DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

TA-W-82,957

TANTUS TOBACCO, LLC (TTM)
RUSSELL SPRINGS, KENTUCKY

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 1, 2013 by a state workforce office on behalf
of workers of Tantus Tobacco, LLC (TTM), Russell Springs,
Kentucky. The workers' firm is engaged in activities related to
the production of cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco.
During the course of the investigation, information was
collected from the workers' firm, major customers, and aggregate
United States data from a government agency.
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 cigarettes, cigars, and pipe tobacco by
Tantus Tobacco have decreased absolutely.
Section 222(a)(2)(A)(ii) has been met because aggregate
United States imports of articles like or directly competitive
with the articles produced by Tantus Tobacco have increased.
Finally, Section 222(a)(2)(A)(iii) has been met because
increased aggregate United States imports contributed
importantly to the worker group separations and
sales/production declines at Tantus Tobacco.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the
investigation, I determine that workers of Tantus Tobacco, LLC
(TTM), Russell Springs, Kentucky, who are engaged in activities
related to the production of cigarettes, cigars, and pipe
tobacco 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 Tantus Tobacco, LLC (TTM), Russell
Springs, Kentucky, who became totally or partially
separated from employment on or after August 1, 2012
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 17th day of September, 2013.

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