DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-58,471

COLUMBIA GAS OF OHIO, INC.
A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF NISOURCE, INC.
LORAIN, OHIO

Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility
To Apply For Worker Adjustment Assistance
And Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended (19 USC 2273), the Department of Labor herein presents
the results of an investigation regarding certification of
eligibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance.
The investigation was initiated on December 7, 2005 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers of Columbia
Gas of Ohio, a wholly owned subsidiary of NiSource, Inc.,
Lorain, Ohio. The workers at the subject facilities are engaged
in accounting processing (i.e. billing exceptions and
irregularities for commercial and residential customers).
The investigation revealed that the subject firm does not
produce an article within the meaning of Section 222(a)(2) of
the Act. In order to be considered eligible to apply for
adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of
1974, the worker group seeking certification (or on whose behalf
certification is being sought) must work for a "firm" or
appropriate subdivision that produces an article and there must
be a relationship between the workers' work and the article
produced by the workers' firm or appropriate subdivision. The
workers of the subject facility do not support a firm or
appropriate subdivision that produces an article domestically
and thus the worker group can not be considered import impacted
or affected by a shift in production of an article.
In addition, in accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act
of 1974 (26 USC 2813), as amended, the Department of Labor
herein presents the results of its investigation regarding
certification of eligibility to apply for alternative trade
adjustment assistance (ATAA) for older workers.
In order for the Department to issue a certification of
eligibility to apply for ATAA, the worker group must be
certified eligible to apply for trade adjustment assistance
(TAA). Since the workers are denied eligibility to apply for
TAA, the workers cannot be certified eligible for ATAA.








Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that all workers of Columbia Gas of
Ohio, a wholly owned subsidiary of NiSource, Inc., Lorain, Ohio
are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under
Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, and are also denied
eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance
under Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 15th day of December 2005.

/s/ Linda G. Poole


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