[Federal Register: May 21, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 98)]
[Notices]               
[Page 27813]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21my99-104]

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration
[TA-W-34,968]

 
Firstmiss Steel, Inc. Hollsopple, Pennsylvania; Notice of 
Negative Determination on Reconsideration

    On April 5, 1999, the Department issued an Affirmative 
Determination Regarding Application for Reconsideration for the workers 
and former workers of the subject firm. The petitioner presented 
evidence that the Department's survey of customers of FirstMiss Steel, 
Inc. was incomplete. The notice was published in the Federal Register 
on April 27, 1999 (64 FR 22650).
    The Department initially denied TAA to workers of FirstMiss Steel, 
Inc. producing steel products because the ``contributed importantly'' 
group eligibility requirement of Section 222(3) of the Trade Act of 
1974, as amended, was not met. The investigation revealed that the 
majority of the customers responding to a customer survey reported no 
increase in import purchases of steel ingot and bars during the 
relevant time period (1997 to 1998).
    The petitioners requesting reconsideration also cited that 
stainless steel in 1998 is one of the products being dumped by foreign 
countries into the U.S. market place at levels significantly above 1997 
levels. During the course of a TAA petition investigation to determine 
worker group eligibility, the Department does not conduct an industry 
study, but limits its investigation to the impact of articles like or 
directly competitive with the products produced and sold by the 
workers' firm.
    On reconsideration, the Department conducted further survey of 
FirstMiss Steel's major declining customers. The majority of 
respondents reported no increase in reliance on import purchases of 
steel ingots, bars and billets while decreasing purchases from the 
subject firm.

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 FirstMiss Steel, Inc., Hollsopple, 
Pennsylvania.

    Signed at Washington, DC this 10th day of May 1999.
Grant D. Beale,
Acting Director, Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. 99-12908 Filed 5-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-30-M