[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 114 (Thursday, June 14, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 32914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-11479]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

[TA-W-60,876; TA-W-60,876B]


Armstrong Wood Products, Inc., Armstrong Hardwood Flooring 
Company, Parquet Flooring Department, Oneida, Tennessee; Armstrong Wood 
Products, Inc., Armstrong Hardwood Flooring Company, Pattern Plus 
Flooring Department, Oneida, TN; Notice of Revised Determination on 
Reconsideration

    On May 2, 2007, the Department of Labor (Department) issued an 
Affirmative Determination Regarding Application for Reconsideration of 
the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Alternative Trade Adjustment 
Assistance (ATAA) petition filed on behalf of workers and former 
workers of Armstrong Wood Products, Inc., Armstrong Hardwood Flooring 
Company, Pattern Plus Flooring Department, Oneida, Tennessee (TA-W-
60,876B). The Notice of affirmative determination was published in the 
Federal Register on May 9, 2007 (72 FR 26425). Workers covered by TA-W-
60,876B produce Pattern Plus flooring, a variety of hardwood flooring.
    The request for reconsideration alleged that Armstrong Wood 
Products, Inc., Armstrong Hardwood Flooring Company, Oneida, Tennessee 
(the subject firm) increased its imports of hardwood flooring.
    On March 28, 2007, the Department issued a TAA/ATAA certification 
for workers of Armstrong Wood Products, Inc., Armstrong Hardwood 
Flooring Company, Solid Strip Flooring Department, Oneida, Tennessee 
(TA-W-60,876C). Solid Strip is a type of hardwood flooring produced by 
the subject firm.
    During the reconsideration investigation, the Department confirmed 
that the subject firm increased imports of hardwood flooring following 
a shift of production abroad. The Department also received new 
information on the subject firm's organization and operation, as well 
as information on the various types of hardwood flooring produced by 
the subject firm.
    The new information confirmed that workers at the subject firm are 
separately identifiable by product line and revealed that the three 
types of hardwood flooring produced by the subject firm are essentially 
the same. Each type of flooring is made from hardwood (parquet 
comprises of small pieces of hardwood, solid strip comprises of long 
strips of solid hardwood, and Pattern Plus comprises of large sheets of 
engineered hardwood) and each type serves the same function--covering 
the floor.
    The Department determines that the types of hardwood flooring 
produced at the subject firm are like and directly competitive with 
each other. As such, the Department conducted a reconsideration 
investigation of TA-W-60,876 (parquet flooring) as well as TA-W-60,876B 
(Pattern Plus).

TA-W-60,876

    The number of workers producing parquet flooring at the subject 
firm declined in 2006 from 2005 numbers, and sales and production 
levels of parquet flooring declined in 2006 from 2005 levels. The 
subject firm increased imports of articles like and directly 
competitive with parquet flooring produced by the subject workers.

TA-W-60,876B

    The number of workers producing Pattern Plus flooring at the 
subject firm declined in 2006 from 2005 numbers, and sales and 
production levels of Pattern Plus flooring declined in 2006 from 2005 
levels. The subject firm increased imports of articles like and 
directly competitive with Pattern Plus flooring produced by the subject 
workers.
    In accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of 1974 (26 U.S.C. 
2813), as amended, the Department herein presents the results of its 
investigation regarding certification of eligibility to apply for ATAA. 
The Department has determined in this case that the group eligibility 
requirements of Section 246 have been met by the worker groups covered 
by TA-W-60,876 and TA-W-60,876B.
    In both TA-W-60,876 and TA-W-60,876B, a significant number of 
workers at the firm are age 50 or over and possess skills that are not 
easily transferable. Further, in both cases, competitive conditions 
within the industry are adverse.

Conclusion

    After careful review of the information obtained in the 
reconsideration investigation, I determine that the subject firm 
increased imports of articles like or directly competitive with 
hardwood flooring produced by the subject worker groups following a 
shift of production abroad. In accordance with the provisions of the 
Trade Act of 1974, as amended, I make the following certification:

    All workers of Armstrong Wood Products, Inc., Armstrong Hardwood 
Flooring Company, Parquet Flooring Department, Oneida, Tennessee 
(TA-W-60,876), Armstrong Wood Products, Inc., and Armstrong Hardwood 
Flooring Company, Pattern Plus Flooring Department, Oneida, 
Tennessee, (TA-W-60,876B), who became totally or partially separated 
from employment on or after January 31, 2006 through two years from 
the date of this certification, 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 at Washington, DC this 7th day of June 2007.
Elliott S. Kushner,
Certifying Officer, Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
 [FR Doc. E7-11479 Filed 6-13-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FN-P