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EXHIBIT 10.L
 EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
 STRATEGIC STOCK PLAN
 Amended and Restated Effective as of December 3, 1999




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TABLE OF CONTENTS
 SECTION 1
    
    PURPOSES
    
    
    1SECTION 2
    
    DEFINITIONS
    
    
    12.1
    
    Beneficiary
    
    
    12.2
    
    Board of Directors
    
    
    12.3
    
    Cause
    
    
    12.4
    
    Change in Control
    
    
    22.5
    
    Code
    
    
    32.6
    
    Common Stock
    
    
    32.7
    
    Company
    
    
    32.8
    
    Exchange Act
    
    
    32.9
    
    Fair Market Value
    
    
    32.10
    
    Good Reason
    
    
    42.11
    
    Management Committee
    
    
    42.12
    
    Option
    
    
    52.13
    
    Option Price
    
    
    52.14
    
    Participant
    
    
    52.15
    
    Performance Goals
    
    
    52.16
    
    Performance Period
    
    
    52.17
    
    Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled
    
    
    52.18
    
    Plan Administrator
    
    
    62.19
    
    Restricted Stock
    
    
    62.20
    
    Rule 16b-3
    
    
    62.21
    
    Section 16 Insider
    
    
    62.22
    
    Subsidiary
    
    
    62.23
    
    Total Shareholder Return
    
    
    6SECTION 3
    
    ADMINISTRATION
    
    
    6SECTION 4
    
    ELIGIBILITY
    
    
    7SECTION 5
    
    SHARES AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN
    
    
    7SECTION 6
    
    STOCK OPTIONS
    
    
    8SECTION 7
    
    STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
    
    
    13SECTION 8
    
    LIMITED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
    
    
    15SECTION 9
    
    RESTRICTED STOCK
    
    
    16SECTION 10
    
    REGULATORY APPROVALS AND LISTING
    
    
    18
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SECTION 11
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN
    
    
    18SECTION 12
    
    GENERAL PROVISIONS
    
    
    19SECTION 13
    
    COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 16b-3
    
    
    21SECTION 14
    
    AMENDMENT, TERMINATION OR DISCONTINUANCE OF THE PLAN
    
    
    21
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EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATION
STRATEGIC STOCK PLAN
Amended and Restated Effective as of December 3, 1999
 SECTION 1 PURPOSES
  SECTION 2 DEFINITIONS
  2.1 Beneficiary
  2.2 Board of Directors
  2.3 Cause
 provided, however
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2.4 Change in Control
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2.5 Code
  2.6 Common Stock
  2.7 Company
  2.8 Exchange Act
  2.9 Fair Market Value
 The Wall Street Journal
   The Wall Street Journal
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2.10 Good Reason
        2.11 Management Committee
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2.12 Option
  2.13 Option Price
  2.14 Participant
  2.15 Performance Goals
  2.16 Performance Period
  2.17 Permanent Disability or Permanently Disabled
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2.18 Plan Administrator
  2.19 Restricted Stock
  2.20 Rule 16b-3
  2.21 Section 16 Insider
  2.22 Subsidiary
  2.23 Total Shareholder Return
  SECTION 3 ADMINISTRATION
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SECTION 4 ELIGIBILITY
  SECTION 5 SHARES AVAILABLE FOR THE PLAN
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SECTION 6 STOCK OPTIONS
   Option Price
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Duration of Options
  Exercise of Options
  Payment
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Restrictions
  Nontransferability of Options
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Purchase for Investment
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Termination of Employment
            Death of Participant
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Change in Control
  Deferral Election
  SECTION 7 STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
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SECTION 8 LIMITED STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS
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SECTION 9 RESTRICTED STOCK
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SECTION 10 REGULATORY APPROVALS AND LISTING
      SECTION 11 EFFECTIVE DATE AND TERM OF PLAN
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SECTION l2 GENERAL PROVISIONS
     vice
versa,
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SECTION 13 COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 16b-3
   SECTION 14 AMENDMENT, TERMINATION OR DISCONTINUANCE OF THE PLAN
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EL PASO ENERGY CORPORATIONBy:
    /s/ Joel Richards IIIJoel Richards IIIExecutive Vice President  /s/ David L. Siddall

Corporate Secretary
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