DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-39,697

KOPPER INDUSTRIES, INC.
CARBON MATERIALS AND CHEMICAL DIVISION
FOLLANSBEE, WEST VIRGINIA

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 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:
(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 July 23, 2001, in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Koppers
Industries, Inc., Carbon Materials and Chemicals Division,
Follansbee, West Virginia. The workers were engaged in
employment related to the production of coal tar pitch. The
workers are separately identifiable from other products produced
at the subject plant
The current investigation revealed that criterion (3) has
not been met.
The company did not import coal tar pitch during the
relevant period.
The preponderance in the declines in sales, production and
employment at the subject plant is related to the loss of a major
customer, who purchased the plants coal tar pitch to produce
anodes domestically. That customer made a decision to stop
producing anodes and rely on imported anodes to serve their
domestic needs during the relevant period.
The loss of the major customer caused the company to make a
decision to shift the remainder of subject plant coal tar pitch
production to another domestic plant, thus impacting workers at
the subject plant.
Other contributing factors to fluctuations in the company's
sales and production fluctuations is related to the shortage in
electricity in the Pacific Northwest which has curtailed aluminum
production, reducing the demand for anodes and in turn reduced
demand for the subject plants coal tar pitch. The company is
also losing potential customers due to anode manufacturer(s)
shifting their anode production to overseas sources.


Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Koppers Industries, Inc., Carbon Materials and Chemicals
Division, Follansbee, West Virginia engaged in activities related
to the production of coal tar pitch are denied eligibility to
apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade
Act of 1974.

Signed in Washington, D. C. this 30th day of July, 2001

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