[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 209 (Monday, October 31, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 62295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-21616]



[[Page 62295]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

(Docket 53-2005)


Foreign-Trade Zone 84 - Houston, Texas, Foreign-Trade Zone 38 - 
Spartanburg Co., South Carolina, Foreign-Trade Zone 126 - Reno, Nevada, 
Foreign-Trade Zone 70 - Detroit, Michigan, Request for Manufacturing 
Authority, Michelin North America (Wheel Assembly)

    Applications have been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the following grantees, on behalf of Michelin North 
America (MNA), requesting authority to assemble wheels under FTZ 
procedures at the sites listed below. The applications were formally 
filed on October 20, 2005.
    Grantee: FTZ 84, Port of Houston Authority
    Site: SZ 84R
    Location: 8800 City Park Loop, Houston, Texas
    Employees: 50 employees
    Grantee: FTZ 38, South Carolina State Ports Authority
    Site: FTZ 38, Site 5
    Location: 101 Michelin Drive, Laurens, South Carolina
    Employees: 96 employees
    Grantee: FTZ 126, Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada
    Site: FTZ 126, Site 7
    Location: 14551 Industry Circle, Reno, Nevada
    Employees: 36 employees
    Grantee: FTZ 70, Greater Detroit Foreign Trade Zone, Inc.
    Site: FTZ 70, Site 18
    Location: 7111 Crabb Road, Temperance, Michigan
    Employees: 40 employees
    The general-purpose zone sites are warehouses operated by TNT 
Logistics for MNA. The applicants are requesting to perform wheel 
assembly using domestic and foreign components on behalf of auto 
manufacturer clients at each of the sites. Foreign-sourced components 
include tires (HTSUS 4011.10, 4011.20, 4011.61, 4011.62, 4011.63, 
4011.92, 4011.93, 4011.94, 4011.99, duty-free to 4.0%), wheel rims 
(HTSUS 8708.70, duty-free to 2.5%), flaps (HTSUS 4012.90, duty-free to 
4.2%), valves (HTSUS 8481.80, duty-free to 5%), tubes (HTSUS 4013.10, 
duty-free to 3.7%), gaskets (HTSUS 4016.93, duty-free to 2.5%), sensors 
(HTSUS 8525.10, duty-free), and nuts (HTSUS 7318.16, duty-free).
    FTZ procedures would exempt MNA from Customs duty payments on the 
foreign components used in production for export to non-NAFTA 
countries. On shipments for U.S. consumption and to NAFTA markets, MNA 
could elect the wheel assembly duty rate (generally dutiable as an auto 
part - 2.5%) for the foreign components (mostly tires dutiable at 4%) 
listed above. The auto part duty rate (2.5%) would apply if the wheel 
assemblies are shipped via zone-to-zone transfer to U.S. motor vehicle 
assembly plants with subzone status. The applications indicate that the 
savings from FTZ procedures would help improve the facilities' 
international competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, a member of the FTZ 
Staff has been designated examiner to investigate the application and 
report 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 one of the following addresses:
1. Submissions Via Express/Package Delivery Services: Foreign-Trade-
Zones Board, U.S. Department of Commerce, Franklin Court Building - 
Suite 4100W, 1099 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20005; or
2. Submissions Via the U.S. Postal Service: Foreign-Trade-Zones Board, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, FCB - Suite 4100W, 1401 Constitution Ave. 
NW, Washington, D.C. 20230.
    The closing period for their receipt is December 30, 2005. Rebuttal 
comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period 
may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period (to January 17, 
2006).
    Copies of the requests will be available for public inspection at 
the Office of the Foreign-Trade Zones Board's Executive Secretary at 
address Number 1 listed above.

    Dated: October 21, 2005.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 05-21616 Filed 10-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S