Denied
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TAW-60662  /  Irving Forest Products (Ashland, ME)

Petitioner Type: Company
Impact Date:
Filed Date: 12/22/2006
Most Recent Update: 04/23/2007
Determination Date: 04/23/2007
Expiration Date:

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
TA-W-60,662

IRVING FOREST PRODUCTS
PINKHAM SAWMILL DIVISION
ASHLAND, MAINE

Negative Determination 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 December 22, 2006 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on behalf of
workers of Irving Forest Products, Pinkham Sawmill Division,
Ashland, Maine. Workers at the subject firm manufacture softwood
lumber.
The investigation revealed that (a)(2)(A)(I.C) and
(a)(2)(B)(II.B) have not been met.
Employment and production at the subject firm declined from
2005 to 2006.
The subject firm did not shift the production of softwood
lumber to a foreign country in 2005 or 2006, nor did the subject
firm import any softwood lumber.
The United States Department of Labor surveyed subject firm's
major declining customers regarding purchases of softwood lumber in
2005 and 2006. The surveys revealed no increases in imports of
softwood lumber while reducing purchases from the subject firm.
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 of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that all workers of Irving Forest
Products, Pinkham Sawmill Division, Ashland, Maine 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 adjustment assistance under Section 246 of the
Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 23rd day of April 2007.


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