[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 21 (Thursday, January 31, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4748-4749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-2344]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

[TA-W-38,424 and NAFTA-4441]


Georgia Pacific Chip and Saw Plant, Baileyville, ME; Notice of 
Revised Determination on Reconsideration

    By letter dated April 12, 2001, the Paper, Allied-Industrial, 
Chemical and Energy Workers International Union, Local 1-1367 (PACE), 
requested administrative reconsideration of the Department's denial of 
TAA and NAFTA-TAA for workers of the subject firm. Workers at Georgia 
Pacific Corporation, Chip-and-Saw, Baileyville, Maine, are engaged in 
the production of softwood dimensional lumber.

[[Page 4749]]

    On March 14, 2001 and March 13, 2001, the Department of Labor 
issued Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility to apply for Trade 
Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and NAFTA-Transitional Adjustment 
Assistance (NAFTA-TAA), respectively, applicable to workers and former 
workers of the subject firm. The TAA and NAFTA-TAA decisions were 
published in the Federal Register on April 16, 2001 (66 FR 19520) and 
(66 FR 169522), respectively.
    The TAA petition was denied because the ``contributed importantly'' 
group eligibility requirement of section 222(3) of the Trade Act of 
1974, as amended, was not met. The ``contributed importantly'' test is 
generally demonstrated through a survey of the workers' firm's 
customers. The investigation revealed that none of the subject firm 
customers reported increased import purchases of softwood lumber 
(dimensional).
    The NAFTA-TAA petition for the same worker group was denied because 
criteria (3) and (4) of the group eligibility requirements in paragraph 
(a)(1) of section 250 of the Trade Act, as amended, were not met. There 
was no shift of production from the subject firm to Canada or Mexico, 
nor did the company import softwood lumber from Canada or Mexico. The 
Department conducted a survey of major customers of the subject firm 
regarding purchases of softwood lumber (dimensional). The survey 
revealed that the customers did not significantly increase import 
purchases of softwood lumber from Canada or Mexico.
    In the request for reconsideration, PACE asserts that there was a 
contradiction in the TAA and NAFTA-TAA decisions, inasmuch as in the 
TAA petition denial, the finding that import purchases by the subject 
company of softwood dimensional lumber declined during the relevant 
time periods, while the NAFTA-TAA petition denial found the subject 
firm does not import softwood lumber.
    The Department concurs with the PACE on this issue. On 
reconsideration, the Department conducted further import analysis. The 
analysis revealed that Georgia Pacific maintained a reliance on imports 
of softwood lumber from Canada and other sources, while reducing 
production and employment at the Chip and Saw Plant located in 
Baileyville, Maine.
    From 1999 to 2000, U.S. imports of softwood lumber from Canada 
increased absolutely and relative to domestic production and 
consumption.

Conclusion

    After careful review of the application and investigative findings 
on reconsideration, I conclude that increased imports, including those 
from Canada of articles like or directly competitive with softwood 
lumber, contributed importantly to the decline in sales or production 
and to the total or partial separation of workers of the subject firm. 
In accordance with the provisions of the Trade Act, I make the 
following certification:

    All workers of Georgia Pacific, Chip and Saw Plant, Baileyville, 
Maine, engaged in employment related to the production of softwood 
lumber, who became totally or partially separated from employment on 
or after December 2, 1999, through two years from issuance of the 
revised determination, are eligible to apply for adjustment 
assistance under section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974; and
    All workers of Georgia Pacific, Chip and Saw Plant, Baileyville, 
Maine, engaged in employment related to the production of softwood 
lumber, who became totally or partially separated from employment on 
or after January 2, 2000, 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 9th day of January 2002.
Edward A. Tomchick,
Director, Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 02-2344 Filed 1-30-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M