DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-70,284

PLAINS COTTON COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION
AMERICAN COTTON GROWERS
LITTLEFIELD, TEXAS

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 by a company official on May 20, 2009 on behalf of workers
of Plains Cotton Cooperative Association, American Cotton
Growers, Littlefield, Texas (Plains Cotton Cooperative
Association, American Cotton Growers). Workers at the subject
firm are engaged in activities related to the production of
denim fabric. The workers are not separately identifiable by
products produced.
The investigation further revealed that workers of Plains
Cotton Cooperative Association, American Cotton Growers who
are engaged in employment related to the production of denim
fabric 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 during the relevant
period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and/or production of denim fabric by the subject firm
decreased during the relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
articles like or directly competitive with denim fabric
produced by Plains Cotton Cooperative Association, American
Cotton Growers have increased. Specifically, the Department of
Labor conducted a survey of the subject firm's major declining
customers regarding their purchases of denim fabric during the
relevant period. The survey revealed increased customer
reliance on imported denim fabric.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
the increased imports of denim fabric by customers of Plains
Cotton Cooperative Association, American Cotton Growers
contributed importantly to the worker group separations and
sales/production declines at Plains Cotton Cooperative
Association, American Cotton Growers.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Plains Cotton
Cooperative Association, American Cotton Growers, Littlefield,
Texas, who are engaged in employment related to the production
of denim fabric 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 Plains Cotton Cooperative Association,
American Cotton Growers, Littlefield, Texas, 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 22nd day of September 2009

/s/ Elliott S. Kushner

______________________________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance