DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-38,098

BURLINGTON RESOURCES OIL & GAS
MID CONTINENT - ROCKIES
SIDNEY, MONTANA

Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility
To Apply For Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
USC 2273) as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act
of 1988 (P. L. 100-418), the Department of Labor herein presents
the results of an investigation regarding certification of eligi-
bility to apply for worker adjustment assistance.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance,
each of the group eligibility requirements of Section 222 of the
Act must be met:
(1) that a significant number or proportion of the workers
in the workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision
thereof, have become totally or partially separated, or
are threatened to become totally or partially
separated;

(2) that sales or production, or both, of the firm or
subdivision have decreased absolutely; and

(3) that increases of imports of articles like or directly
competitive with articles produced by the firm or
appropriate subdivision have contributed importantly to
the separations, or threat thereof, and to the absolute
decline in sales or production.


The investigation was initiated on September 18, 2000 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Burlington
Resources Oil & Gas, Mid Continent - Rockies, Sidney, Montana.
The workers are engaged in employment related to the production
of crude oil and natural gas.
This investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
The Department examined the most recent statistics available
for the oil and gas industry. In the latest twelve-month period,
July through June of 1999 and 2000, aggregate U.S. imports of
both natural gas and crude oil declined absolutely and relative
to domestic shipments.
A denial determination was recently issued for the same
worker group petitioning for NAFTA Transitional Adjustment
Assistance, NAFTA-4131.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that workers of Burlington
Resources Oil & Gas, Mid Continent - Rockies, Sidney, Montana are
denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under
Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 29th day of November, 2000.


/s/ Linda G. Poole

LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance