ETA Federal Register Notice

Precision Twist Drill Co., Rhinelander, WI; Notice of Negative Determination Regarding Application for Reconsideration [07/24/2002]

Volume 67, Number 142, Page 48488

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

[TA-W-40,498]

 
Precision Twist Drill Co., Rhinelander, WI; Notice of Negative 
Determination Regarding Application for Reconsideration

    By application dated June 10, 2002, the United Steelworkers of 
America, District-2, Local 9408 requested administrative 
reconsideration of the Department's negative determination regarding 
eligibility to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), applicable 
to workers and former workers of the subject firm. The denial notice 
was signed on May 7, 2002, and published in the Federal Register on May 
17, 2002 (67 FR 35140).
    Pursuant to 29 CFR 90.18(c) reconsideration may be granted under 
the following circumstances:
    (1) If it appears on the basis of facts not previously considered 
that the determination complained of was erroneous;
    (2) If it appears that the determination complained of was based on 
a mistake in the determination of facts not previously considered; or
    (3) If in the opinion of the Certifying Officer, a 
misinterpretation of facts or of the law justified reconsideration of 
the decision.
    The petition for the workers of Precision Twist Drill Co., 
Rhinelander, Wisconsin was denied because the ``contributed 
importantly'' group eligibility requirement of Section 222(3) of the 
Trade Act of 1974, as amended, was not met. The ``contributed 
importantly'' test is generally demonstrated through a survey of 
customers of the workers' firm. The survey revealed that none of the 
respondents increased their purchases of imported twist drill bits, 
while decreasing their purchases from the subject firm during the 
relevant period. The investigation also revealed that Precision Twist 
Drill Co., Rhinelander, Wisconsin did not import articles ``like or 
directly competitive'' with the products produced at the subject plant. 
The separations at the subject plant were due to a transfer of plant 
production to another domestic facility.
    The petitioner supplied additional information based on a company 
announcement dated April 25, 2002 indicating that the Rhinelander 
facility would close down and approximately two-thirds of the blank 
drill bit production would be manufactured overseas.
    Based on data supplied during the initial investigation and further 
contact with the company, the shifts in plant production did not occur 
during the relevant period of the investigation. The shift in the 
production of blank drill bits to foreign sources began during July 
2002. Any potential future company imports of blank drill bits are 
beyond the relevant period of the initial investigation.
    The petitioner further alleges the subject plant once manufactured 
drills for Boeing and that production was shifted to Crystal Lake, 
Illinois. Since then, the company indicated they would shift that 
production to Brazil.
    Recent information provided by the company indicates that the 
product (special drill bits) produced for Boeing was never produced at 
the subject plant. Therefore, the shift in production to Brazil by the 
Crystal Lake plant is not a relevant factor that is considered in 
meeting the ``contributed importantly'' group eligibility requirement 
of Section 222(3) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended.

Conclusion

    After review of the application and investigative findings, I 
conclude that there has been no error or misinterpretation of the law 
or of the facts which would justify reconsideration of the Department 
of Labor's prior decision. Accordingly, the application is denied.

    Signed at Washington, DC this 11th day of July 2002.
Edward A. Tomchick,
Director, Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 02-18643 Filed 7-23-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-P