[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 119 (Monday, June 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 33957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16549]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration
[TA-W-34,188 and NAFTA-02140]


Badger Paper Mills, Incorporated, Peshtigo, WI; Notice of Revised 
Determination on Reconsideration

    On March 2, 1998, the Department issued Negative Determinations 
Regarding Eligibility to apply for TAA and NAFTA-TAA, applicable to 
workers and former workers of Badger Paper Mills, Incorporated located 
in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. The notices were published in the Federal 
Register on March 23, 1998 (63 FR 13878) and (63 FR 13879), 
respectively.
    By letter of March 27, 1998, the petitioners requested 
administrative reconsideration regarding the Department's denial of TAA 
and NAFTA-TAA for workers of the subject firm. Workers at Badger Paper 
Mills, Incorporated are engaged in employment related to the production 
of commercial business paper and twisting papers for candies and gum. 
The petitioners claim that the investigations were lacking in substance 
in that the Department did not examine paper grade, pricing or 
competition. Price and marketing practices by domestic competitors 
would not form the basis for a worker group certification under the 
Trade Act of 1974, as amended.
    One of the findings in the original TAA and NAFTA-TAA negative 
determinations for workers of Badger Paper Mills, Incorporated was that 
the subject firm exported a majority of their products, and thus, were 
not import impacted. The petitioners requesting reconsideration, 
however, presented evidence that some of the commercial paper customers 
decreasing purchases were domestic customers.
    On reconsideration, the Department obtained additional information 
regarding the output at the Peshtigo plant and the major declining 
domestic customers. The primary output at Badger Paper Mills in 1996 
and 1997 was commercial business paper.
    On reconsideration, the Department conducted a survey of the 
domestic customers reducing purchases of commercial business paper from 
the subject firm. The customers reported continued or increasing 
reliance on import purchases of commercial business paper from Mexico 
or Canada.
    Other findings on reconsideration show that the workers at the 
subject firm are interchangeable among the product lines. Accordingly, 
the Department recognizes that the worker separations resulting from 
increased imports of commercial business paper indirectly affected the 
workers producing of twisting papers for candies and gum. Workers at 
Badger Paper Mills, Incorporated that formerly produced pulp at the 
Peshtigo location are covered under TA-W-32,366 until the expiration 
date of June 17, 1998, and are therefore, excluded from this finding.

Conclusion

    After careful review of the additional facts obtained on 
reconsideration, I conclude there were increased imports from foreign 
sources, including Mexico or Canada, of articles like or directly 
competitive with those produced by the subject firm. In accordance with 
the provisions of the Trade Act, I make the following certification:

    All workers of Badger Paper Mills, Incorporated, Peshtigo, 
Wisconsin engaged in employment related to the production of 
commercial business paper and twisting papers for candies and gum 
who became totally or partially separated from employment on or 
after January 19, 1997 through two years from the issuance of this 
revised determination are eligible to apply for adjustment 
assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974; and
    All workers of Badger Paper Mills, Incorporated, Peshtigo, 
Wisconsin engaged in employment related to the production of 
commercial business paper and twisting papers for candies and gum 
who became totally or partially separated from employment on or 
after January 16, 1997 through two years from the issuance of this 
revised determination are eligible to apply for NAFTA-TAA under 
Section 250 of the Trade Act of 1974.

    Signed in Washington, DC this 3rd day of June 1998.
Grant D. Beale,
Acting Director, Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 98-16549 Filed 6-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M