Form U-12(1)-B                         30,303-3

                [P. 40.465] FORM U-12(1)-B (THREE-YEAR STATEMENT)

        [Effective August 1, 1938: revised December 31, 1941: amended in
                   Release No. 35.25746 (P. 85.116), effective
        April 26, 1993, 58 FR 14999; and Release No. 35-26031 (P. 85.337)
                     effective May 31, 1994, 59 F.R. 21922.]

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                                Washington, D.C.

                          Three year period ending 1999

                      FORM U-12(I)-B (THREE YEAR STATEMENT)

              Statement Pursuant to Section 12(i) of Public Utility
           Holding Company Act of 1935 by a Person Regularly Employed
                      or Retained by a Registered Holding
              Company or a Subsidiary Thereof and Whose Employment
          Contemplates Only Routine Expenses as Specified in Rule 71(b)
  (To be filed in DUPLICATE. If acknowledgment is desired, file in triplicate)

              [See instructions on back of this form (P. 40,470).]

         1.  Name and business address of person filing statement.
James S. Smyczynski, 10 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, New York 14203
         2.  Names  and  business  addresses  of any  persons  through  whom the
undersigned proposes to act in matters included within the exemption provided by
paragraph (b) of Rule U-71. N/A
         3.  Registered  holding companies and subsidiary companies by which the
undersigned is regularly employed or retained.  National Fuel Gas Company;
National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation; National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation
         4.  Position or  relationship  in which the undersigned  is employed or
retained  by each of the  companies  named in item 3, and brief  description  of
nature of services to be rendered in each such position or relationship.
General Manager of Financial Accounting - Perform accounting duties and act as
a witness on accounting matters.
         5.  (a)  Compensation received during the current year and estimated to
be  received  over the next two  calendar  years by the  undersigned  or others,
directly or indirectly,  for services rendered by the undersigned,  from each of
the companies  designated in item 3. (Use column (a) as supplementary  statement
only.) [Amended in Release No. 35-26031 (P. 85.337),  effective May 31, 1994, 59
F.R. 21922.]
                            Salary or other
                             compensations
                       ------------------------
Name of recipient      received         to be        Person or company from whom
                                       received      received or to be received
                         (a)              (b)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       1997      1998      1999
                       ----      ----      ----
James S. Smyczynski  $109,600  $119,000  $123,000    National Fuel Gas
                                                     Distribution Corporation
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

             (b)  Basis for compensation if other than salary.  Salary, plus
taxable fringe benefits.
         6.  (To be answered in supplementary statement only. See instructions.)
Expenses  incurred  by the  undersigned  or any person  named in item 2,  above,
during the calendar year in connection with the activities  described in item 4,
above, and the source or sources of reimbursement for same.
             (a)  Total amount of routine expenses charged to client: $ N/A
                                                                       --------
             (b)  Itemized list of all other expenses:  No other expenses.

Date  1/19/98                        (Signed)  /s/ James S. Smyczynski
     ------------------------                 ---------------------------------

         Section  12(i)  of the  Public  Utility  Holding  Company  Act of  1935
provides  that it shall be unlawful  for any person  employed or retained by any
registered  holding  company,  or any subsidiary  company  thereof,  to present,
advocate,  or oppose any matter affecting any registered  holding company or any
subsidiary  company  thereof,  before the  Congress  or any Member or  committee
thereof,  or before the Commission or Federal Power  Commission,  or any member,
officer,  or employee of either such Commission,  unless appropriate reports are
filed as the Commission may prescribe.