DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-74,720

ENVIRON BIOCOMPOSITES MANUFACTURING, LLC
MANKATO, MINNESOTA

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 October 14, 2010 by a Minnesota state workforce
official on behalf of workers of Environ Biocomposites
Manufacturing, LLC, Mankato, Minnesota. The workers produce
wood panels and boards used in production of doors.
The investigation revealed that workers of Environ
Biocomposites Manufacturing, who are engaged in employment
related to production of wood panels and boards, meet the
criteria for certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant
number of workers have been separated over the relevant
period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and production of wood panels and boards by Environ
Biocomposites have decreased absolutely over the relevant
period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because U.S.
aggregate imports of articles like or directly competitive
with the wood panels and boards manufactured by Environ
Biocomposites have increased.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
the increased U.S. aggregate imports contributed importantly
to the worker group separations and sales/production declines
at Environ Biocomposites Manufacturing, LLC.


Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Environ Biocomposites
Manufacturing, LLC, Mankato, Minnesota, who are engaged in
employment related to production of wood panels and boards 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 Environ Biocomposites Manufacturing, LLC,
Mankato, Minnesota, who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after October 11, 2009,
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 21st day of January, 2011

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