DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-41,770

RFS ECUSTA
PISGAH FOREST, NORTH CAROLINA

Amended Certification Regarding Eligibility to
Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19
USC 2273) the Department of Labor issued a Certification of
Eligibility to Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance on November
4, 2002, applicable to workers of RFS Ecusta, Pisgah Forest,
North Carolina. The notice will soon be published in the Federal
Register.
At the request of the State agency, the Department reviewed
the certification for workers of the subject firm. The workers
produced tobacco, specialty, and printing paper. Information
provided by the State shows that workers of RFS Ecusta were
previously certified (TA-W-37,854) which expired July 24, 2002.
To avoid an overlap in worker group coverage, the Department is
amending the impact date for TA-W-41,770 from May 21, 2001, to
July 25, 2002.
The amended notice applicable to TA-W-41,770 is hereby
issued as follows:



"All workers of RFS Ecusta, Pisgah Forest, North Carolina,
who became totally or partially separated from employment on
or after July 25, 2002, through November 4, 2004, are
eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under Section
223 of the Trade Act of 1974."
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 19th day of November, 2002.
/s/ Linda G. Poole
_____________________
LINDA G. POOLE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance


DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-41,770

RFS ECUSTA
PISGAH FOREST, NORTH CAROLINA

Certification 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. It is determined in this case that all of the
requirements have been met.
The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
received on July 1, 2002, and filed on behalf of workers at the RFS
Ecusta, Pisgah Forest, North Carolina. The workers, not separately
identifiable by product line, produced tobacco, specialty, and
printing paper.


The investigation revealed that sales, production, and
employment at the subject firm declined absolutely during the
relevant period. The subject firm ceased production in August
2002.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
customers regarding their purchases of tobacco paper. This survey
revealed increases in imports of tobacco paper during the period
under investigation.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I conclude that increases of imports of tobacco
paper like or directly competitive with those produced at RFS
Ecusta, Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, contributed importantly to
the decline in sales or production and to the total or partial
separation of workers of that firm. In accordance with the
provisions of the Act, I make the following certification:
"All workers of RFS Ecusta, Pisgah Forest, North Carolina, who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after May 21, 2001, through two years from the date of
certification are eligible to apply for adjustment assistance
under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974."
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 4th day of November, 2002.

/s/ Linda G. Poole

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