DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket No. 8-80]
45 FR 34029
May 21, 1980
Proposed Foreign-Trade Zone and Subzone Facilities-- Greater Detroit
Metropolitan Area; Application and Public Hearing
Notice is hereby given that an application has been submitted to the
Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) by the Greater Detroit Foreign-Trade
Zone, Inc. (GDFTZ), a nonprofit Michigan corporation affiliated with the
Greater Detroit Chamber of Commerce, requesting authority to establish a
general-purpose foreign-trade zone in the City of Dearborn, Wayne County,
and special-purpose subzone in the City of Romeo, Macomb County, adjacent
to the Detroit Customs port of entry. The application was submitted
pursuant to the provisions of the Foreign-Trade Zones Act of 1934, as
amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), and the regulations of the Board (15 CFR Part
400). It was formally filed on May 14, 1980. The applicant is authorized
to make this poroposal under Chapter 447, Act 154, Michigan Public Acts of
1963, effective September 6, 1963 [MSA 21.302(1)].
The proposed general-purpose zone would be established at the Woodfab
Company distribution complex on a 5.5-acre tract located at 6700 Chase
Road, off I-94 in the City of Dearborn, some 5 miles west of downtown
Detroit and 10 miles from the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Woodfab would
be the zone operator and would commence its zone activity within an
existing 75,000 square foot structure. Expansion can be accommodated
within the requested tract or at the operator's 60-acre land bank located
adjacent to the Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Initial zone activities would
consist of warehousing, assembly, processing, exhibition and light
manufacturing on a variety of products including bearings, chemicals, snow
melting equipment, plumbing supplies, fishing rods, and graphic arts
materials.
The special-purpose subzone would be established at the 257-acre tractor
assembly plant of the Ford Motor Company located at 701 East 32 Mile Road
in the City of Romeo, Macomb County, about 35 miles north of Detriot. The
site consists of over one million square feet of space devoted to the
manufacture of components for and the assembly of agricultural and
industrial tractors. Owned by the Ford Motor Company, the plant facility
currently employs 2,250 people.
Currently, about 90 percent of the Romeo plant's output us sold in the
U.S. in direct competition with certain foreign-made tractors which are
imported duty-free. The company is presently paying Customs duties ranging
from 3 to 18 percent on some of its imported components. Subzone status
is being requested to eliminate duty assessments on these parts, thus
helping make the plant more competitive with foreign plants.
In accordance with the Board's regulations, an Examiner's Committee has
been appointed to investigate the application and report to the Board. The
committee consists of: Hugh J. Dolan (Chairman), Office of the Secretary,
U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and E Streets NW, Washington, DC 20230;
Louis A. Mezzano, District Director, U.S. Customs Service, 477 Michigan
Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48226; and Colonel Robert V. Vermillion, District
Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer District Detroit, P.O. Box 1027, Detroit,
Michigan 48226.
As part of its investigation of the proposal, the Examiners Committee will
hold a public hearing on June 19, 1980, beginning at approximately
11:00 a.m., in Room 859 (Eighth floor), U.S. Courthouse, 231 West La
Fayette, Detroit. It will begin immediately following the hearing to be
held starting at 9:00 a.m. concerning a foreign-trade zone proposal by the
City of Detroit (Doc. #7-80). The purpose of the hearing is to help inform
interested persons, to provide an opportunity for their expression of views,
and to obtain information useful to the examiners.
Interested persons or their representatives are invited to present their
views at the hearing. They should notify the Board's executive secretary
of their desire to be heard in writing at the address below or by phone
(202-377-2862) by June 12, 1980. Instead of an oral presentation, written
statements may be submitted in accordance with the Board's regulations to
the Examiners Committee, care of the Executive Secretary, at any time from
the date of this notice through July 21, 1980. Evidence submitted during the
post-hearing period is not desired unless it is clearly shown that the
matter is new and material and that there are good reasons why it could
not be presented at the hearing.
A copy of the application and accompanying exhibits will be available
during this time for public inspection at each of the following locations:
Office of the Director,
U.S. Department of Commerce District Office,
Federal Building, Room 445,
231 West La Fayette,
Detroit, Michigan 48226
Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign-Trade Zones Board,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 6888-B
14th and E Streets NW.,
Washington, D.C. 20230.
Dated: May 14, 1980.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 80-15527 Filed 5-20-80; 8:45 am]