DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-61,400

SMART PAPERS, LLC
INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER (IDC)
FORMERLY KNOWN AS PF PAPERS, LLC
WEST CHICAGO, ILLINOIS

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), 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 April 30, 2007 in response
to a petition filed by a state agency representative on behalf of
workers of Smart Papers, LLC, International Distribution Center
(IDC), West Chicago, Illinois is the subject of this investigation.
Workers were engaged in the sheeting of paper rolls/reams, in
support of manufacturing affiliates in Park Falls, Wisconsin and
Hamilton, Illinois producing the rolls/reams.
Workers' wages were also reported under another corporate name
(and number): PF Papers, LLC.
Employment, sales, and production at the subject facility
declined absolutely with the cessation of operations in November
2006.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject facility's major
declining customers regarding their purchases of printed paper in
2005, 2006, January through March, 2006, and January through March
2007. This survey revealed increased imports of printed paper from
2005 to 2006 and January through May 2007 compared with the same
period of the previous year.
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 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 do not possess skills that are 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 printed paper produced at Smart
Papers, LLC, Hamilton, Ohio, contributed importantly to the total
or partial separation of workers and to the decline in sales or
production at that firm or subdivision. In accordance with the
provisions of the Act, I make the following certification:
"Workers of Smart Papers, LLC, International Distribution
Center, West Chicago, Illinois, including workers whose wages
were reported under the corporate name of PF Papers, LLC who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after April 26, 2006 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 17th day of August 2007

/s/Richard Church
______________________________
RICHARD CHURCH
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance