DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-61,489

LAKE REGION MANUFACTURING
CHASKA, MINNESOTA

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 May 10, 2007, in response
to a petition filed by a state agency representative on behalf of
workers of Lake Region Manufacturing, Chaska, Minnesota. The
workers at the subject firm manufacture guidewires/medical device
components (stylets, crosswire stent fixtures, steer it, peripheral
hydrophilic, custom coils).
The investigation revealed that employment, sales, and
production at the subject firm declined during the period of
January through April 2007, when compared to the same time period
in 2006.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's major
declining customers regarding their purchases of guidewires/medical
devices or like or directly competitive products during 2005, 2006,
January through April 2006, and January through April 2007. The
surveys revealed increases in import purchases of guidewires while
reducing purchases from the subject firm during the period under
investigation.
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 number two has
not been met.
The skills of the workers at the subject firm are easily
transferable to other positions in the local commuting area.


Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that increases of imports of articles
like or directly competitive with guidewires/medical device
components (stylets, crosswire stent fixtures, steer it, peripheral
hydrophilic, custom coils) produced by Lake Region Manufacturing,
Chaska, Minnesota, 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:
"All workers of Lake Region Manufacturing, Chaska, Minnesota,
who became totally or partially separated from employment on
or after May 9, 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
I further determine that all workers of Lake Region
Manufacturing, Chaska, Minnesota, are denied eligibility to apply
for alternative trade adjustment assistance under Section 246 of
the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 15th day of June 2007


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