[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43259-43260]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-18301]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 48-2011]


Foreign-Trade Zone 109--Watertown, NY, Application for 
Manufacturing Authority, North American Tapes, LLC, (Textile Athletic 
Tape), Watertown, NY

    A request has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the 
Board) by the Jefferson County Industrial Development Authority, 
grantee of FTZ 109, requesting manufacturing authority on behalf of 
North American Tapes, LLC (NAT), to manufacture athletic tape under FTZ 
procedures within FTZ 109. 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 July 15, 2011.
    The NAT facility (25 employees) is located within FTZ 109 at 22430 
Fisher

[[Page 43260]]

Road in the Jefferson County Industrial Park (Site 1), Watertown, New 
York. The facility is used to produce pressure-sensitive adhesive 
athletic tape (e.g., trainers, hockey) with textile backing material 
for the U.S. market and export. The manufacturing process under FTZ 
procedures would involve blending, calendaring/laminating, winding, 
slitting, and packaging. The activity uses production inputs purchased 
from domestic and foreign sources. The sole material inputs sourced 
from abroad (representing about 30% of the finished tape's value) are 
woven cotton and polyester/cotton textile fabrics (duty rates: 10.5, 
14.9%). The facility can produce up to 12.5 million square meters of 
finished athletic tape annually.
    FTZ procedures could exempt NAT from customs duty payments on the 
foreign fabrics used in export production. The company anticipates that 
some 58 percent of the plant's shipments will be exported. On its 
domestic sales, NAT would be able to choose the duty rate during 
customs entry procedures that applies to athletic tape (duty rate: 
2.9%) for the foreign-origin textile fabrics noted above. FTZ 
designation would further allow NAT 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. NAT would also be exempt from duty payments on foreign 
fabric that becomes scrap during the production process. The 
application indicates that the savings from FTZ procedures would help 
improve the facility's international competitiveness.
    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 address below. The closing period for receipt of 
comments is September 19, 2011. Rebuttal comments in response to 
material submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted during 
the subsequent 15-day period to October 3, 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 Pierre Duy at [email protected] 
or (202) 482-1378.

    Dated: July 15, 2011.
Elizabeth Whiteman,
Acting Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-18301 Filed 7-19-11; 8:45 am]
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