DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-82,264

AMERICAN COTTON GROWERS
A SUBSIDIARY OF PLAINS COTTON COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION
LITTLEFIELD, 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)(III) imports of articles directly incorporating one
or more component parts produced outside the United
States that are like or directly competitive with
imports of articles incorporating one or more component
parts produced 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 December 17, 2012 by a state workforce office on
behalf of workers of American Cotton Growers, a subsidiary of
Plains Cotton Cooperative Association, Littlefield, Texas
(American Cotton Growers). The workers' firm is engaged in
activities related to the production of denim fabric.
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the workers' firm and the firm's customers.
Section 222(a)(1) has been met because 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.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(i) has been met because the sales
and production of denim fabric by American Cotton Growers have
decreased.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because customer
reliance on imports of denim bottoms directly incorporating
denim fabric produced outside the United States that are like
or directly competitive with imports of denim bottoms
incorporating denim fabric produced by American Cotton Growers
have increased.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
the customer's increased reliance on imports of denim bottoms
contributed importantly to the worker group separations and
sales/production declines at American Cotton Growers.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of American Cotton
Growers, a subsidiary of Plains Cotton Cooperative
Association, Littlefield, Texas, who are engaged in activities
related to the production of denim fabric 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 American Cotton Growers, a subsidiary of
Plains Cotton Cooperative Association, Littlefield,
Texas, who became totally or partially separated from
employment on or after December 14, 2011 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 27th day of February, 2013.


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