[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 6340]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-241]



[[Page 6340]]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment And Training Administration

[TA-W-52,774]


Weyerhaeuser Company, North Bend, Oregon; Notice of Negative 
Determination on Reconsideration

    On November 19, 2003, the Department issued an Affirmative 
Determination Regarding Application for Reconsideration for the workers 
and former workers of the subject firm. The notice was published in the 
Federal Register on January 2, 2004 (69 FR 117).
    The Department denied Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) to workers 
of the subject firm because imports did not ``contribute importantly'' 
and a shift of production relating to the eligibility requirements of 
section 222(3) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, were not met. The 
workers produced corrugated medium. The investigation revealed neither 
significant increased imports of corrugated medium nor a shift of 
production abroad.
    The petitioner requested reconsideration of the negative 
determination regarding both TAA and Alternative Trade Adjustment 
Assistance (ATAA). In the request for reconsideration, the petitioner 
alleges that workers' separations were caused by the increased imports 
of corrugated boxes and containerboard, the shift of production abroad, 
and the decreased need for packaging and shipping material due to the 
general shift of production of goods abroad. Workers at the subject 
firm as already indicated produced corrugated medium.
    The petitioner alleges that increased imports of corrugated boxes 
and containerboard have reduced the need for corrugated medium. 
Corrugated boxes and containerboard are not ``like or directly 
competitive'' with the articles produced by the subject firm 
(corrugated medium). Corrugated medium is a component of containerboard 
and corrugated boxes. Corrugated medium is a fluted paper product used 
to make containerboard. Containerboard consists of a sheet of 
corrugated medium pressed between two sheets of flat paper. Pieces of 
containerboard are cut and assembled into corrugated boxes. Therefore, 
the imports of corrugated boxes and containerboard are not relevant in 
meeting the eligibility requirement of section 222 of the Trade Act of 
1974, as amended.
    Following the issuance of the Affirmative Determination Regarding 
Application for Reconsideration, the Department contacted the company 
to determine whether the subject company had increased import purchases 
of corrugated medium or shifted production abroad. The investigation 
revealed that the amount of corrugated medium imported was minimal and 
that the corrugated medium at issue was actually part of corrugated 
boxes that were used to ship other products.
    The investigation also revealed that while the subject company has 
facilities outside the United States, the subject company did not shift 
production of corrugated medium abroad, but did shift production 
domestically in August 2003.
    The alleged decreased need for packaging and shipping materials 
caused by decreased domestic production of goods due to overall shifts 
of production of goods abroad was not investigated because the 
decreased production of corrugated medium was not related to either 
increased imports of the same or like and directly competitive product 
or a shift of production abroad.
    While the petitioner requested reconsideration regarding ATAA, the 
Department did not investigate whether the workers are eligible for 
this benefit since they are not eligible for TAA.

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 Weyerhaeuser Company, North Bend, 
Oregon.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 30th day of January, 2004.
Elliott S. Kushner,
Certifying Officer, Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
 [FR Doc. E4-241 Filed 2-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-13-P