DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-50,157

DURANGO-GEORGIA PAPER COMPANY
ST. MARY'S, GEORGIA


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, the Department of Labor herein presents the
results of its 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 Trade Adjustment
Assistance, the group eligibility requirements in either paragraph
(a)(2)(A) or (a)(2)(B) of Section 222 of the Trade Act must be met.
It is determined in this case that the requirements of (a)(2)(A) of
Section 222 have been met.
The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
received on November 21, 2002 and filed by a company official on
behalf of workers at Durango-Georgia Paper Company, St. Mary's,
Georgia. The workers at the subject firm produce pulp and paper
products (solid bleached sulphate{paperboard}).
Sales, production and employment declined at the subject firm
during the period under investigation.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
customers regarding their purchases of paper products during 2000,
2001 and January through October 2002. The survey revealed that a
major customer increased their reliance of imported paper products,
while decreasing their purchases from the subject firm during the
relevant period.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I conclude that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with those produced at Durango-Georgia
Paper Company, St. Mary's, Georgia, contributed importantly to the
total or partial separation of workers and to the decline in sales
or production and at that firm or subdivision. In accordance with
the provisions of the Act, I make the following certification:
"All workers of Durango-Georgia Paper Company, St. Mary's,
Georgia who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after November 14, 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, as amended."
Signed in Washington, D. C. this 18th day of December, 2002




/s/Elliott S. Kushner
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance