DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-54,346

MEADWESTVACO CORPORATION
FORESTRY DIVISION
MAINE REGION
RUMFORD, MAINE

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance and
Alternative Trade 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 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 February 24, 2004 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers at MeadWestvaco Corporation, Forestry Division, Maine
Region, Rumford, Maine. The workers at the subject firm produced
timber.
The investigation revealed that production and employment at
the subject firm declined during the relevant period.
The investigation further revealed that the production of
timber at MeadWestvaco, Forestry Division, Maine Region is
vertically integrated into the production of pulp and coated paper
by its parent firm MeadWestvaco in Rumford, Maine. Workers of
MeadWestvaco, Rumford, Maine are certified eligible to apply for
worker adjustment assistance under petition number TA-W-41,327.
In addition, in accordance with Section 246 of 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.
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 increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with products produced by MeadWestvaco
Corporation 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 MeadWestvaco Corporation, Forestry Division,
Maine Region, Rumford, Maine who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after February 9, 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 1st day of April 2004.

/s/ Elliott S. Kushner

_______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance