[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 103 (Friday, May 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28972-28973]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-13688]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket 25-99]


Foreign-Trade Zone 65--Panama City, FL; Application for Subzone 
Status; Halter Marine, Inc. (Shipbuilding)

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Panama City Port Authority, grantee of FTZ 65, 
requesting special-purpose subzone status for the shipbuilding facility 
of Halter Marine, Inc. (HMI), located in Allanton, Florida. 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 May 19, 1999.
    The HMI shipyard (126 acres, 300 employees) is located at 6100 
Halter Marine Drive, Allanton, Florida, about 15 miles southeast of 
Panama City, and is used in the construction, repair, and conversion of 
commercial and military vessels for domestic and international 
customers. Foreign components used at the HMI shipyard (up to 20% of 
total) include propulsion units, main engines and related parts, gears, 
pumps, flywheels, pulleys, compressor parts, measuring instruments, 
casting plates, bow thrusters, and pilot chairs (duty rate range: 
free--10%, ad valorem).
    FTZ procedures would exempt HMI from Customs duty payments on the 
foreign components used in export activity. On its domestic sales, the 
company would be able to choose the duty rate that applies to finished 
oceangoing vessels (duty free) for the foreign-origin components noted 
above. The manufacturing activity conducted under FTZ procedures would 
be subject to the ``standard shipyard restriction'' applicable to 
foreign-origin steel mill products, which requires that full duties be 
paid on such items. Foreign-sourced steel mill products, such as pipe 
and plate, would be subject to the full Customs duties applicable to 
those items. The application indicates that the savings from FTZ 
procedures would help improve the facility's international 
competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, a member of the FTZ 
Staff has been designated examiner to

[[Page 28973]]

investigate the application and report to the Board.
    Public comment on the application is invited from interested 
parties. Submissions (original and three copies) shall be addressed to 
the Board's Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing 
period for their receipt is July 27, 1999. Rebuttal comments in 
response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be 
submitted during the subsequent 15-day period (to August 11, 1999).
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection 
at the following locations:

Office of the Port Director, U.S. Customs Service, Room 103, 5321 W. US 
Highway 98, Panama City, FL 32401
Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room 
3716, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue, 
NW, Washington, DC 20230

    Dated: May 19, 1999.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Acting Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-13688 Filed 5-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P