DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-57,720

NORTHWEST HARDWOODS
A WEYERHAUSER BUSINESS
APPEARANCE WOOD PRODUCTS, SOUTHERN DIVISION
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS

Negative Determinations 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 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, 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 11, 2005, in
response to a petition filed by a State agency
representative on behalf of workers of Northwest Hardwoods,
A Weyerhauser Business, Appearance Wood Products, Southern
Division, Little Rock, Arkansas. The workers are engaged
in the production of southern hardwood lumber.
The investigation determined that criteria
(a)(2)(A)(I.C.) and (a)(2)(B)(II.B.) have not been met for
workers of the subject firm.
The investigation revealed that subject firm did not
shift the production of southern hardwood lumber to a
foreign country, nor did the subject firm import southern
hardwood lumber.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's
major declining customers regarding their purchases of
southern hardwood lumber during 2003, 2004 and January
through August 2005. These surveys determined that none of
the customers purchased imports 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.
In order for the Department to issue a certification
of eligibility to apply for ATAA, the worker group must be
certified eligible to apply for trade adjustment assistance
(TAA). Since the workers are denied eligibility to apply
for TAA, the workers cannot be certified eligible for ATAA.



Conclusion
After careful review, I determine that workers of
Northwest Hardwoods, a Weyerhauser Business, Appearance
Wood Products, Southern Division, Little Rock, Arkansas,
are denied eligibility to apply for adjustment assistance
under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, and are also
denied eligibility to apply for alternative trade adjust-
ment assistance under Section 246 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 23rd day of September,
2005.

/s/ Linda G. Poole

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