DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-70,113

MAINE WOOD RECYCLING, INC.
ASHLAND, MAINE

Certification Regarding Eligibility
To Apply for Worker Adjustment Assistance

In accordance with Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974, as
amended ("Act"), 19 U.S.C. § 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 workers of a Firm
under Section 222(a) of the Act, 19 U.S.C. § 2272(a), are
satisfied if the following criteria are met:
(1) a significant number or proportion of the workers in such
workers' firm have become totally or partially separated, or
are threatened to become totally or partially separated; and

(2)(A)(i) the sales or production, or both, of such firm have
decreased absolutely; and

(ii)(I) imports of articles or services like or directly
competitive with articles produced or services supplied by
such firm have increased; and

(iii) the increase in imports described in clause (ii)
contributed importantly to such workers' separation or
threat of separation and to the decline in the sales or
production of such firm.

The investigation was initiated in response to a petition
filed on May 18, 2009 by the Maine State Workforce Office on
behalf of workers of Maine Wood Recycling, Inc., Ashland,
Maine. Workers at the subject firm manufacture wood boiler fuel
and mulch. Workers are not separately identifiable by product
line.
The investigation revealed that workers of Maine Wood
Recycling, Inc., Ashland, Maine who are engaged in employment
related to the production of wood boiler fuel and mulch meet
the criteria for certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant
number or proportion of the workers in the workers' firm have
become totally or partially separated.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and/or production of wood boiler fuel and mulch by the subject
firm decreased during the period under investigation.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
articles like or directly competitive with wood boiler fuel
and mulch produced by Maine Wood Recycling, Inc. have
increased. Specifically, the Department of Labor conducted a
survey of the subject firm's major declining customers regarding
their purchases of wood boiler fuel and mulch during 2007, 2008,
January through April 2008 and January through April 2009. The
survey revealed increased reliance on imports of wood boiler
fuel and mulch.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
the increased imports of wood boiler fuel and mulch by
customers of Maine Wood Recycling, Inc., Ashland, Maine
contributed importantly to the worker group separations and
sales/production declines at Maine Wood Recycling, Inc.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Maine Wood Recycling,
Inc., Ashland, Maine who are engaged in employment related to
the production of wood boiler fuel and mulch meet the worker
group certification criteria under Section 222(a) of the Act, 19
U.S.C. § 2272(a). In accordance with Section 223 of the Act, 19
U.S.C. § 2273, I make the following certification:


"All workers of Maine Wood Recycling, Inc., Ashland, Maine
who became totally or partially separated from employment
on or after May 18, 2008, through two years from the date
of certification, and all workers in the group threatened
with total or partial separation from employment on the
date of certification through two years from the date of
certification, are eligible to apply for adjustment
assistance under Chapter 2 of Title II of the Trade Act of
1974, as amended."
Signed in Washington, D.C., this 23rd day of September 2009.

/s/ Elliott S. Kushner
______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance