Date: 201211
Local time of day: 0001-0600
Location: ELP.Airport, TX
Aircraft: Commercial Fixed Wing
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Taxi
ATC / advisory: Ground ELP
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Captain; Pilot Flying
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Situational Awareness; Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; First Officer
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: Taxi
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued Advisory / Alert
Contributing factors: Airport; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Ambiguous

Narrative: Prior to taxiing after pushback we received a taxi clearance that we believed was 'taxi to Runway 22 via Juliet; hold short of Quebec.' First Officer read the clearance back as stated above. We crossed the approach end of Runway 8 and asked the Controller if he wanted us to jog right and get on Kilo due to the construction we observed ahead on Juliet. The Controller agreed that we should do that and then said 'call me' and gave us a phone number. After the phone call; I became aware that the Controller didn't want us to cross the approach end of Runway 8. I know the airport diagram inset says you must have specific clearance to cross the approach end of Runway 8 but it seemed to us that we had that clearance when told to taxi via Juliet all the way to Runway 22. The approach end of a runway is not 'the runway' and doesn't carry the same AIM required phraseology as 'the runway.' There was and still is some vagueness about all this. For the sake of standardization I think runway approach ends should all be treated with the same 'hold short' and 'cleared to cross' phraseology as runways. At the very least I think El Paso should have some red circle hot spots in this area on the airport diagram.


Second narrative: Called for taxi and received what the Captain and I heard as 'taxi to Runway 22 via Juliet hold short of Quebec.' This is exactly what I read back and even discussed with the Captain that we had a significant distance before reaching Quebec. We began our taxi with a left hand turn out of the gate area. As we began to enter Juliet taxiway we noticed it was closed and immediately stopped. When I asked the Controller for further instructions he instructed us to contact ELP ATC (Ground controllers ELP via phone). Upon landing the Captain called the number and informed me that it was a misunderstanding and we executed exactly as we read back. I was informed by the Captain that the controllers did not mean for us to 'taxi onto Juliet' but ELP Ground ATC would not file a report with FAA/ATC.This area isn't marked as a hot spot; if it is an area of concern then annotate it as such. It is marked on the airport diagram inset not to enter Juliet until cleared; however; if this is to be treated with the same impetus as entering a runway then the instructions need to be as clear; 'Cleared to cross/enter;' 'Hold short;' and expect a read back with call sign.


Synopsis: Air Carrier flight crew reports crossing the approach end of Runway 8 at ELP on Juliet; without specific clearance to do so. The Ground Controller believes that the clearance issued was correct and that the hold bars and airport diagram inset notes should be sufficient warning that clearance is required.