[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 36 (Tuesday, February 24, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8491-8492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3914]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

[TA-W-52,770]


Tower Mills, Inc., Burlington, NC; Notice of Revised 
Determination on Reconsideration

    By application of December 12, 2003, a petitioner requested 
administrative reconsideration regarding the Department's Negative 
Determination Regarding Eligibility to Apply for Worker Adjustment 
Assistance, applicable to the workers of the subject firm.
    The initial investigation resulted in a negative determination 
issued on November 3, 2003, based on the finding that imports of 
hosiery, spandex tights, pantyhose and trouser socks did not contribute 
importantly to worker separations at the subject plant and no shift of 
production to a foreign source occurred. The denial notice was 
published in the Federal Register on November 28, 2003 (68 FR 66878).
    To support the request for reconsideration, the company official 
supplied additional major declining customers to supplement those that 
were surveyed during the initial investigation. Upon further review and 
contact with these customers of the subject firm, it was revealed that 
they increased their import purchases of socks and hosiery during the 
relevant period. The imports accounted for a meaningful portion of the 
subject plant's lost sales and production.
    It was further revealed that U.S. aggregate imports of socks and 
hosiery increased significantly during the relevant period.
    In accordance with section 246 the Trade Act of 1974 (26 U.S.C. 
2813), as amended, the Department of Labor herein presents the results 
of its investigation regarding certification of eligibility to apply 
for alternative trade adjustment assistance (ATAA) for older workers.
    In order for the Department to issue a certification of eligibility 
to apply for ATAA, the group eligibility requirements of section 246 of 
the Trade Act must be met. The Department has determined in this case 
that the

[[Page 8492]]

requirements of section 246 have been met.
    A significant number of workers at the firm are age 50 or over and 
possess skills that are not easily transferable. Competitive conditions 
within the industry are adverse.

Conclusion

    After careful review of the additional facts obtained on 
reconsideration, I conclude that increased imports of articles like or 
directly competitive with those produced at Tower Mills, Inc., 
Burlington, North Carolina, contributed importantly to the declines in 
sales or production and to the total or partial separation of workers 
at the subject firm. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, I 
make the following certification:

All workers of Tower Mills, Inc., Burlington, North Carolina, who 
became totally or partially separated from employment on or after 
August 27, 2002 through January 31, 2006, are eligible to apply for 
adjustment assistance under section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, 
and are eligible to apply for alternative trade adjustment 
assistance under section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.

    Signed in Washington, DC this 17th day of February 2004.
Elliott S. Kushner,
Certifying Officer, Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 04-3914 Filed 2-23-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P