[Federal Register: June 20, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 117)]
[Notices]               
[Page 35455]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20jn05-66]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration

[TA-W-56,871]

 
Block Corporation; Amory, MS; Notice of Negative Determination 
Regarding Application for Reconsideration

    By application of May 16, 2005 a petitioner requested 
administrative reconsideration of the Department's negative 
determination regarding eligibility for workers and former workers of 
the subject firm to apply for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and 
Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance (ATAA). The denial notice was 
signed on April 27, 2005 and published in the Federal Register on May 
16, 2005 (70 FR 25859).
    Pursuant to 29 CFR 90.18(c) reconsideration may be granted under 
the following circumstances:
    (1) If it appears on the basis of facts not previously considered 
that the determination complained of was erroneous;
    (2) If it appears that the determination complained of was based on 
a mistake in the determination of facts not previously considered; or
    (3) If in the opinion of the Certifying Officer, a 
misinterpretation of facts or of the law justified reconsideration of 
the decision.
    The TAA petition, filed on behalf of workers at Block Corporation, 
Amory, Mississippi engaged in production of men's trouser samples was 
denied because the ``contributed importantly'' group eligibility 
requirement of section 222 of the Trade Act of 1974 was not met, nor 
was there a shift in production from that firm to a foreign country. 
The investigation revealed that the preponderance in employment 
declines is attributed to a domestic shift in production of men's 
trouser samples.
    In the request for reconsideration, the petitioner alleges that the 
layoffs at the subject firm are attributable to an increase in imports 
of men's trouser samples.
    A company official was contacted regarding the above allegations. 
The company official confirmed what was revealed during the initial 
investigation. In particular, the official stated that even though the 
subject firm has been importing a small portion of men's trouser 
samples, domestic production of men's trouser samples have not declined 
during the relevant time period. Furthermore, the official stated that 
the same amount of pant samples that were produced at the subject 
facility are now produced at another domestic facility.

Conclusion

    After review of the application and investigative findings, I 
conclude that there has been no error or misinterpretation of the law 
or of the facts which would justify reconsideration of the Department 
of Labor's prior decision. Accordingly, the application is denied.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 7th day of June, 2005.
Elliott S. Kushner,
Certifying Officer, Division of Trade Adjustment Assistance.
[FR Doc. E5-3168 Filed 6-17-05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4510-30-P