DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-71,422

TPC GROUP, LLC
PORT NECHES, 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), can be
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)(II)(aa) imports of articles like or directly
competitive with articles into which one or more
component parts produced by such firm are directly
incorporated 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 June 26, 2009 by a company official on behalf of
workers of TPC Group, LLC, Port Neches, Texas. The workers
produce butadiene and other petrochemicals.
The investigation revealed that workers of TPC Group, LLC
who are engaged in employment related to production of
butadiene and other petrochemicals meet the criteria for
certification.
Section 222(a)(1) of the Act has been met because a
significant number of workers have been separated during the
relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and/or production of butadiene and other petrochemicals have
decreased absolutely during the relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
tires like or directly competitive with tires incorporating
butadiene produced by TPC Group, LLC have increased.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
the increased imports of tires contributed importantly to the
worker group separations and sales/production declines at TPC
Group, LLC.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of TPC Group, LLC, who
are engaged in employment related to production of butadiene and
other petrochemicals, 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 TPC Group, LLC, Port Neches, Texas, who
became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after June 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 23rd day of April, 2010

/s/ Michael W. Jaffe
______________________________
MICHAEL W. JAFFE
Certifying Officer, Division of
Trade Adjustment Assistance

CORRECTION 5/11/2010