DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-38,412

COLUMBIA FALLS ALUMINUM COMPANY
COLUMBIA FALLS, MONTANA

Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility
To Apply For Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 USC
2273) as amended by the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988
(P. L. 100-418), the Department of Labor herein presents the results
of an investigation regarding certification of eligibility to apply
for worker adjustment assistance.
In order to make an affirmative determination and issue a
certification of eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance,
each of the group eligibility requirements of Section 222 of the
Act must be met:
(1) that a significant number or proportion of the workers in
the workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision thereof,
have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;

(2) that sales or production, or both, of the firm or subdi-
vision have decreased absolutely; and

(3) that increases of imports of articles like or directly
competitive with articles produced by the firm or appro-
priate subdivision have contributed importantly to the
separations, or threat thereof, and to the absolute
decline in sales or production.

The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
received on December 11, 2000 and filed on behalf of workers at
Columbia Falls Aluminum Company, Columbia Falls, Montana. The
workers were engaged in activities related to the production of
aluminum ingots.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been met.
United States imports of aluminum declined in January to
October, 2000, compared with the same period of 1999.
The preponderance of the subject plant's production and
employment declines is attributed to the high cost of electricity
and the inability to process aluminum ingots profitably at current
energy costs.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of Columbia
Falls Aluminum Company, Columbia Falls, Montana are denied
eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of
the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 7th day of February, 2001

/s/ Linda G. Poole
___________________________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance