[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 113 (Monday, June 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34203-34204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14574]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket 39-2011]
Foreign-Trade Subzone 78A Application for Expansion of
Manufacturing Authority Nissan North America, Inc. (Electric Passenger
Vehicles) Smyrna and Decherd, TN
An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board
(the Board) by Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA), operator of FTZ 78A,
NNA facilities, Smyrna and Decherd, Tennessee, requesting authority to
expand the scope of FTZ manufacturing authority. The application was
submitted pursuant to the provisions of the Foreign-Trade Zones Act, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), and section 400.28(a)(2) of the Board's
regulations (15 CFR part 400). It was formally filed on June 7, 2011.
Subzone 78A (over 4,000 employees, 550,000 light-duty motor
vehicles/year) was approved by the Board in 1982 with authority granted
for the manufacture of light-duty pickup trucks at the NNA plant
located at 983 Nissan Drive in Smyrna, Tennessee (Board Order 190, 47
FR 16191, 4-12-1982), and the scope of manufacturing authority was
expanded to include passenger sedans and minivans, engines, and
transmissions in 1984 (Board Order 272, 49 FR 35395, 9-7-1984). In
1993, the subzone was expanded and the scope of manufacturing authority
was expanded to accommodate an increase in overall production capacity
at the plant (Board Order 632, 58 FR 18850, 3-30-1993). The subzone was
subsequently expanded in 1997 to add a new engine and transmission
production facility in Decherd, Tennessee (Board Order 869, 62 FR
13595, 3-21-1997).
The applicant now seeks to expand the scope of authority to include
electric-powered, light-duty passenger vehicles (up to 150,000
vehicles/year) and related lithium-ion batteries (200,000 units/year)
as additional finished products to be manufactured under FTZ procedures
at the Smyrna facility. The following foreign-origin materials and
components (representing about 31% of the value of the finished
products) would be used in the manufacture of the electric passenger
vehicles and lithium-ion batteries: Acid-based additives, wash fluid
(acrylic/
[[Page 34204]]
vinyl polymers), brake fluid, coolant, electrolytes (chemical), labels
and film, separators (plastic), plastic fittings/gaskets/grommets/
emblems, v-belts, tires, tool sets, glass, mirrors, fasteners, tabs,
locks, springs, rings, insulators, electrodes (anode, cathode),
gaskets, valves, bearings, oil coolers, flywheels, pulleys, shaft
couplings, sprockets, spacers, motors, battery chargers, magnets,
batteries and related parts, electrical components, electronic
controllers and modules, audio components, sensors, antennas, cables,
wiring sets, connectors, brake parts (wireless), knobs, and junction
boxes (duty rate range: Free--9.0%).
Expanded FTZ procedures could exempt NNA from customs duty payments
on the foreign-origin components used in electric passenger vehicles
and lithium-ion batteries manufactured for export. On its domestic
shipments, NNA would be able to choose the duty rate during customs
entry procedures that applies to electric passenger vehicles (duty rate
-- 2.5%) and lithium-ion batteries (3.4%) for the foreign inputs noted
above. Customs duties also could possibly be deferred or reduced on
foreign status production equipment. NNA would also be exempt from duty
payments on foreign inputs that become scrap during the production
process.
In accordance with the Board's regulations, Pierre Duy 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 following address: Office of the Executive Secretary,
Room 2111, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230-0002. The closing period for receipt of comments
is August 12, 2011. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to August 29, 2011.
A copy of the application will be available for public inspection
at the Office of the Foreign-Trade Zones Board's Executive Secretary at
the address listed above 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 Pierre Duy at [email protected]
or (202) 482-1378.
Dated: June 7, 2011.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-14574 Filed 6-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P