New Mountain Vantage (California) II, L.P. c/o New Mountain Vantage Advisers, L.L.C.

New Mountain Vantage (California) II, L.P.

c/o New Mountain Vantage Advisers, L.L.C.

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National Fuel Gas Company

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Attn:  ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.

January 2, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Reference is hereby made to the Settlement Agreement, dated January 24, 2008 (the “Agreement”), by and among the New Mountain Group (as defined in the Agreement), and National Fuel Gas Company, a New Jersey corporation.  Terms not defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Agreement.

In accordance with Section 4(b)(4) of the Agreement, on January 2, 2009, New Mountain Vantage, L.P., New Mountain Vantage (California), L.P., New Mountain Vantage (Texas), L.P. and New Mountain Vantage HoldCo Ltd. transferred Voting Securities to New Mountain Vantage (California) II, L.P., a controlled Affiliate of the New Mountain Group.  New Mountain Vantage (California) II, L.P. herby agrees to be bound by the terms of the Agreement applicable to the New Mountain Group.

                           Sincerely,

	NEW MOUNTAIN VANTAGE (CALIFORNIA) II, L.P.
	By:	New Mountain Vantage GP, L.L.C., its general partner
	By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
		▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
		Managing Member

cc: Wachtell, Lipton, ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇

     Attn:  ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, Esq.