DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-38,886

AGP LLC
SHERMAN, TEXAS

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 certif
ication 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 threat
ened 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 on March 26, 2001 in response to
a petition filed by Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy
Workers International Union (PACE), Local 4-0588, on behalf of workers
at AGP LLC, Sherman, Texas. The workers produced refined and hydroge
nated soybean oil.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been met.
U.S. imports of soybean oil, other than crude, and its fractions,
whether or not refined, but not chemically modified, not elsewhere
indicated, decreased in 2000 compared to 1999 and in January-February
2001 compared to the same period in 2000.
The Department surveyed the major declining customers of AGP LLC
regarding their purchases of refined and hydrogenated soybean oil
during 1999, 2000, and January-March 2001. The survey revealed that
none of the respondents increased their purchases of imports while
decreasing their purchases from the subject firm during the relevant
period.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of AGP LLC,
Sherman, Texas are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assis
tance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974.

Signed in Washington, D. C. this 9th day of May, 2001


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