E8-10031. Fraser Timber Limited, Ashland, ME, Notice of Affirmative Determination Regarding Application for Reconsideration

By application dated April 10, 2008, a company official requested administrative reconsideration of the negative determination regarding workers' eligibility to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA) applicable to workers and former workers of the subject firm. The determination was issued on March 14, 2008. The Notice of determination was published in the Federal Register on March 26, 2008 (73 FR 16064).

The initial investigation resulted in a negative determination based on the finding that imports of lumber and woodchips did not contribute importantly to worker separations at the subject firm and no shift of production to a foreign source occurred.

In the request for reconsideration, the petitioner provided additional information regarding aggregate imports of lumber and the impact of Canadian imports on lumber industry in the United States.

The Department has carefully reviewed the request for reconsideration and the existing record and has determined that the Department will conduct further investigation to determine if the workers meet the eligibility requirements of the Trade Act of 1974.

Conclusion

After careful review of the application, I conclude that the claim is of sufficient weight to justify reconsideration of the U.S. Department of Labor's prior decision. The application is, therefore, granted.

Signed at Washington, DC, this 28th day of April 2008.

Elliott S. Kushner,

Certifying Officer, Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance.