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###### Department of Commerce

###### Foreign-Trade Zones Board

          - (Docket 53-2005)

      ( print page 62295)    
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