[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 217 (Tuesday, November 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63081-63082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30110]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
[TA-W-34,116, TA-W-34,116A]
Tonkawa Gas Processing Woodward, Oklahoma and Delhi Gas Pipeline
Corp., Dallas, Texas; 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 Tonkawa Gas Processing and Delhi
Pipeline Corp. v. Secretary of Labor, No. 98-04-00889.
The Department's initial denial for the workers of Tonkawa Gas
Processing, Woodward, Oklahoma and Delhi Gas Pipeline Corporation,
Dallas, Texas issued on March 16, 1998 and published in the Federal
Register on April 3, 1998 (63 F.R. 16,574), was based on the fact that
criterion (3) of the group eligibility requirements of section 222 of
the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, was not met.
The petitioners request for reconsideration resulted in a Dismissal
of Application for Reconsideration which was issued on April 7, 1998
and published in the Federal Register on April 22, 1996 (63 FR 19,756).
The Department's review of the application for reconsideration found no
new substantial information which would bear importantly on the
Department's determination.
On remand, the Department contacted company officials, both from
the parent company and the subject facility, to obtain (1) information
on the business of Delhi Gas Pipeline and it's relationship with
Tonkawa Gas processing; (2) information on the business of Tonkawa Gas
Processing and the Woodward, Oklahoma facility; and (3) additional
information on production and employment at the subject facility.
Tonkawa Gas Processing is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Delhi
Group
[[Page 63082]]
which was sold to Koch Industries, Inc. in November, 1997. The Tonkawa
Gas Processing facility in Woodward, Oklahoma processes liquefied
natural gases, e.g. Ethane, Propane, Normal Butane, and Isobutane. The
gas processed by the Woodward facility is only gas from Delhi
pipelines. Production at the Woodward facility remained relatively
constant during both 1996 and 1997. In December, 1997, with the
acquisition of the Delhi Group by Koch Industries, an employment
streamlining was implemented at the Woodward facility which resulted in
a net employment loss of one position, a plant operator.
It is determined, therefore, upon further investigation, that
employment declines at the Woodward facility were not as a result of a
decline in production at the facility but rather, were the result of
attempts by the firm acquiring the subject facility to increase
operating efficiencies. Further, declines in production at the facility
subsequent to the acquisition and the net employment reduction were
attributable to a decline in the supply of raw materials (natural gas)
which were used in the production of liquefied gas products at that
facility and could not, therefore, have been attributable to increased
imports of like or directly competitive products. Further, a review of
imports of liquefied natural gases indicates that imports declined
during 1997 compared to the previous year and are less than 10%
relative to domestic production.
Conclusion
After consideration on remand, I affirm the original notice of
negative determination of eligibility to apply for adjustment
assistance for workers and former workers of Tonkawa Gas Processing,
Woodward, Oklahoma and Delhi Gas Pipeline Corporation, Dallas, Texas.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 23rd day of October 1998.
Grant D. Beale,
Acting Director, Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 98-30110 Filed 11-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M
