DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-39,404

EMPIRE SPECIALTY STEEL INC.
FORMERLY KNOWN AS AL TECH SPECIALTY STEEL
DUNKIRK, NEW YORK

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Trade 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 June 4, 2001, in response to a petition filed by the United Steelworkers of America, Local 2693, on behalf of workers at Empire Specialty Steel Inc., Dunkirk, New York. The workers are engaged in employment related to the production of stainless steel rod, wire, bar, and tool. Workers are not separately identifiable by specific product.
This investigation revealed that production and employment at the subject plant decreased during the period under investigation.

The Department conducted a survey of the subject firm=s major customers regarding their purchases of specialty steel bar, rod and wire products for 1999-2000 and January to August, 2000-2001. The survey revealed that some of the respondents increased their purchases of these products from foreign sources, and some did so while decreasing their purchases from the subject firm.
Unites States aggregate imports of stainless steel wire were very high, over 184 percent of U.S. domestic shipments in 2000. Imports increased both absolutely and relative to U.S. shipments in 2000 compared with 1999, and increased both absolutely and relatively in January to July, 2001 compared to the same period of 2000.
Unites States imports of stainless steel wire rod also were very high, over 280 percent of U.S. domestic shipments in 2000, and imports increased both absolutely and relative to U.S. shipments in 2000 compared with 1999. In January to July, 2001, imports continued to increase relative to U.S. shipments.
United States imports of stainless steel bar increased in 2000 compared with 1999 both absolutely and relative to domestic shipments. Imports remained at a high level, over 82 percent of shipments, in January to July of 2001.
Workers of Al Tech Specialty Steel were previously TAA certified, TA-W-35,786, which expired on June 18, 2001.
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 Empire Specialty Steel Inc., Dunkirk, New York, 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 Empire Specialty Steel Inc., formerly known as Al Tech Specialty Steel, Dunkirk, New York, who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after June 19, 2001, 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 5th day of November, 2001


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