DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-70,788

ALABAMA RIVER NEWSPRINT COMPANY
A SUBSIDIARY OF ABITIBIBOWATER, INC.
PURDUE HILL, ALABAMA

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 29, 2009, on behalf of workers of Alabama River
Newsprint Company, a subsidiary of AbitibiBowater, Inc.,
Purdue Hill, Alabama (Alabama River Newsprint). The workers
produce newsprint.
The investigation revealed that workers of Alabama River
Newsprint, who are engaged in employment related to the
production of newsprint meet the criteria for certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because employment at the
subject firm declined when the plant closed in June 2009.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the
production of newsprint at Alabama River Newsprint decreased
from 2007 to 2008.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
articles like or directly competitive with newsprint produced
by Alabama River Newsprint have increased. Specifically, firm-
wide imports of newsprint have increased relative to sales and
production at the subject facility during the period under
investigation.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased imports of newsprint by the firm contributed
importantly to the worker group separations and
sales/production declines at Alabama River Newsprint.

Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Alabama River
Newsprint Company, a subsidiary of AbitibiBowater, Inc.,
Purdue Hill, Alabama, who are engaged in employment related to
the production of newsprint 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 Alabama River Newsprint Company, a
subsidiary of AbitibiBowater, Inc., Purdue Hill, Alabama,
who became totally or partially separated from employment
on or after May 26, 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 19th day of June, 2009.


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