[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56870-56871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22649]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Notice of Continuation of Certification
[TA-W-80,308]
Roseburg Forest Products, Composite Panel Division, Including
On-Site Leased Workers of Robert Half, Orangeburg, SC
[TA-W-80,308A]
Roseburg Forest Products, Composite Panel Division, Including
On-Site Leased Workers of Robert Half, Russellville, SC
On August 12, 2011, the Department of Labor (Department) issued a
certification regarding workers' eligibility to apply for Trade
Adjustment Assistance (TAA) applicable to workers and former workers of
Roseburg Forest Products, Composite Panel Division, Orangeburg, South
Carolina (TA-W-80,308) and Russellville, South Carolina (TA-W-80,308A).
The Department's Notice of determination was published in the Federal
Register on September 2, 2011 (76 FR 54796).
The certification was based on the Department's findings that
aggregate industry imports of articles like or directly competitive
with the articles produced by Roseburg Forest Products, Composite Panel
Division, Orangeburg, South Carolina and Russellville, South Carolina
had contributed importantly to subject worker group separations.
Subsequent to the issuance of the certification, the Department
received information that suggested that the aggregate industry import
data on which the certification determination relied may have included
related articles that may not be either like or directly competitive
with either particleboard or laminated wood panels.
On July 17, 2012, the Department issued a Notice of Investigation
Regarding Termination of Certification of workers and former workers of
Roseburg Forest Products, Composite Panel Division, Orangeburg, South
Carolina and Russellville, South Carolina. The Department's Notice of
Investigation Regarding Termination of Certification was published in
the Federal Register on July 30, 2012 (77 FR 44683), and the Department
conducted what is referred to herein as the ``immediate
investigation.''
During the immediate investigation, Roseburg Forest Products
(subject firm) confirmed that the subject facilities produced
particleboard and/or laminated wood panels, and provided additional
information regarding the subject facilities' operations related to
particleboard and/or laminated wood panel production and their
respective relationships to the subject firm's customers of
particleboard and/or laminated wood panels.
Taking into consideration the new information provided by the
subject firm, the Department reviewed previously-submitted aggregate
industry import data and the previously-conducted aggregate import
analysis. The Department then excluded import data unrelated to
particleboard and/or laminated wood panels (and like or directly
competitive articles) and conducted another aggregate industry import
analysis for the same time period but using the revised aggregate
import database.
The Department's analysis of this database revealed that the import
levels of the subject articles and like or directly competitive
articles did not increase during the relevant period. Therefore,
aggregate data did not provide a basis for certifying the subject
worker groups under Section 222 of the Act, 19 U.S.C., 2272, as
described in the determination issued on August 12, 2011.
After determining that the basis for certification as described in
the determination was not valid, the Department continued the immediate
[[Page 56871]]
investigation to determine whether conditions during the relevant time
period nevertheless supported the ultimate conclusion of the
determination that the workers and former workers of Roseburg Forest
Products, Composite Panel Division, Orangeburg, South Carolina and
Russellville, South Carolina met the eligibility criteria set forth in
the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (the Act).
The Department obtained new information regarding the subject
firm's major declining customers of particleboard and/or laminated wood
panels and related import data of particleboard and/or laminated wood
panels (and like or directly competitive articles) by the subject
firm's customers.
Using the new customer information and previously-submitted
information from the subject firm regarding particleboard and/or
laminated wood panels sales and production at Roseburg Forest Products,
Composite Panel Division, Orangeburg, South Carolina and Russellville,
South Carolina, the Department conducted another import analysis for
the relevant time period.
The immediate investigation revealed increased imports (direct and
indirect imports) of particleboard wood panels by major declining
customer(s) of the subject firm during 2010 from 2009 levels and during
partial year 2011 from the corresponding 2010 period (the relevant
period).
Based on a careful analysis of all information provided in the
immediate and earlier investigations, the Department determines that
increased customer imports of articles like or directly competitive
with the particleboard and/or laminated wood panels produced at the
subject facilities contributed importantly to worker group separations
at Roseburg Forest Products, Composite Panel Division, Orangeburg,
South Carolina and Russellville, South Carolina.
Conclusion
After careful review of the facts obtained in the initial
investigation of the petition referenced as TA-W-80,308 and TA-W-
80,308A and the immediate investigation, I determine, in accordance
with Section 223 of the Act, 19 U.S.C. 2273, that the certification of
workers and former workers of Roseburg Forest Products, Composite Panel
Division, including on-site leased workers of Robert Half, Orangeburg,
South Carolina (TA-W-80,308) and Roseburg Forest Products, Composite
Panel Division, including on-site leased workers of Robert Half,
Russellville, South Carolina (TA-W-80,308A), issued on August 12, 2011
and published in the Federal Register on September 2, 2011 (76 FR
54796) should not be terminated. As described in the certification, I
conclude that these workers, who are/were engaged in activities related
to production of particleboard and/or laminated wood panels, have met
the worker group certification criteria under 222(a) of the Act, 19
U.S.C. 2272(a).
Signed in Washington, DC, this 31st day of August, 2012
Del Min Amy Chen,
Certifying Officer, Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 2012-22649 Filed 9-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FN-P