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Rulings & Regulations: Former Foundry Works Eligible for Assistance

March 25, 2006
Also, Green Book updates binder reporting

Former Indianapolis Foundry Employees Eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance

The U.S. Department of Labor ruled that former employees of the DaimlerChrysler Indianapolis Foundry are eligible to receive federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA).

The assistance is made available to workers who lose their jobs because of foreign imports or shifts in production out of the country. The TAA program, which is administered at the state level, must prove that the workers in question are eligible. A petition filed by a company executive, union representative, or three former employees must be filed with the U.S. Dept. of Labor and approved before benefits can be released. A DaimlerChrysler official filed the petition on August 24, 2005. The benefits were certified on September 20, 2005.

A federal investigation found that a shift in production, from the Indianapolis Foundry to Germany and Brazil, caused the layoff of almost 900 workers. Any employee who has been or will be totally or partially separated from employment on or after August 24, 2004, through September 20, 2007, is eligible.

Benefits and services include those that help unemployed workers prepare for and obtain suitable employment, re-employment services, job search and relocation allowance and training. Additionally, weekly trade re-adjustment allowances may be payable to eligible workers following the exhaustion of unemployment insurance benefits.

Green Book Updates Facts for Reporting on Binder Chemicals

The American Foundry Society and Casting Industry Suppliers Assn. have updated and published “Form R Reporting of Binder Chemicals Used in Foundries,” the third edition of the guidebook. It is presented to help foundries “accurately report on the use and release of those binder system chemicals that are reportable under SARA Title III Section 313 and 40 CFR Part 372.”

This third edition of the publication is known as “The Green Book,” replacing “The Gold Book” published several years ago.

The Green Book is organized in three sections: definition of terms; sample problems, to illustrate how the publication can be used to estimate releases of binder chemicals; and tables for each of the numerous generic binder systems. Each chemical is listed with the percentage that reacts during curing/reaction, and no longer exists as the chemical. Percentages are shown also for the amounts of each chemical that is released during core/moldmaking, or remains in the core/mold after curing but before exposure to molten metal.

Information was provided by CISA’s Environmental Committee and compiled and published by AFS. For more information, contact AFS at Tel. 847-824-0181.