include approximately 670 miles of 42-inch natural gas transmission pipeline beginning at the Opal Hub in Wyoming and terminating at a Malin, Oregon interconnect, near California's northern border. The Ruby pipeline will have an initial capacity of between 1.3 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) and 1.5 Bcf/d, depending on the final level of customer commitments. As proposed, the pipeline rights of way will cross a portion of four states: Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and Oregon. Four compressor stations are currently proposed for the project: one near the Opal Hub in southwestern Wyoming; one south of Curlew Junction, Utah; one at the mid-point of the project, north of Elko, Nevada; and one in northwestern Nevada.

El Paso Corporation is committed to being the neighbor to have in every community where we operate. As part of that vision, an environmental audit was conducted in association with the Ruby Pipeline project. The audit identified several key areas for attention: big game winter ranges, calving areas, and river crossings, as well as a number of federally listed protected species. Additionally, we will conduct surveys along the proposed route, including an archeological/cultural resource survey to identify important historic sites, as well as biological and civil surveys. This information will then be analyzed, and where needed, appropriate changes will be made to the route. Additionally, since safe and reliable operations are among our highest priorities, we plan to seek stakeholder and community input throughout the project’s life cycle.

Once the project is thoroughly reviewed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in cooperation with state and federal agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, a certificate of public convenience and necessity can be granted and construction could begin in early 2010. The estimated in-service date is March 2011.

El Paso Corporation provides natural gas and related energy products in a safe, efficient, and dependable manner. The company owns North America’s largest interstate natural gas pipeline system and one of North America’s largest independent natural gas producers. For more information, visit www.elpaso.com or call our toll free telephone number 1-866-683-5587.