[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 97 (Thursday, May 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 31605]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12508]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

[TA-W-35,579 and TA-W-35,579A]


Mitchell Energy and Development Corporation Headquartered in the 
Woodlands, Texas, Operating Throughout the State of Texas and Mitchell 
Louisiana Gas Services L.P., and Operating Throughout the State of 
Louisiana; Termination of Certification Regarding Eligibility To Apply 
for Worker Adjustment Assistance

    On March 24, 1999, the Department issued a Certification Regarding 
Eligibility to Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance for the workers 
and former workers of Mitchell Energy and Development Corporation and 
Mitchell Louisiana Gas Services L.P. (TA-W-35,579.) Notice of the 
determination was published in the Federal Register on May 21, 1999 (64 
FR 27811).
    The certification was based on information supplied by the company 
which the Department concluded to indicate that crude oil production 
was approximately half of total company revenues. The Department issued 
the certification on the basis of increased aggregate U.S. imports of 
crude oil.
    Following receipt of a request from the company that coverage of 
the certification be expanded to include workers not covered by the 
certification, the Department on December 6, 1999 instituted an 
investigation on behalf of workers employed in the following 
organizational subdivisions of the subject firm which had not been 
specifically identified in the certification as covered: Mitchell 
Energy Corporation, Mitchell Gas Services, L.P., and MND Services. The 
Department determined it appropriate to institute a new investigation 
with respect to the three above-mentioned subsidiary entities and that 
investigation was instituted as TA-W-37, 142.
    Following the receipt and review of additional information 
requested by the Department in conjunction with its investigation with 
respect to the subsidiary entities, it was concluded less than six 
percent of revenues of Mitchell Energy and Development Corporation are 
derived from production of crude oil and that such crude oil is in fact 
a by-product of the subject firm's primary activities: the acquisition 
and processing of natural gas and natural gas liquids. Thus, upon the 
review of more detailed information than that initially submitted by 
the subject firm, it was concluded that a certification of eligibility 
to apply for worker adjustment assistance cannot be based upon 
increased imports of crude oil.
    Based upon the additional evidence obtained and in accordance with 
Section 223(d) of the Act, on February 9, 2000, the Director of the 
Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance instituted an investigation to 
determine separations of workers from Mitchell Energy and Development 
Corporation and Mitchell Louisiana Gas Services L. P. (TA-W-35,579 and 
TA-W-35,579A) continue to be attributable to the conditions for 
certification specified in Section 222 of the Act. Notice of the 
investigation was published in the Federal Register on February 25, 
2000.
    The Department has surveyed customers of the primary products of 
Mitchell Energy and Development Corporation--natural gas and natural 
gas liquids--in order determine to whether imports of such products 
contributed importantly to the worker separations. None of the surveyed 
customers purchased imported natural gas or natural gas liquids.

Conclusion

    Upon the review of the evidence it is determined that the 
Certification of Eligibility to Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance 
with respect to workers of Mitchell Energy and Development Corporation, 
headquartered in the Woodlands, Texas operating throughout the state of 
Texas (TA-W-35,579) and Mitchell Louisiana Gas Services L.P. and 
operating throughout the state of Louisiana (TA-W-579A) is terminated. 
The effective date of this termination is May 18, 2000.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 10th day of May 2000.
Grant D. Beale,
Program Manager, Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 00-12508 Filed 5-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M