EXHIBIT 99.A

                                              <El Paso Logo>
News
For Immediate Release


El Paso Corporation Receives Bank Waivers

HOUSTON,  TEXAS, June 16, 2004-El Paso Corporation (NYSE:EP)
announced  today that it has received additional waivers  on
its  $3-billion revolving credit facility and certain  other
financings.  These waivers provide El Paso with an extension
until  August 15, 2004 to file its 2003 Form 10-K and  first
quarter  2004 Form 10-Q.  The waivers provide for  a  29-day
grace period to file financial statements in the event  that
El  Paso  or any of its significant subsidiaries receives  a
notice  of default on any debt or guarantee of debt that  in
aggregate exceeds $100 million.

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.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
- ------------------------------------------------------------
This   release   includes  forward-looking  statements   and
projections, made in reliance on the safe harbor  provisions
of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The
company has made every reasonable effort to ensure that  the
information  and assumptions on which these  statements  and
projections are based are current, reasonable, and complete.
However, a variety of factors could cause actual results  to
differ  materially from the projections, anticipated results
or  other expectations expressed in this release, including,
without  limitation,  the timing of the  completion  of  the
internal review of the reserve revisions, and the extent and
time  periods involved in any potential restatement of prior
years'   financial   results;  potential   impact   of   any
restatement  of financial results on our access  to  capital
(including borrowings under credit arrangements); changes in
reserves  estimates  based  upon internal  and  third  party
reserve  analyses;  and  other  factors  described  in   the
company's  (and  its  affiliates') Securities  and  Exchange
Commission filings. While the company makes these statements
and  projections in good faith, neither the company nor  its
management  can  guarantee that anticipated  future  results
will  be  achieved. Reference must be made to those  filings
for  additional  important factors that  may  affect  actual
results.  The  company  assumes no  obligation  to  publicly
update  or revise any forward-looking statements made herein
or any other forward-looking statements made by the company,
whether  as  a result of new information, future events,  or
otherwise.

Contacts
Investor and Public Relations
Bruce L. Connery, Vice President
Office:  (713) 420-5855
Fax:     (713) 420-4417

Media Relations
Kim Wallace, Manager
Office:  (713) 420-6330
Fax:     (713) 420-6341