DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-63,826

BELCO FOREST PRODUCTS INCORPORATED
SHELTON, WASHINGTON

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 August 6, 2008 in
response to a petition filed by a company official on
behalf of workers of Belco Forest Products Incorporated,
Shelton, Washington. The workers produce remanufactured
lumber. The workers are not separately identifiable by
products produced.
The investigation also revealed employment and sales
at the subject facility decreased in January through July
2008, when compared to the same period in 2007.
The Department of Labor surveyed the subject firm's
major declining customers regarding purchases of products
like or directly competitive with remanufactured lumber in
2006, 2007 and January through July 2008. The survey
revealed increased import purchases during the relevant
period.
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 one has
not been met.
The investigation revealed there is an insufficient
number of workers who are 50 years of age or older
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that increases of imports of
articles like or directly competitive with remanufactured
lumber produced by Belco Forest Products Incorporated,
Shelton, Washington, 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 Belco Forest Products Incorporated,
Shelton, Washington, who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after August 5, 2007
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 28th day of August 2008.


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