DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-54,508

HOOVER-HANES RUBBER CUSTOM MIXING
A division of RBX INDUSTRIES
TALLAPOOSA, GEORGIA

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 (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 March 16, 2004 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers at of Hoover-Hanes Rubber Custom Mixing, a division of
RBX Industries, Tallapoosa, Georgia. The workers at the subject
firm produce custom rubber compounds.
The investigation revealed that sales, production, and
employment declined absolutely from during the period of 2002 to
2003 and January through February 2004 to January through
February 2003.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
declining customers regarding their purchases of custom rubber
compounds. These surveys revealed increases in import purchases
of custom rubber compounds relative to purchases from the
subject firm during the period under investigation.
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 custom rubber compounds
produced at Hoover-Hanes Rubber Custom Mixing, a division of RBX
Industries, Tallapoosa, 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 Hoover-Hanes Rubber Custom Mixing, a
division of RBX Industries, Tallapoosa, Georgia, who became
totally or partially separated from employment on or after
March 3, 2003, through two years from the date of
certification are eligible to apply for adjustment assis-
tance 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 20th day of May, 2004.

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