DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket No. 49-84]
49 FR 44779
November 9, 1984
Application for Subzone Bethlehem Shipyard, Beaumont, TX
TEXT: An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board
(the Board) by the Foreign-Trade Zone of Southeast Texas, Inc., requesting
special-purpose subzone status for Bethlehem Steel Corporation's Beaumont
Shipyard in Jefferson County, Texas, adjacent to the Beaumont Customs port
of entry. 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
October 30, 1984. The applicant has an application pending before the
Board for a general-purpose foreign-trade zone at the Port of Beaumont
(Docket 21-84, 49 FR 20747, 5/16/84).
The proposed subzone will cover 81 acres within Bethlehem's 115-acre
Beaumont shipyard located on a peninsula bounded by the west bank of the
Neches River and the east bank of the Brakes Bayou, near Beaumont, Texas.
The facility is used for the construction of offshore oil drilling
platforms and vessels, currently employing 4100 persons. Although the oil
rigs are built primarily from domestic materials, Bethlehem installs a
substantial amount of owner-furnished material, some of which is imported.
Current vessel activity involves the conversion of two ships to TAKX
roll on/roll off logistic ships for leasing to the Navy. Foreign-sourced
material for this contract includes hatch covers, doors, cranes, chain,
anchors controls, electrical equipment, air conditioning, pumps, boilers,
diesel generators, distilling and oil/water separating equipment.
Zone procedures will help Bethlehem to reduce costs on its current
orders and to compete internationally on bids for new products. The
benefits are related to the fact that most of the components are subject
to significant duties, and that the finished products, as oceangoing
vessels are duty free.
In accordance with the Board's regulations, and 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;
Donald Gough, Deputy Assistant Regional Commissioner, U.S. Customs Service,
Southwest Region, Suite 500, 5850 San Felipe St., Houston, TX 77057; and
Colonel Alan L. Laubscher, District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer District
Galveston, P.O. Box 1229, Galveston, TX 77553.
Comments concerning the proposed subzone are invited in writing from
interested persons and organizations. They should be addressed to the
Board's Executive Secretary at the address below and postmarked on or
before December 10,1984. A copy of the application is available for public
inspection at each of the following locations:
Port Director's Office,
U.S. Customs Service,
4550 75th Street,
Port Arthur, TX 77640
Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign-Trade Zones Board,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 1529,
14th and Pennsylvania, NW.,
Washington, D.C. 20230.
Dated: November 6, 1984.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 84-29568 Filed 11-8-84; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M