[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 108 (Friday, June 5, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30778-30779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-14987]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration
[NAFTA-02127]


Omak Wood Products Incorporated, Omak, WA; Notice of Revised 
Determination on Reconsideration

    On March 27, 1998, the Department issued an Affirmative 
Determination Regarding Application for Reconsideration for the workers 
and former workers of the subject firm. The notice will soon be 
published in the Federal Register.
    The initial investigation findings showed that the petitioning 
group of workers produced 6/4 industrial shop and moulding grade 
ponderosa pine lumber. The workers were denied NAFTA-TAA based on the 
finding that there was no shift in production to Mexico or Canada, nor 
were there company or customers imports of 6/4 industrial shop and 
moulding grade ponderosa pine lumber from Mexico or Canada.
    The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, submitted additional 
information showing that the workers' firm is a fully integrated wood 
products facility producing soft wood dimension lumber, plywood panel 
products, pine dimension stock and wood chips. Accordingly, the 
Department expanded the petition investigation on reconsideration to 
all workers of Omak Wood Products Incorporated.
    On reconsideration, Omak submitted data to the Department regarding 
the articles produced at the Omak, Washington location in 1996 and 
1997. Findings on reconsideration show that the workers are separately 
identifiable by the production of lumber, plywood, veneer and wood 
chips. Other findings reveal that the primary output at the Omak 
facility is plywood.
    Sales and production of lumber, veneer and wood chips increased 
from 1996 to 1997. Therefore, criterion (2) of the group eligibility 
requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of Section 250(2) of the Trade Act of 
1974 was not met for workers of Omak Wood Products Incorporated, Omak, 
Washington producing lumber, veneer and wood chips.
    Sales, production and employment of workers producing plywood at 
Omak declined from 1996 to 1997.
    The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, asserted that 
increased import competition from foreign made oriented strand board 
(OSB) contributed to worker separations at the Omak Wood Products 
production facility. A survey of Omak's major declining customers was 
conducted to determine if they increased import purchases of plywood or 
OSB. Survey results showed that from 1996 to 1997 none of the 
respondents imported plywood from Mexico or Canada. Some respondents, 
however, reported continued reliance on or increases in import 
purchases of OSB from Canada, while reducing purchases of plywood from 
Omak.

Conclusion

    After careful consideration of the new facts obtained on 
reconsideration, it is concluded that the workers of Omak Wood Products 
Incorporated, Omak, Washington were adversely affected by increased 
imports of articles from

[[Page 30779]]

Canada like or directly competitive with plywood produced at the 
subject firm.

    All workers of Omak Wood Products Incorporated, Omak, Washington 
engaged in employment related to the production of plywood, who 
became totally or partially separated from employment on or after 
December 18, 1996 through two years from the date of the 
certification, are eligible to apply for NAFTA-TAA under Section 250 
of the Trade Act of 1974; and
    All workers of Omak Wood Products Incorporated, Omak, Washington 
engaged in employment related to the production of lumber, veneer 
and wood chips, are denied eligibility to apply for NAFTA-TAA 
Section 250 of the Trade Act of 1974.

    Signed at Washington, D.C. this 5th day of May 1998.
Grant D. Beale,
Acting Director, Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 98-14987 Filed 6-4-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M