[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 119 (Monday, June 22, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 33957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16549]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
[TA-W-34,188 and NAFTA-02140]
Badger Paper Mills, Incorporated, Peshtigo, WI; Notice of Revised
Determination on Reconsideration
On March 2, 1998, the Department issued Negative Determinations
Regarding Eligibility to apply for TAA and NAFTA-TAA, applicable to
workers and former workers of Badger Paper Mills, Incorporated located
in Peshtigo, Wisconsin. The notices were published in the Federal
Register on March 23, 1998 (63 FR 13878) and (63 FR 13879),
respectively.
By letter of March 27, 1998, the petitioners requested
administrative reconsideration regarding the Department's denial of TAA
and NAFTA-TAA for workers of the subject firm. Workers at Badger Paper
Mills, Incorporated are engaged in employment related to the production
of commercial business paper and twisting papers for candies and gum.
The petitioners claim that the investigations were lacking in substance
in that the Department did not examine paper grade, pricing or
competition. Price and marketing practices by domestic competitors
would not form the basis for a worker group certification under the
Trade Act of 1974, as amended.
One of the findings in the original TAA and NAFTA-TAA negative
determinations for workers of Badger Paper Mills, Incorporated was that
the subject firm exported a majority of their products, and thus, were
not import impacted. The petitioners requesting reconsideration,
however, presented evidence that some of the commercial paper customers
decreasing purchases were domestic customers.
On reconsideration, the Department obtained additional information
regarding the output at the Peshtigo plant and the major declining
domestic customers. The primary output at Badger Paper Mills in 1996
and 1997 was commercial business paper.
On reconsideration, the Department conducted a survey of the
domestic customers reducing purchases of commercial business paper from
the subject firm. The customers reported continued or increasing
reliance on import purchases of commercial business paper from Mexico
or Canada.
Other findings on reconsideration show that the workers at the
subject firm are interchangeable among the product lines. Accordingly,
the Department recognizes that the worker separations resulting from
increased imports of commercial business paper indirectly affected the
workers producing of twisting papers for candies and gum. Workers at
Badger Paper Mills, Incorporated that formerly produced pulp at the
Peshtigo location are covered under TA-W-32,366 until the expiration
date of June 17, 1998, and are therefore, excluded from this finding.
Conclusion
After careful review of the additional facts obtained on
reconsideration, I conclude there were increased imports from foreign
sources, including Mexico or Canada, of articles like or directly
competitive with those produced by the subject firm. In accordance with
the provisions of the Trade Act, I make the following certification:
All workers of Badger Paper Mills, Incorporated, Peshtigo,
Wisconsin engaged in employment related to the production of
commercial business paper and twisting papers for candies and gum
who became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after January 19, 1997 through two years from the issuance of this
revised determination are eligible to apply for adjustment
assistance under Section 223 of the Trade Act of 1974; and
All workers of Badger Paper Mills, Incorporated, Peshtigo,
Wisconsin engaged in employment related to the production of
commercial business paper and twisting papers for candies and gum
who became totally or partially separated from employment on or
after January 16, 1997 through two years from the issuance of this
revised determination are eligible to apply for NAFTA-TAA under
Section 250 of the Trade Act of 1974.
Signed in Washington, DC this 3rd day of June 1998.
Grant D. Beale,
Acting Director, Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 98-16549 Filed 6-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M
