DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-54,013

SAPPI CLOQUET LLC
D/B/A SAPPI FINE PAPER NORTH AMERICA
FORMERLY KNOWN AS POTLATCH CORPORATION
CLOQUET, MINNESOTA

Certifications Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Alternative Trade 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 on January 15, 2004 in response to a petition filed on behalf of workers of Sappi Cloquet LLC, d/b/a Sappi Fine Paper North America, formerly known as Potlatch Corporation, Cloquet, Minnesota. The workers at the subject firm produce fine paper. At the request of a company official, the petition investigation was expanded to include workers at the plant producing pulp. The workers are separately identifiable by paper and pulp production.
All workers of Potlatch Corporation, Cloquet, Minnesota, were certified eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under petition number TA-W-38,400, which expired February 27, 2003.
This investigation revealed that sales of fine paper at the subject firm declined from May to September 2003, when compared to the same period in 2002.
Furthermore, the investigation disclosed that employment declined during the period under investigation.
Moreover, company imports of fine paper increased absolutely during the relevant period.
With respect to the pulp produced at Sappi Cloquet LLC, d/b/a Sappi Fine Paper North America, formerly known as Potlatch Corporation, Cloquet, Minnesota, sales and employment declined from May to September 2003, when compared to the same period in 2002.
Other findings of the investigation show that a significant portion of the pulp produced by the subject firm is used in its production of fine paper at the Cloquet, Minnesota plant.
Furthermore, in accordance with Section 246 the Trade Act of 1974 (26 USC 2813), as amended, the Department of Labor herein presents the results of its investigation regarding certification of eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment assis­tance (ATAA) for older workers.
In order for the Department to issue a certification of eligibility to apply for ATAA, the group eligibility requirements of Section 246 of the Trade Act must be met. The Department has determined in this case that the requirements of Section 246 have been met for workers engaged in the production of fine paper or pulp at Sappi Cloquet LLC, d/b/a Sappi Fine Paper North America, formerly known as Potlatch Corporation, Cloquet, Minnesota.
A significant number of workers at the firm are age 50 or over and possess skills that are not easily transferable. Competitive conditions within the industry are adverse.

Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the investigation, I determine that that increases of imports of articles like or directly competitive with the fine paper produced at Sappi Cloquet LLC, d/b/a Sappi Fine Paper North America, formerly known as Potlatch Corporation, Cloquet, Minnesota contributed importantly to the total or partial separation of workers at that firm or subdivision.
In accordance with the provisions of the Act, I make the following certification:
“All workers of Sappi Cloquet LLC, d/b/a Sappi Fine Paper North America, formerly known as Potlatch Corporation, Cloquet, Minnesota, engaged in employment related to the production of fine paper and pulp, who became totally or partially separated from employment on or after February 28, 2003, through two years from the date of certification are eligible to apply for adjustment assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, and are also eligible to apply for alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.”
Signed in Washington, D.C. this 25th day of February, 2004.

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