DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-51,983

SMURFIT-STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION
EAST LOCATION (7350 STILES ROAD)
EL PASO, TEXAS

TA-W-51,983A

SMURFIT-STONE CONTAINER CORPORATION
WEST LOCATION (6968 INDUSTRIAL AVENUE)
EL PASO, TEXAS

Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended (19 USC 2273), the Department of Labor herein presents the
results of an investigation regarding certification of eligibility
to apply for worker adjustment assistance. The group eligibility
requirements for directly-impacted (primary) workers under Section
222(a) the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, can be satisfied in
either of two ways:
I. Section (a)(2)(A) all of the following must be satisfied:
A. a significant number or proportion of the workers in such
workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision of the firm,
have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;
B. the sales or production, or both, of such firm or
subdivision have decreased absolutely; and
C. increased imports of articles like or directly competitive
with articles produced by such firm or subdivision have
contributed importantly to such workers' separation or
threat of separation and to the decline in sales or
production of such firm or subdivision; or



II. Section (a)(2)(B) both of the following must be satisfied:

A. a significant number or proportion of the workers in such
workers' firm, or an appropriate subdivision of the
firm, have become totally or partially separated, or are
threatened to become totally or partially separated;
B. there has been a shift in production by such workers' firm
or subdivision to a foreign country of articles like or
directly competitive with articles which are produced by
such firm or subdivision; and

C. One of the following must be satisfied:
1. the country to which the workers' firm has shifted
production of the articles is a party to a free trade
agreement with the United States;
2. the country to which the workers' firm has shifted
production of the articles is a beneficiary country
under the Andean Trade Preference Act, African Growth
and Opportunity Act, or the Caribbean Basin Economic
Recovery Act; or
3. there has been or is likely to be an increase in
imports of articles that are like or directly
competitive with articles which are or were produced
by such firm or subdivision.

The investigation was initiated on June 10, 2003 in response
to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of workers of
Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, East Location (7350 Stiles
Road), El Paso, Texas (TA-W-51,983), and Smurfit-Stone Container
Corporation, West Location (6968 Industrial Avenue), El Paso, Texas
(TA-W-51,983A). Workers at the East Location (7350 Stiles Road)
and the West Location (6968 Industrial Avenue) produce corrugated
containers.
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.C) and
(a)(2)(B)(II.B) were not met.
The investigation revealed that Smurfit-Stone Container
Corporation, East Location (7350 Stiles Road), El Paso, Texas (TA-
W-51,983), and Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, West Location
(6968 Industrial Avenue), El Paso, Texas (TA-W-51,983A) did not
import corrugated containers from 2001 to 2002 or during the period
of January through March 2003, when compared to the same period in
2002.
Furthermore, the investigation revealed that Smurfit-Stone
Container Corporation, East Location (7350 Stiles Road), El Paso,
Texas (TA-W-51,983), and Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation, West
Location (6968 Industrial Avenue), El Paso, Texas (TA-W-51,983A)
did not shift production of their corrugated containers abroad
during the relevant period.
The Department of Labor surveyed the customers of Smurfit-
Stone Container Corporation, East Location (7350 Stiles Road), El
Paso, Texas (TA-W-51,983), and of Smurfit-Stone Container
Corporation, West Location (6968 Industrial Avenue), El Paso, Texas
(TA-W-51,983A) regarding their purchases of corrugated containers.
This survey revealed no imports of corrugated containers during the
relevant period.



Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of Smurfit-
Stone Container Corporation, East Location (7350 Stiles Road), El
Paso, Texas (TA-W-51,983), and Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation,
West Location (6968 Industrial Avenue), El Paso, Texas (TA-W-
51,983A) are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance
under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 25th day of July, 2003.

/s/ Linda G. Poole

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