DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-75,127

ASHLAND AQUALON FUNCTIONAL INGREDIENTS MISSOURI CHEMICAL WORKS
AN ASHLAND HERCULES WATER TECHNOLOGIES FACILITY
INCLUDING ON-SITE LEASED WORKERS FROM
LEE MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS, INC.
LOUISIANA, MISSOURI

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 January 24, 2011 on behalf of workers of Ashland
Aqualon Functional Ingredients Missouri Chemical Works, An
Ashland Hercules Water Technologies Facility, Louisiana,
Missouri (Ashland). The workers are engaged in activities
related to the production of pentaerythritol (PE), ureaform
and formaldhyde. The group consists of on-site leased workers
from Lee Mechanical Contractors, Inc.
The investigation revealed that workers of Ashland who are
engaged in activities related to the production of
pentaerythritol (PE) meet the criteria for certification.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because a significant
number or proportion of the workers at Ashland have become
totally or partially separated, or are threatened to become
totally or partially separated.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and production of PE by Ashland have decreased absolutely
during the relevant period.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because imports of
articles like or directly competitive with PE by Ashland have
increased. Specifically, Ashland's successor to the PE line,
has increased imports of PE during the relevant period.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased imports of PE by Ashland's successor contributed
importantly to the worker group separations and sales and
production declines at Ashland.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Ashland Aqualon
Functional Ingredients Missouri Chemical Works, An Ashland
Hercules Water Technologies Facility, including on-site leased
workers from Lee Mechanical Contractors, Inc., Louisiana,
Missouri, who are engaged in activities related to the
production of Penaerythritol (PE), ureaform and formaldehyde
and 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 Ashland Aqualon Functional Ingredients
Missouri Chemical Works, An Ashland Hercules Water
Technologies Facility, including on-site leased workers
from Lee Mechanical Contractors, Inc., Louisiana,
Missouri, who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after January 20, 2010, 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 6th day of May, 2011.


/s/Elliott S. Kushner________
ELLIOTT S. KUSHNER
Certifying Officer, Office of
Trade Adjustment Assistance