DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-40,620

ETHYL PETROLEUM ADDITIVES
NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI

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 subdi-
vision have decreased absolutely; and

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

The investigation was initiated on January 22, 2002 in
response to a petition filed on behalf of workers at Ethyl
Petroleum Additives, Natchez, Mississippi. The subject firm is a
subsidiary of Ethyl Corporation. The workers produced lubricant
additives.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
The Department conducted a survey of major declining customers
of the subject firm regarding their purchases of lubricant blends
for passenger car motor oils in 1999, 2000 and January-March 2001.
The survey revealed that none of the respondents imported in the
relevant period.
The Department conducted a survey of major declining customers
of the subject firm regarding their purchases of lubricant blends
for heavy-duty diesel products in 1999, 2000 and January-March
2001. The survey revealed that none of the respondents imported in
the relevant period.
Evidence developed during the course of the investigation also
revealed that decline in demand for the highly basic magnesium
sulfonate additive produced at the subject plant was due to a
reformulation of passenger motor oil chemistry to meet new industry
performance standards.


Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of Ethyl
Petroleum Additives, Natchez, Mississippi are denied eligibility to
apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act
of 1974.

Signed in Washington, D. C. this 17th day of May, 2002


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