Case No. RF272-89618

October 25, 2000

DECISION AND ORDER

OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Applications for Refund

Names of Petitioners:Fairfax Estates, et al.

Dates of Filing: August 26, 1991, et al.

Case Numbers: RF272-89618, et al.

This Decision and Order grants to 9 Applicants refunds in the Subpart V crude oil special refund proceeding. The names of these claimants are set forth in the Appendix to this Decision and Order. Each Applicant purchased refined petroleum products during the period August 19, 1973, through January 27, 1981 (the crude oil price control period).

In the past, purchasers of refined petroleum products could apply for refunds from crude oil overcharge funds collected by the DOE from firms that sold crude oil during the price control period. Statement of Modified Restitutionary Policy In Crude Oil Cases, 51 Fed. Reg. 27899 (August 4, 1986); 10 C.F.R. Part 205. The Office of Hearings and Appeals has established refund procedures for these funds. E.g., Berry Holding Co., 16 DOE ¶ 85,405 (1987); A. Tarricone, Inc., 15 DOE ¶ 85,495 (1987).

The refund procedures presume applicants were injured if they were end-users of petroleum products and were not covered by the DOE's or its predecessors' price controls. City of Columbus, Georgia, 16 DOE ¶ 85,550 (1987). The Applicants in this case are end-users of refined petroleum products. The Applicants claim, based upon estimates and actual records, that they purchased a total of 3,432,761 gallons of petroleum products during the period of price controls.(1)

Each Applicant used these products to operate a business. After considering each Application, we have concluded that the claimed volumes are accurate and a total refund of $5,493 is warranted. The amount each Applicant will receive is listed in the Appendix to the Decision and Order. It is the policy of the DOE to pay all crude oil refund claims that were filed by June 30, 1995, the final deadline for the crude oil proceeding, at the rate of

$.0016 per gallon. We will decide whether sufficient crude oil overcharge funds are available for additional refunds for these and other successful applicants when we know how much money is remaining after all outstanding enforcement proceedings are resolved.

It Is Therefore Ordered That:

(1) The Applications for Refund filed by the 9 claimants listed in the Appendix to this Decision and Order for all available crude oil overcharge funds are hereby approved as set forth in Paragraph (2) below.

(2) The Director of Special Accounts and Payroll, Office of Departmental Accounting and Financial Systems Development, Office of the Controller of the Department of Energy, shall take appropriate action to disburse a total of $5,493 from the DOE deposit fund escrow account denominated Crude Tracking - Claimants 4, Account Number 999DOE010Z, maintained at the Department of the Treasury. The checks for the Applicants listed on Appendix shall be made payable to the Applicants and shall be sent to the addresses listed on the Appendix.

(3) To facilitate the payment of future refunds, the Applicants shall notify the Office of Hearings and Appeals in the event that there is a change of address, or if an address correction is necessary. Such notification shall be sent to:

Director of Management Information

Office of Hearings and Appeals

Department of Energy

1000 Independence Avenue, S.W.

Washington, D.C. 20585-0107

(4) The determinations made in this Decision and Order are based upon the presumed validity of the statements and documentary materials submitted by the Applicants. These determinations may be revoked or modified at any time upon a finding that the basis underlying any refund application is incorrect.

(6) This is a final Order of the Department of Energy.

George B. Breznay

Director

Office of Hearings and Appeals

Date: October 25, 2000

(1)Interested parties were provided with an opportunity to submit comments regarding individual crude oil refund applications. No such comments were filed with respect to any Application considered in this Decision.

Appendix

CASE NO. APPLICANT CONTACT STREET ADDRESSCITY/STATE VOLUME REFUND
RF272-89618FAIRFAX ESTATES C/O UTILITY BILL ANALYSIS72 BROOKLINE AVE.EAST ATLANTIC BEACH, NY 11561413,152 $661
RF272-98832ISOLATEK INTERNATIONAL C/O ROBERT F. DATHE 41 FURNACE ST.STANHOPE, NJ 07874568,350$909
RF272-98835SELIG MFG. CO.OR COX FURNITURE CO., INC C/O ANDY BLEGGI RT. 2, BOX 7, HWY. 74 W. MAXTON, NC 28364253,715$406
RF272-98836FAIRPOINT COAL CO.C/O DENNIS ZACCAGNINI  PO BOX 158 FAIRPOINT, OH 43927 319,570$511
RF272-98837CRAWFORD REALTY CO.C/O ROBERT C. VERONA  4117 OLD WILLIAM PENN HWY.MURRAYSVILLE, PA 15668263,070$421
RF272-98838TUBOSCOPE VETCO INTERNT'L INC. C/O J.F. MARONEY III  2835 HOLMES RD.HOUSTON, TX 77051 210,415$337
RF272-98841W & W LUMBER & BUILDING SUPPLY C/O ROSE L. BISHOP  PO BOX 1 INDIANTOWN, FL 34956 204,116$327
RF272-98844FAIRDALE FARMS, INC.OR E.H. HOLDEN CORP. C/O EDWARD H. HOLDEN PO BOX 30 BENNINGTON, VT 05201 925,648$1,481
RF272-98855S.M. CHRISTHILF & SON, INC. C/O JAY CHRISTHILF  1418 BROADWAY RD.LUTHERVILLE, MD 21093274,725$440
TOTALS:9 3,432,761 $5,493