[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 37 (Thursday, February 24, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 10329]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-4208]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 12-2011]


Foreign-Trade Zone 3--San Francisco, California; Application for 
Subzone; Valero Refining Company--California (Oil Refinery), Benicia, 
California

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Port of San Francisco, grantee of FTZ 3, requesting 
special-purpose subzone status for the oil refining facilities of 
Valero Refining Company--California (Valero), located in Benicia, 
California. The application was submitted pursuant to the provisions of 
the Foreign-Trade Zones Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), and the 
regulations of the Board (15 CFR part 400). It was formally filed on 
February 17, 2011.
    The Valero facilities (511 employees, 153,000 barrel per day 
capacity) consist of 4 sites in Solano County: Site 1 (510 acres) main 
refinery complex, located at 3400 East 2nd Street, Benicia; Site 2 (53 
acres) crude tank farm, located southeast of the main refinery complex, 
Benicia; Site 3 (11.31 acres) crude dock, located on Pier 95, near the 
Benicia-Martinez Bridge, Benicia; and Site 4 (1.34 acres) coke 
facilities, located on Pier 95, near the Benicia-Martinez Bridge, 
Benicia. The refinery is used to produce fuels and other petroleum 
products. Products include gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, propane, butane, 
fuel oil, residual oil, and asphalt. Some 40 percent of the crude oil 
is sourced from abroad.
    Zone procedures would exempt the refinery from customs duty 
payments on the foreign products used in its exports. On domestic 
sales, the company would be able to choose the customs duty rates that 
apply to certain petroleum products and refinery by-products (duty-
free) by admitting incoming foreign crude in non-privileged foreign 
status. The duty rates on inputs range from 5.25 cents/barrel to 10.5 
cents/barrel. FTZ designation would further allow Valero to realize 
logistical benefits through the use of weekly customs entry procedures. 
Customs duties also could possibly be deferred or reduced on foreign 
status production equipment. The request indicates that the savings 
from FTZ procedures would help improve the refinery's international 
competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, Elizabeth Whiteman of 
the FTZ Staff is designated examiner to evaluate and analyze the facts 
and information presented in the application and case record and to 
report findings and recommendations to the Board.
    Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions 
(original and 3 copies) shall be addressed to the Board's Executive 
Secretary at the address below. The closing period for their receipt is 
April 25, 2011. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to May 10, 2011.
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection 
at the Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, 
Room 2111, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230-0002, and in the ``Reading Room'' section of the 
Board's Web site, which is accessible via http://www.trade.gov/ftz.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Elizabeth Whiteman at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c481a8adbea5a6a1b0acea93acadb0a1a9a5aa84b0b6a5a0a1eaa3abb2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="87c2ebeefde6e5e2f3efa9d0efeef3e2eae6e9c7f3f5e6e3e2a9e0e8f1">[email protected]</span></a> or (202) 482-0473.

    Dated: February 17, 2011.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-4208 Filed 2-23-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P


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