DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-70,342

PLUM CREEK NORTHWEST LUMBER, INC.
A SUBSIDIARY OF PLUM CREEK TIMBER COMPANY, INC.
COLUMBIA FALLS, MONTANA

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 20, 2009, by a company official on behalf of
workers of Plum Creek Northwest Lumber, Inc., a subsidiary of
Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc., Columbia Falls, Montana, (Plum
Creek Northwest). The workers produce pine and spruce board
lumber.
Workers wages at the subject facility were reported under a
common pay master, Plum Creek Admin Co, Inc., for federal
reporting, and under Plum Creek Northwest Lumber, Inc., for
state unemployment reporting purposes.
The investigation revealed that workers of Plum Creek
Northwest who are engaged in employment related to the
production of pine and spruce board lumber meet the criteria
for certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because employment at the
subject facility declined during the period of January through
April 2009 compared with the same period of 2008.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and/or production of pine and spruce board lumber by Plum
Creek Northwest have decreased absolutely from 2007 to 2008,
and during the period of January through April 2009 compared
with the same period of 2008.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
articles like or directly competitive with pine and spruce
board lumber by Plum Creek Northwest have increased.
Specifically, increased imports of pine and spruce board lumber
during the period January through April 2009 compared with the
same period of 2008.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
the increased imports of pine and spruce board lumber by
customers of Plum Creek Northwest contributed importantly to
the worker group separations and sales/production declines at
Plum Creek Northwest.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Plum Creek Northwest
Lumber, Inc., a subsidiary of Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc.,
Columbia Falls, Montana, who are engaged in employment related
to the production of pine and spruce board 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:





"Workers of Plum Creek Northwest Lumber, Inc., a subsidiary
of Plum Creek Timber Company, Inc., Columbia Falls,
Montana, engaged in employment related to the production of
pine and spruce board lumber, who became totally or
partially separated from employment on or after May 19,
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 18th day of August, 2009.


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