DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-41,362

VESUVIUS USA
MAPLE GROVE PLANT
BETTSVILLE, OHIO


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 April 22, 2002 in
response to a petition filed by the United Auto Workers, Local
1680, on behalf of workers at Vesuvius USA, Maple Grove Plant,
Bettsville, Ohio. The workers were engaged in the production of
basic monolithic refractories.
The investigation revealed that criterion (3) has not been
met.
The investigation revealed that the subject company does not
import basic monolithic refractories.
The Department of Labor conducted a survey of the subject
company's major customers regarding their purchases of basic
monolithic refractories.
The survey revealed no increased customer import purchases
of basic monolithic refractories during the period of decline at
the subject company.
The investigation revealed that the predominant cause of
workers separations at the subject company was the domestic shift
of production to an affiliated facility.
Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of
Vesuvius USA, Maple Grove Plant, Bettsville, Ohio, are denied
eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223
of the Trade Act of 1974.

Signed in Washington, D.C. this 1st day July 2002.


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