DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-52,659

CONNEX PIPE SYSTEMS
A SUBSIDIARY OF THE SHAW GROUP, INC.
TROUTVILLE, VIRGINIA

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
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 August 22, 2003 in response
to a petition filed on behalf of the workers at Connex Pipe
Systems, a subsidiary of The Shaw Group, Inc., Troutville,
Virginia. The workers at the subject firm produced fabricated
pipe; they were not separately identifiable by product line.
The investigation revealed that criteria (a)(2)(A)(I.C) or
and (a)(2)(B)(II.B) were not met.
The investigation revealed that there were no company imports
of fabricated pipe, nor was there a shift in production of
fabricated pipe to a foreign country during the period under
investigation.
The investigation further revealed that the closure of the
subject facility was directly attributable to a company decision to
eliminate excess capacity.


Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that all workers of Connex
Pipe Systems, a subsidiary of The Shaw Group, Inc., Troutville,
Virginia 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 September, 2003.

/s/ Linda G. Poole

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