DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-72,057

CORHART REFRACTORIES
HPM DIVISION
A SUBSIDIARY OF SAINT-GOBAIN CERAMICS AND PLASTICS
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS
FROM MANPOWER TEMPORARY SERVICES
BUCKHANNON, WEST VIRGINIA

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 August 18, 2009, by the United Steelworkers Union,
Local 477, on behalf of workers of Corhart Refractories, HPM
Division, a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain Ceramics and Plastics,
Buckhannon, West Virginia (Corhart Refractories). The workers
produce ceramic refractories used in the production of textile
fiberglass. The worker group includes on-site leased workers
from Manpower Temporary Services.
The investigation revealed that workers of Corhart
Refractories who are engaged in employment related to the
production of ceramic refractories meet the criteria for
certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because employment has
declined by at least five percent during the period under
investigation.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and production of ceramic refractories by Corhart Refractories
have decreased.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because customer
imports of articles like or directly competitive with ceramic
refractories by Corhart Refractories have increased.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
the increased imports of ceramic refractories by customers of
Corhart Refractories contributed importantly to the worker
group separations and sales/production declines at the
Buckhannon, West Virginia facility.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Corhart Refractories,
HPM Division, a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain Ceramics and
Plastics, Buckhannon, West Virginia, who are engaged in
employment related to the production of ceramic refractories
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 Corhart Refractories, HPM Division, a
subsidiary of Saint-Gobain Ceramics and Plastics, including
on-site leased workers from Manpower Temporary Services,
Buckhannon, West Virginia, who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after August 17, 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