DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-70,170

EMPORIUM HARDWOODS LLC
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS OF
EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS, INC.
EMPORIUM, PENNSYLVANIA

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 19, 2009, by three workers on behalf of workers of
Emporium Hardwoods LLC, Emporium, Pennsylvania. The worker
group also includes leased workers of Employment Solutions,
Inc., working on-site at Emporium Hardwoods LLC, Emporium,
Pennsylvania. The workers hardwood logs and lumber.
The investigation revealed that workers of Emporium
Hardwoods LLC, Emporium, Pennsylvania, who are engaged in
employment related to hardwood logs and lumber meet the
criteria for certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant
proportion of employees of the subject firm have been laid off
during the relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and/or production of hardwood logs and lumber by Emporium
Hardwoods LLC, Emporium, Pennsylvania have decreased
absolutely during the period January through April 2009 over
the corresponding 2008 period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
articles or services like or directly competitive with
hardwood logs and lumber produced by Emporium Hardwoods LLC,
Emporium, Pennsylvania, have increased. Specifically, one of
the major declining customers of the subject firm
significantly increased its reliance on imports of hardwood
lumber at the same time that it was decreasing its purchases
from the subject firm.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
the increased imports of hardwood logs and lumber by customers
of Emporium Hardwoods LLC, Emporium, Pennsylvania, contributed
importantly to the worker group separations and
sales/production declines at Emporium Hardwoods LLC, Emporium,
Pennsylvania.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Emporium Hardwoods
LLC, Emporium, Pennsylvania, who are engaged in activities
related to the production of hardwood logs and lumber 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 Emporium Hardwoods LLC, including on-site
leased workers of Employment Solutions, Inc., Emporium,
Pennsylvania, who became totally or partially separated
from employment on or after April 21, 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 8th day of December, 2009.

/s/Del Min Amy Chen
______________________________
DEL MIN AMY CHEN
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance