[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 133 (Monday, July 13, 1998)] [Notices] [Page 37515] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-18600] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Foreign-Trade Zones Board [Docket 35-98] Foreign-Trade Zone 122--Corpus Christi, Texas; Application for Foreign-Trade Subzone Status; Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation; Oil Refinery An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) by the Port of Corpus Christi Authority, grantee of FTZ 122, requesting special-purpose subzone status for the oil refinery and petrochemical complex of Diamond Shamrock Refining Company L.P. (an affiliate of Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation), located in Three Rivers, Texas. 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 June 30, 1998. The refinery and petrochemical complex (463 acres, 300 employees) is located at 301 Leroy Street on the Frio River, Three Rivers (Live Oak County), Texas, some 75 miles northwest of Corpus Christi. The refinery (90,000 BPD) is used to produce fuels and petrochemical feedstocks. Fuel products include gasoline, jet fuel, distillates, residual fuels, naphthas and motor fuel blendstocks. Petrochemical feedstocks and refinery by-products include methane, ethane, propane, liquid natural gas, propylene, ethylene, butylene, butane, butadiene, cumene, benzene, toluene, xylene, petroleum coke, asphalt and sulfur. Some 90-95 percent of the crude oil (99 percent of inputs), and some motor fuel blendstocks are sourced abroad. Zone procedures would exempt the refinery from Customs duty payments on the foreign products used in its exports. On domestic sales, the company would be able to choose the Customs duty rates that apply to certain petrochemical feedstocks and refinery by-products (duty-free) by admitting incoming foreign crude oil and natural gas condensate in non-privileged foreign status. The duty rates on inputs range from 5.25 cents/barrel to 10.5 cents/barrel. Under the FTZ Act, certain merchandise in FTZ status is exempt from ad valorem inventory- type taxes. The application indicates that the savings from zone procedures would help improve the refinery's 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 the address below. The closing period for their receipt is September 11, 1998. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15- day period (to September 28, 1998.) A copy of the application and accompanying exhibits will be available for public inspection at each of the following locations: U.S. Department of Commerce, export Assistance Center, 222 N. Main, Suite 450, San Antonio, Texas 78212 Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room 3716, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 Dated: July 2, 1998. Dennis Puccinelli, Acting Executive Secretary. [FR Doc. 98-18600 Filed 7-10-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P