[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 216 (Tuesday, November 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 61132]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29262]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration
[TA-W-36, 202 and TA-W-36,202A]


Thunderbird Mining, Eveleth, and Forbes, MN; Notice of Negative 
Determination on Reconsideration

    On August 11, 1999, the Department issued an Affirmative 
Determination Regarding Application for Reconsideration for the workers 
and former workers of the subject firm. The United Steelworkers of 
America (USWA), Local Union 6860, provided new information regarding 
possible customer import purchases of articles like or directly 
competitive with the taconite pellets produced by workers of the 
subject firm. The notice was published in the Federal Register on 
August 31, 1999 (64 FR 47525).
    The Department initially denied TAA to workers of Thunderbird 
Mining producing taconite pellets because the ``contributed 
importantly'' group eligibility requirement of Section 222(3) of the 
Trade Act of 1974, as amended, was not met. The petitioners alleged 
that imports of steel led to worker separations from the subject firm. 
Imports of taconite pellets must be used as the basis for possible 
certification. The investigation revealed that the major domestic 
customers of the subject firm reported either that they did not import 
or that their imports declined in 1999. U.S. imports of agglomerated 
iron ores and concentrates (other than roasted iron pyrites) declined 
in the first quarter of 1999 compared with the same period of 1998.
    To address the USWA Local Union 6860 assertion that Thunderbird 
Mining customers are importing products like or directly competitive 
with the taconite pellets produced in Eveleth and Forbes, Minnesota, 
the Department conducted another survey of the subject firms' major 
declining customers. The respondents reported that no products were 
purchased from domestic or foreign sources to replace taconite pellets 
in the relevant time period (1997, 1998, and January through April 1998 
and 1999).

Conclusion

    After reconsideration, I affirm the original notice of negative 
determination of eligibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance 
for workers and former workers of Thunderbird Mining, Eveleth and 
Forbes, Minnesota.

    Signed at Washington, D.C., this 11 day of September 1999.
Grant D. Beale,
Program Manager, Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 99-29262 Filed 11-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M