[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] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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