DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-38,925

NATIONAL STEEL CORPORATION
PORTAGE, INDIANA

Certification 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 eligi-bility 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. It is determined in this case that all of the requirements have been met.
The investigation was initiated on March 25, 2001, in response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at National Steel Corporation, Portage, Indiana. The workers are engaged in employment related to the production of cold rolled, galvanized and tin mill steel.
A petition for NAFTA Transitional Adjustment has been filed on behalf of workers at the subject firm (NAFTA-4683).
This investigation revealed that production and employment at the subject plant decreased during the period under investigation.


United States aggregate imports of cold rolled carbon steel sheet increased in January to April, 2001, compared with the same period of 2000.
The Department of Labor surveyed major customers of the
subject firm regarding their purchases of products like those purchased from the subject firm in the 1999-2000 and January to June, 2000-2001 time periods. Respondents indicated that they reduced purchases from the subject firm and increased imports in one or more sets of time periods.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the investi-gation, I conclude that increases of imports of articles like or directly competitive with those produced by National Steel Corporation, Portage, Indiana, contributed importantly to the decline in sales or production and to the total or partial separation of workers of that firm. In accordance with the provisions of the Trade Act, I make the following certification:


"All workers at National Steel Corporation, Portage, Indiana, who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after March 9, 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 in Washington, D. C. this 31st day of October, 2001

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