Proposed Foreign-Trade Zone -- Birmingham, Alabama; Application and Public Hearing
TEXT: An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the
Board) by the City of Birmingham, Alabama, requesting authority to establish a
general-purpose foreign-trade zone in Birmingham, within the Birmingham Customs
port of entry. The application was submitted pursuant to the provisions of the
Foreign-Trade Zone 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 2, 1983. The applicant
is authorized to make this proposal under Act No. 498, House Bill 1158, Bound
Acts of Alabama, 1977.
The proposed zone will be located at the City's Airport Industrial Park, which covers
116 acres on Lake Boulevard and Birmingham Street, adjoining the 1600-acre
Birmingham Municipal Airport complex. A general-purpose building is planned
to accommodate initial zone activity. Space is also available for firms requiring
separate facilities.
The application contains evidence of the need for zone procedures in the
Birmingham area. Several firms have indicated an interest in using the zone for
warehousing/distribution of such products as steel bars, fabricated steel products,
filtration systems and components, industrial valves, controls, auto service
equipment and components, furniture, alcohol, and games. No approvals are being
requested for manufacturing at this time. Such requests would be made to the
Board on a case-by-case basis.
In accordance with the Board's regulations, an examiners committee has been
appointed to investigate the application and report to the Board. The committee
consists of: John J. Da Ponte, Jr. (Chairman), Director, Foreign-Trade Zones Staff,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, D.C. 20230; Garnet Fee, District
Director, U.S. Customs Service, South Central Region, 250 N. Water Street, P.O.
Box 2748, Mobile, AL 36601; and Colonel Patrick J. Kelly, District Engineer, U.S.
Army Engineer District Mobile, P.O. Box 2288, Mobile, AL 36628.
As part of its investigation, the examiners committee will hold a public hearing on
June 3, beginning at 9:00 a.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 710 20th
Street North, Birmingham.
Interested parties are invited to present their views at the hearing. Persons wishing
to testify should notify the Board's Executive Secretary in writing at the address
below or by phone (202/377-2862) by May 27. 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 5, 1983.
A copy of the application and accompanying exhibits will be available during this
time for public inspection at each of the following locations:
U.S. Dept. of Commerce District Office,
Suite 200-201, 408 S. 20th Street,
Birmingham, AL 35205
Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign-Trade Zones Board,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 1872,
14th and Pennsylvania, NW.,
Washington, D.C. 20230
Dated: May 5, 1983.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 83-12611 Filed 5-10-83; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-25-M