DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-40,414

CATAWISSA LUMBER AND SPECIALTY COMPANY, INC.
WEST JEFFERSON, NORTH CAROLINA


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 separat-
ed;

(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 December 10, 2001 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of all workers at
Catawissa Lumber and Specialty Company, Inc., West Jefferson,
North Carolina.
The workers are engaged in employment related to the produc-
tion of hardwood furniture components, using edge-glued panels.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
The investigation revealed that the subject company does not
import hardwood furniture components.
The Department of Labor conducted a survey of the subject
company's major customers regarding their purchases of edge-glued
panels. The survey did not reveal an increase of customers'
import purchases of edge-glued panels during the period of sales
and production declines at the subject company.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Catawissa Lumber and Specialty Company, Inc., West Jefferson,
North Carolina are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment
assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974.

Signed in Washington, D.C. this 21st day March 2002.

/s/ Linda G. Poole

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