[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 90 (Monday, May 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25820-25821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-12331]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Order No. 975]


Grant of Authority for Subzone Status; Equistar Chemicals LP 
(Petrochemical Complex), Harris County, TX

    Pursuant to its authority under the Foreign-Trade Zones Act of June 
18, 1934, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) adopts the following Order:
    Whereas, by an Act of Congress approved June 18, 1934, an Act ``To 
provide for the establishment * * * of foreign-trade zones in ports of 
entry of

[[Page 25821]]

the United States, to expedite and encourage foreign commerce, and for 
other purposes,'' as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u) (the Act), the 
Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) is authorized to grant to 
qualified corporations the privilege of establishing foreign-trade 
zones in or adjacent to U.S. Customs ports of entry;
    Whereas, the Board's regulations (15 CFR Part 400) provide for the 
establishment of special-purpose subzones when existing zone facilities 
cannot serve the specific use involved;
    Whereas, an application from the Port of Houston Authority, grantee 
of Foreign-Trade Zone 84, for authority to establish special-purpose 
subzone status at the petrochemical complex of Equistar Chemicals LP, 
located in Harris County, Texas, was filed by the Board on June 16, 
1997, and notice inviting public comment was given in the Federal 
Register (FTZ Docket 50-97, 62 FR 355152, 6/30/97); and,
    Whereas, the Board adopts the findings and recommendations of the 
examiner's report, and finds that the requirements of the FTZ Act and 
Board's regulations would be satisfied, and that approval of the 
application would be in the public interest if approval is subject to 
the conditions listed below;
    Now, therefore, the Board hereby authorizes the establishment of a 
subzone (Subzone 84Q) at the petrochemical complex of Equistar 
Chemicals LP, located in Harris County, Texas, at the location 
described in the application, subject to the FTZ Act and the Board's 
regulations, including Sec. 400.28, and subject to the following 
conditions:
    1. Foreign status (19 CFR 146.41, 146.42) products consumed as fuel 
for the refinery shall be subject to the applicable duty rate.
    2. Privileged foreign status (19 CFR 146.41) shall be elected on 
all foreign merchandise admitted to the subzone, except that non-
privileged foreign (NPF) status (19 CFR 146.42) may be elected on 
refinery inputs covered under HTSUS Subheadings #2710.00.0505-
#2710.00.2500, and #2710.00.45 which are used in the production of:

--petrochemical feedstocks (examiners report, Appendix C);
--products for export; and,
--products eligible for entry under HTSUS # 9808.00.30 and 9808.00.40 
(U.S. Government purchases).

    3. The authority with regard to the NPF option is initially granted 
until September 30, 2000, subject to extension.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 28th day of April 1998.
Robert S. LaRussa,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Import Administration, Alternate 
Chairman, Foreign-Trade Zones Board.

Dennis Puccinelli,
Acting Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-12331 Filed 5-8-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P