HOUSTON, TEXAS, May 24, 2004—Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, a subsidiary of El Paso Corporation (NYSE:EP), was recognized today as an industry leader in safe operations by the American Gas Association (AGA). At a ceremony in Phoenix, company executives accepted the 2003 AGA Safety Achievement Award for achieving the lowest lost time incident rate among very large transmission companies. During 2003, Tennessee Gas Pipeline employees worked more than three million hours and had only six reportable lost time incidents.

"This award reflects our employees' hard work and dedication to ensuring the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas supplies," said John W. Somerhalder II, president of the El Paso Pipeline Group. "Safety is a core value at El Paso, and AGA's recognition demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the safety of our customers, employees, and the communities in which we operate."

AGA has recognized Tennessee's safety achievements 11 times over the past 14 years. In congratulating Tennessee's employees on their accomplishment, AGA emphasized the contribution the company's excellent safety performance has made to the pipeline industry's record as one of the safest forms of transportation.

El Paso Corporation provides natural gas and related energy products in a safe, efficient, dependable manner. The company owns North America's largest natural gas pipeline system and one of North America's largest independent natural gas producers. For more information, visit www.elpaso.com.