DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-40,290

CASCADE TISSUE GROUP
FORMERLY PLAINWELL TISSUE
PITTSTON TOWNSHIP, PENNSYLVANIA
AND
TA-W-40,290A

CASCADE TISSUE GROUP
FORMERLY PLAINWELL TISSUE
RANSOM, PENNSYLVANIA

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 October 29, 2001 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers at Cascade Tissue Group, formerly Plainwell Tissue,
Pittston Township, Pennsylvania (TA-W-40,290) and Cascade Tissue
Group, formerly Plainwell Tissue, Ransom, Pennsylvania (TA-W-
40,290A.) The workers at the Pittston Township facility produce
paper towels and napkins as well as facial and toilet tissue. The
workers at the Ransom facility produce paper products in jumbo
rolls.
It has been determined with respect to workers at Cascade
Tissue Group, formerly Plainwell Tissue, Pittston Township,
Pennsylvania (TA-W-40,290) that criterion (3) has not been met.


The investigation revealed that the Pittston Township facility
did not import paper towels or napkins or facial or toilet tissue
during the relevant period.
A Department of Labor survey of several of the Pittston
Township facility's customers revealed no increases in imports of
paper towels or napkins or facial or toilet tissue over the period
under investigation.
It has been determined with respect to workers at Cascade
Tissue Group, formerly Plainwell Tissue, Ransom, Pennsylvania (TA-
W-40,290A) that criterion (3) has not been met.
The investigation revealed that the Ransom facility did not
import paper products in jumbo rolls during the relevant period.
Moreover, the investigation revealed an increase in sales over the
relevant period.
A petition for eligibility to apply for NAFTA-Transitional
Adjustment Assistance has been filed by a company official on
behalf of workers at the subject facilities (NAFTA-5413).
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers at Cascade
Tissue Group, formerly Plainwell Tissue, Pittston Township,
Pennsylvania (TA-W-40,290), engaged in employment related to the
production of paper towels, napkins, facial and toilet tissue, and
all workers of Cascade Tissue Group, formerly Plainwell Tissue,
Ransom, Pennsylvania (TA-W-40,290A) engaged in employment related
to the production of paper products in jumbo rolls, 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 June, 2002.


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