text_combined: el paso coastal announce merged structure office locations el paso coastal consolidate pipeline staff el paso energy coastal corp announced plans yesterday relocate 1 200 employees retain satellite offices el paso natural gas headquarters el paso tx anr pipeline headquarters detroit mi merger approved ftc expected sometime fourth quarter final decision staff reductions made el paso spokeswoman said companies intend consolidate operations five pipeline systems three organizations collectively led john w somerhalder ii consolidation plan combined company nationwide pipeline system consolidated three regional operations western region consist el paso natural gas company colorado interstate gas company headquartered colorado springs co eastern region consist anr pipeline tennessee gas pipeline headquartered houston southern natural make southeastern region headquartered birmingham al john somerhalder continue executive vice president el paso pipeline group patricia shelton currently president el paso natural gas lead consolidated western region pipelines jay holm currently responsible el paso australian pipeline assets return united states become ceo eastern region reporting holm presidents tennessee anr stephen c beasley james j cleary respectively southeastern region led james c yardley continue president southern shelton holm james yardley report somerhalder consolidation create effective organization el paso pipeline system said el paso ceo william wise upcoming merger coastal create interstate transmission system spans nation border border coast coast consolidation represents highly disciplined approach managing system allowing us strike proper balance customer focus operational efficiency also facilitates company company exchange expertise across system speeds merging separate company cultures companies organizationally merged five pipeline systems remain separate separate tariffs separate names though many back office functions accounting gas control consolidated relocated new headquarters field functions related activities remain current locations addition employees remain el paso detroit locations company ask affected employees whether want considered relocation employees elect relocate given severance packages moves occur first half next year majority plan expected implemented mid 2001 companies announced 16 billion polling interests transaction january see daily gpi jan 19 merger expected accretive el paso earnings per share eps immediately add 5 eps 2001 2002 wise said time merger announcement overall two companies expect 200 million cost savings comparison el paso sonat merger created 100 million savings 600 people lost jobs combined interstate transmission system new company consist 58 000 miles pipeline far pipeline company north america system transport 20 bcf gas existing pipeline infrastructure sole part ownership three new proposed major pipelines including alliance gulfstream independence company also second largest gatherer natural gas united states third largest u producer gas