[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 76 (Tuesday, April 21, 1998)] [Notices] [Page 19754] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-10530] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration [TA-W-33,989] Allegheny Ludlum Corporation Leechburg, PA; Notice of Negative Determination on Reconsideration On February 23, 1998, the Department issued an Affirmative Determination Regarding Application for Reconsideration for the workers and former workers of the subject firm. The petitioner presented new evidence regarding declines in employment at the subject firm. The notice was published in the Federal Register on March 16, 1998 (63 FR 12829). The Department initially denied TAA to workers of Allegheny Ludlum Steel, Leechburg, Pennsylvania because the criterion (2) of the group eligibility requirement of Section 222 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, was not met. Sales and production at the subject firm did not decline. Employment remained unchanged since the September 8, 1997 expiration of the previous TAA certification (TA-W-31,231) for workers at the Leechburg plant. On reconsideration, the Department requested that Allegheny Ludlum Steel provide data for January through September 1996, and full year 1997. Information provided by the company shows that employment at the Leechburg plant declined from 1996 to 1997. Production levels increased in January through September 1997 compared to the same time period of 1996, and increased in 1997 compared to 1996. Statistics for electrical steel sheet and strip show that U.S. imports increased absolutely from 1996 to 1997, but the ratio of U.S. imports to U.S. shipments declined from 23.6 percent in 1996 to 21.8 percent in 1997. Conclusion After reconsideration, I affirm the original notice of negative determination of eligibility to apply for worker adjustment assistance for workers and former workers of Allegheny Ludlum Steel, Leechburg, Pennsylvania. Signed at Washington, D.C., this 3rd day of April, 1998. Grant D. Beale, Acting Director, Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance. [FR Doc. 98-10530 Filed 4-20-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-30-M