diff --git a/cime_config/buildnml b/cime_config/buildnml
index 9f1f44b7..ba1bafce 100755
--- a/cime_config/buildnml
+++ b/cime_config/buildnml
@@ -93,18 +93,6 @@ def _create_drv_namelists(case, infile, confdir, nmlgen, files):
     config["samegrid_lnd_rof"] = "true" if lnd_mesh == rof_mesh else "false"
     config["samegrid_wav_ocn"] = "true" if ocn_mesh == wav_mesh else "false"
 
-    # determine if need to set atm_domainfile
-    scol_lon = float(case.get_value("PTS_LON"))
-    scol_lat = float(case.get_value("PTS_LAT"))
-    if (
-        scol_lon > -999.0
-        and scol_lat > -999.0
-        and case.get_value("ATM_DOMAIN_FILE") != "UNSET"
-    ):
-        config["single_column"] = "true"
-    else:
-        config["single_column"] = "false"
-
     # needed for determining the run sequence
     config["COMP_ATM"] = case.get_value("COMP_ATM")
     config["COMP_ICE"] = case.get_value("COMP_ICE")
diff --git a/cime_config/namelist_definition_drv.xml b/cime_config/namelist_definition_drv.xml
index e0680000..ed80ec51 100644
--- a/cime_config/namelist_definition_drv.xml
+++ b/cime_config/namelist_definition_drv.xml
@@ -360,7 +360,6 @@
     </desc>
     <values>
       <value>$MASK_MESH</value>
-      <value single_column='true'>null</value>
     </values>
   </entry>
   <entry id="ATM_model" modify_via_xml="COMP_ATM">