[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56870-56871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22649]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Notice of Continuation of Certification

[TA-W-80,308]
    Roseburg Forest Products, Composite Panel Division, Including 
On-Site Leased Workers of Robert Half, Orangeburg, SC
[TA-W-80,308A]
    Roseburg Forest Products, Composite Panel Division, Including 
On-Site Leased Workers of Robert Half, Russellville, SC

    On August 12, 2011, the Department of Labor (Department) issued a 
certification regarding workers' eligibility to apply for Trade 
Adjustment Assistance (TAA) applicable to workers and former workers of 
Roseburg Forest Products, Composite Panel Division, Orangeburg, South 
Carolina (TA-W-80,308) and Russellville, South Carolina (TA-W-80,308A). 
The Department's Notice of determination was published in the Federal 
Register on September 2, 2011 (76 FR 54796).
    The certification was based on the Department's findings that 
aggregate industry imports of articles like or directly competitive 
with the articles produced by Roseburg Forest Products, Composite Panel 
Division, Orangeburg, South Carolina and Russellville, South Carolina 
had contributed importantly to subject worker group separations.
    Subsequent to the issuance of the certification, the Department 
received information that suggested that the aggregate industry import 
data on which the certification determination relied may have included 
related articles that may not be either like or directly competitive 
with either particleboard or laminated wood panels.
    On July 17, 2012, the Department issued a Notice of Investigation 
Regarding Termination of Certification of workers and former workers of 
Roseburg Forest Products, Composite Panel Division, Orangeburg, South 
Carolina and Russellville, South Carolina. The Department's Notice of 
Investigation Regarding Termination of Certification was published in 
the Federal Register on July 30, 2012 (77 FR 44683), and the Department 
conducted what is referred to herein as the ``immediate 
investigation.''
    During the immediate investigation, Roseburg Forest Products 
(subject firm) confirmed that the subject facilities produced 
particleboard and/or laminated wood panels, and provided additional 
information regarding the subject facilities' operations related to 
particleboard and/or laminated wood panel production and their 
respective relationships to the subject firm's customers of 
particleboard and/or laminated wood panels.
    Taking into consideration the new information provided by the 
subject firm, the Department reviewed previously-submitted aggregate 
industry import data and the previously-conducted aggregate import 
analysis. The Department then excluded import data unrelated to 
particleboard and/or laminated wood panels (and like or directly 
competitive articles) and conducted another aggregate industry import 
analysis for the same time period but using the revised aggregate 
import database.
    The Department's analysis of this database revealed that the import 
levels of the subject articles and like or directly competitive 
articles did not increase during the relevant period. Therefore, 
aggregate data did not provide a basis for certifying the subject 
worker groups under Section 222 of the Act, 19 U.S.C., 2272, as 
described in the determination issued on August 12, 2011.
    After determining that the basis for certification as described in 
the determination was not valid, the Department continued the immediate

[[Page 56871]]

investigation to determine whether conditions during the relevant time 
period nevertheless supported the ultimate conclusion of the 
determination that the workers and former workers of Roseburg Forest 
Products, Composite Panel Division, Orangeburg, South Carolina and 
Russellville, South Carolina met the eligibility criteria set forth in 
the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the Act).
    The Department obtained new information regarding the subject 
firm's major declining customers of particleboard and/or laminated wood 
panels and related import data of particleboard and/or laminated wood 
panels (and like or directly competitive articles) by the subject 
firm's customers.
    Using the new customer information and previously-submitted 
information from the subject firm regarding particleboard and/or 
laminated wood panels sales and production at Roseburg Forest Products, 
Composite Panel Division, Orangeburg, South Carolina and Russellville, 
South Carolina, the Department conducted another import analysis for 
the relevant time period.
    The immediate investigation revealed increased imports (direct and 
indirect imports) of particleboard wood panels by major declining 
customer(s) of the subject firm during 2010 from 2009 levels and during 
partial year 2011 from the corresponding 2010 period (the relevant 
period).
    Based on a careful analysis of all information provided in the 
immediate and earlier investigations, the Department determines that 
increased customer imports of articles like or directly competitive 
with the particleboard and/or laminated wood panels produced at the 
subject facilities contributed importantly to worker group separations 
at Roseburg Forest Products, Composite Panel Division, Orangeburg, 
South Carolina and Russellville, South Carolina.

Conclusion

    After careful review of the facts obtained in the initial 
investigation of the petition referenced as TA-W-80,308 and TA-W-
80,308A and the immediate investigation, I determine, in accordance 
with Section 223 of the Act, 19 U.S.C. 2273, that the certification of 
workers and former workers of Roseburg Forest Products, Composite Panel 
Division, including on-site leased workers of Robert Half, Orangeburg, 
South Carolina (TA-W-80,308) and Roseburg Forest Products, Composite 
Panel Division, including on-site leased workers of Robert Half, 
Russellville, South Carolina (TA-W-80,308A), issued on August 12, 2011 
and published in the Federal Register on September 2, 2011 (76 FR 
54796) should not be terminated. As described in the certification, I 
conclude that these workers, who are/were engaged in activities related 
to production of particleboard and/or laminated wood panels, have met 
the worker group certification criteria under 222(a) of the Act, 19 
U.S.C. 2272(a).

    Signed in Washington, DC, this 31st day of August, 2012
 Del Min Amy Chen,
Certifying Officer, Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 2012-22649 Filed 9-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FN-P