ETA Federal Register Notice

Willamette Industries, Inc., Foster Plywood Division, Sweet Home, OR; Notice of Revised Determination on Reconsideration [10/19/2001]

Volume 66, Number 203, Page 53253

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

[NAFTA-4631 and TA-W-38,855]

 
Willamette Industries, Inc., Foster Plywood Division, Sweet Home, 
OR; Notice of Revised Determination on Reconsideration

    By letter (postmark) of May 22, 2001, the International Association 
of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, Woodworkers (IAMAW), Local Lodge 
W246, requested administrative reconsideration of the Department's 
denial of North American Free Trade Agreement--Transitional Adjustment 
Assistance (NAFTA-TAA) and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), 
applicable to workers of Willamette Industries, Inc., Foster Plywood 
Division, Sweet Home, Oregon. The notices were published in the Federal 
Register on May 2, 2001, NAFTA-4631 (66 FR 22007), and TA-W-38,855 (66 
FR 22006).
    The workers at the subject firm engaged in activities related to 
the production of plywood were denied NAFTA-TAA because criteria (1) 
and (2) of the group eligibility requirements of paragraph (a)(1) of 
Section 250 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, were not met. The 
number of workers separated did not account for a significant portion 
of total workers at the subject firm and there were no declines in 
sales or production of plywood at the subject firm.
    The same worker group was denied TAA because criteria (1) and (2) 
of the group eligibility requirements of Section 222 of the Trade Act 
of 1974, as amended, was not met. The number of workers separated did 
not account for a significant portion of total workers at the subject 
firm and there were no declines in sales or production of plywood at 
the subject firm.
    The request for reconsideration indicates that the worker group 
impacted at the subject plant were engaged in activities related to the 
production of veneer core. The request further indicates that veneer 
core production decreased at the subject plant. The original 
determinations were based on the workers engaged in activities related 
to the production of plywood and workers not being separately 
identifiable at the subject plant. Upon examination of the request it 
has become apparent that the workers engaged in the production of 
veneer core (which is integrated into plywood production at the subject 
plant) are separately identifiable from the workers producing plywood. 
Also, layoffs within the worker group producing veneer core are 
significant. The review further reveals that the plant decreased their 
veneer core production, while increasing their imports of veneer core 
from Canada during the relevant period.

Conclusion

    After careful consideration of the new facts obtained on 
reconsideration, it is concluded that increased imports of veneer core, 
including imports from Canada, contributed importantly to the decline 
in production and to the total or partial separation of workers at 
Willamette Industries, Inc., Foster Plywood Division, Sweet Home, 
Oregon. In accordance with the provisions of the Act, I make the 
following revised determination:

    ``Workers engaged in the production of veneer core at Willamette 
Industries, Inc., Foster Plywood Division, Sweet Home, Oregon, who 
became totally or partially separated from employment on or after 
March 1, 2000, through two years from the date of certification, are 
eligible to apply for NAFTA-TAA under Section 250 of the Trade Act 
of 1974;'' and
    ``Workers engaged in the production of veneer core at Willamette 
Industries, Inc., Foster Plywood Division, Sweet Home, Oregon, who 
became totally or partially separated from employment on or after 
March 1, 2000, through two years from the date of certification, are 
eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the 
Trade Act of 1974.''

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 28th day of September 2001.
Edward A. Tomchick,
Director, Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 01-26355 Filed 10-18-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M