UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BEFORE THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.
_________________________________
IN THE MATTER OF
NATIONAL FUEL GAS COMPANY CERTIFICATE
FILE NO. 70-8975 PURSUANT TO
RULE 24
(Public Utility Holding Company
Act of 1935)
_________________________________
This is to certify, pursuant to Rule 24 under the Public
Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended, that the transactions
referred to below have been carried out in accordance with the terms
and conditions of and for the purposes represented by the Declaration,
as amended, of National Fuel Gas Company ("National"), in the above
file, and pursuant to the Order dated February 18, 1997 of the
Securities and Exchange Commission with respect thereto.
On April 4, 1997, the Compensation Committee of the Board of
Directors of National awarded stock options pertaining to 327,070
shares of National's common stock pursuant to the National Fuel Gas
Company 1997 Award and Option Plan ("Plan"), to the following 64
individuals:
Name Number of options granted
J. A. Beck 22,000
R. J. Kreppel 10,000
J. R. Pustulka 10,000
W. A. Ross 10,000
R. J. Tanski 10,000
D. F. Smith 22,000
D. J. Seeley 22,000
W. E. DeForest 22,000
R. W. Wilcox 10,000
C. M. Carlotti 7,500
A. M. Cellino 10,000
R. E. Klein 5,000
J. F. Kronenwetter 5,000
J. D. Ramsdell 10,000
S. Wagner 7,500
R. J. Wright 10,000
C. L. Donelson 2,000
R. J. Grabowski 2,000
B. D. Heine 2,000
M. P. Kasprzak 1,500
R. C. Kraemer 2,000
C. W. Lee 1,320
R. G. Leone 1,000
J. J. Loesch 2,000
G. C. Reming 2,000
T. R. Roseler 2,000
D. P. Rynkowski 2,000
J. S. Smyczynski 2,000
J. Solomon 2,000
W. M. Petmecky 7,500
D. A. Brown 5,000
J. F. McKnight 7,500
E. E. Wassell 7,500
C. H. Friedrich 5,000
R. T. Evans 5,000
B. L. McMahan 5,000
P. M. Ciprich 3,500
L. J. Taylor 1,500
D. L. DeCarolis 2,000
L. A. Giermek 1,000
J. H. Samonsky 1,000
J. R. Banttari 7,500
L. H. Cichowski 4,000
S. B. Gorham 4,000
G. E. Klefstad 7,500
T. L. Atkins 2,500
S. J. Conley 2,000
R. I. Garcia 2,000
J. G. Kadlecek 2,000
D. P. Lovingfoss 2,000
C. D. Mento 1,250
J. R. Rau 1,250
J. L. Wilkins 1,250
R. C. Williams 1,250
T. L. Ransel 1,250
R. C. Fiorella 3,000
J. W. Lesch 4,000
H. T. Rose 1,000
R. W. Sprague 3,000
W. P. Voskamp 3,000
K. A. White 1,250
F. M. Neese 1,250
T. R. Alburger 1,250
C. E. King 1,250
In witness WHEREOF, National has caused this
certificate to be executed this 8th day of July, 1997
By /s/ Philip C. Ackerman
Philip C. Ackerman
Senior Vice President
