[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 235 (Thursday, December 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64538-64539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-30919]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
[TA-W-32,252; TA-W-32,252A, and TA-W-32,252B]


Penn Virginia Oil and Gas Corporation Located in Tennessee, West 
Virginia, and Kentucky; Notice of Negative Determination on 
Reconsideration on Remand

    The United States Court of International Trade (USCIT) granted the 
Secretary of Labor's motion for a voluntary remand for further 
investigation in Former Employees of Penn Virginia Oil & Gas Corp. v. 
Reich, No. (86-06-01612).
    The Department's initial denial for the workers of Penn Virginia 
Oil and Gas Corporation, Kingsport, Tennessee, and the states of West 
Virginia and Kentucky, issued on May 17, 1996, and published in the 
Federal Register on June 6, 1996, (61 FR 28,900), was based on the fact 
that sales and production increased in the relevant period, and on the 
fact that layoffs at the subject firm are attributable to a corporate 
decision to consolidate its operation, subcontracting the production of 
the subject firm to another domestic oil and gas producer.
    The workers at Penn Virginia Oil and Gas Corporation, Kingsport, 
Tennessee, and the states of West Virginia and Kentucky, are engaged in 
employment related to the production of crude oil and natural gas.
    Former workers of the subject firm contend that the determination 
was based on what the company said rather than the actual sales and 
production figures. Also, petitioner submitted reports from the GRI 
Baseline Projection of U.S. Energy Supply and Demand and from the 
Department of Energy projecting increased imports of gas. In addition, 
it was pointed out that a neighboring oil and gas firm, Equitable 
Resources Exploration Company, was certified at approximately the same 
time as the subject firm's layoff.
    Findings on remand with regard to the subject firm's sales and 
production show that the dollar value of natural gas sales increased in 
1995 compared with 1994, and also increased in the first three months 
of 1996 compared with the same period of 1995. Production of natural 
gas, measured in quantity (BcF), also increased in both of the above 
sets of time periods. Crude oil sales accounted for approximately 6.1 
percent of the subject firm's combined oil and gas sales revenue in 
1995. Sales and production figures for crude oil were deemed to be 
insufficiently large to be considered in determining import impact.
    Other findings on remand show that dry natural gas imports into the 
United

[[Page 64539]]

States are relatively low, not exceeding 15 percent of total shipments 
in the last three years. U.S. imports of dry natural gas declined as a 
percent of total U.S. shipments in January to May, 1996, compared with 
the same period of 1995. Projections of future aggregate imports, such 
as those of the GRI Baseline Projection of U.S. Energy Supply and 
Demand, cannot be used in determining import impact under the Trade Act 
of 1974.
    With regard to the certification of workers at Equitable Resources 
Energy Company (TA-W-32,251), the record shows that that certification 
was based on Equitable Resources' increasing corporate imports of 
natural gas in the relevant time period. Penn Virginia Oil and Gas 
Corporation did not import crude oil or natural gas.

Conclusion

    After reconsideration on remand, I affirm the original notice of 
negative determination of eligibility to apply for adjustment 
assistance for workers and formers workers of Penn Virginia Oil and Gas 
Corporation, Kingsport, Tennessee, and the states of West Virginia and 
Kentucky.

    Signed in Washington, D.C. this 22nd day of November, 1996.
Russell T. Kile,
Program Manager, Policy and Reemployment Services, Office of Trade 
Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 96-30919 Filed 12-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M