DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-55,026

SNOW RIVER PRODUCTS LLC
A SUBSIDIARY OF COLUMBIAN HOME PRODUCTS
CRANDON, WISCONSIN

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance
And Negative Determination Regarding Eligibility to Apply
For 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 June 4, 2004 in response to
a petition filed by a state representative on behalf of workers of
Snow River Products, a subsidiary of Columbian Home Products,
Crandon, Wisconsin. The workers at the subject firm produce wood
cutting boards and wood bowls.
The blanks department, for which the petition was originally
filed, was actually eliminated more than one year prior to the date
of the petition. The workers, however, are not separately
identifiable by product.
The investigation revealed that production and employment at
the subject firm declined in January through April of 2004 when
compared to the same time frame in 2003.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
customers regarding their purchases of wooden cutting boards in 2003
and 2004. These surveys revealed increases in customer imports of
this product during the relevant period.
In addition, 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.
The group eligibility criteria for the ATAA program

that the Department must consider under Section 246 of the

Trade Act are:

1. Whether a significant number of workers in the workers'
firm are 50 years of age or older.
2. Whether the workers in the workers' firm possess skills
that are not easily transferable.
3. The competitive conditions within the workers' industry
(i.e., conditions within the industry are adverse).

The Department has determined that criterion 2 has not been
met. The investigation revealed that the workers' skills are easily
transferable.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with those produced at the subject firm
contributed importantly to the decline in sales or production and to
the total or partial separation of workers of that firm. In
accordance with the provisions of the Act, I make the following
certification:



"All workers of Snow River Products, LLC, a subsidiary of
Columbian Home Products, Crandon, Wisconsin who became totally
or partially separated from employment on or after June 2, 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
I further determine that all workers of Snow River Products,
LLC, a subsidiary of Columbian Home Products, Crandon, Wisconsin,
are denied eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjustment
assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed at Washington, D.C., this 7th day of July 2004.

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