DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-39,015
WHEELING-PITTSBURGH STEEL CORP.
WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA

TA-W-39,015A
WHEELING-PITTSBURGH STEEL CORP.
BEECH BOTTOM, WEST VIRGINIA

TA-W-39,015B
WHEELING-PITTSBURGH STEEL CORP.
ALLENPORT, PENNSYLVANIA

TA-W-39,015C
WHEELING-PITTSBURGH STEEL CORP.
STEUBENVILLE, OHIO

TA-W-39,015D
WHEELING-PITTSBURGH STEEL CORP.
MARTINS FERRY, OHIO

TA-W-39,015E
WHEELING-PITTSBURGH STEEL CORP.
YORKVILLE, OHIO

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 subdivision have decreased absolutely; and

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

The investigation was initiated on April 16, 2001, in response to a petition filed by the United Steelworkers of America on behalf of workers at Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp., Wheeling and Beech Bottom, West Virginia; Allenport, Pennsylvania; and Steubenville, Martins Ferry, and Yorkville, Ohio. The workers are employed in integrated steel production processes involving production of hot rolled sheet steel, cold rolled sheet steel, and galvanized sheet steel.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been met.
Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. does not import cold rolled sheet steel, hot rolled sheet steel or galvanized steel.
The company has not experienced a significant employment decline in the Martins Ferry and Beach Bottom plants producing galvanized steel.
A Department of Labor survey of the subject firm=s major customers purchasing cold rolled sheet steel revealed that imports by respondents were relatively minor and did not increase during the time when purchases from the subject firm were decreasing.


The Departmental survey of customers purchasing hot rolled sheet steel revealed that customers either reduced their imports or did not import this product at all.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp., Wheeling, West Virginia; Beech Bottom, West Virginia; Allenport, Pennsylvania; Steubenville, Ohio; Martins Ferry, Ohio; and Yorkville, Ohio, are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 18th day of September, 2001.


/s/ Linda G. Poole

LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance