el paso south mainline shut extended el paso south mainline shut extended u transportation department office pipeline safety ops ordered three pipes comprising el paso natural gas 1 bcf south mainline texas california remain closed extensive tests done ensure safe operate order came wake saturday explosion fire ripped one lines 30 inch pipeline 1103 pecos river crossing near carlsbad nm killing 11 people internal corrosion discovered failed section pipeline ops directing el paso submit corrective action plan ops approval identify areas approximately 330 miles pipeline may subject internal corrosion said kelley coyner head research special programs administration rspa ops prepared statement dot requiring segments three pipelines vicinity pecos river remain closed time department determined pipeline segments safe operate necessary protect public environment prevent similar failure pipeline system plan require inspection assessment repair replacement damaged areas based results tests el paso must develop plan assess integrity remainder 10 000 mile pipeline system ops corrective action order issued late wednesday el paso officials saying day matter hours least one lines back operation one industry source said testing could easily take three weeks month even repairs necessary ops order directs el paso 1 conduct hydrostatic pressure testing lines 2 perform direct assessment integrity pipelines x ray ultrasonic examinations 3 internal corrosion detected failed section pipeline el paso also must submit corrective action plan ops identifying areas approximately 330 miles pipeline may internal corrosion even el paso passes tests ops allows return service three lines subject 20 pressure restriction according coyner restriction reviewed 10 working days may removed upon receipt information factors contributed aug 19 explosion ops authority take actions warranted ops yesterday issued seven page corrective action order permits suspend restrict operations pipeline determined el paso lines hazardous el paso notified order 10 days request hearing held either houston washington dc el paso fails comply part order could face civil penalties 25 000 day case could referred u attorney general appropriate relief u district court according stacey gerard associate administrator pipeline safety preliminary investigations ruptured line 1103 ops national transportation safety board ntsb indicate significant internal corrosion visible failed section internal corrosion may contributing factor line failure possibility internal corrosion lines area safety concern ops order applies 30 inch line 1103 incurred damage parallel 26 inch line 1100 sustained undetermined amount damage pecos river crossing due fire also covers adjacent 30 inch line 1110 whose damages still undetermined lines 1103 1110 built 1950 line 1100 1947 within 90 days el paso required submit ops southwest region director analysis continued safe operation three lines based testing inspection required order related action rep john dingell mi sharp critic ops allegedly lax handling pipeline safety violators process drafting letter agency determine whether failure take aggressive action towards pipelines may created atmosphere led tragedy el paso