DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket No. 4-88]
53 FR 3411
February 5, 1988
Proposed Foreign-Trade Zone, Ponce, PR; Application and Public Hearing
TEXT: An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board
(the Board) by the Puerto Rico International Distribution Center and Free
Zone, Inc. (PFZ), a non-profit corporation involving the City of Ponce and
the Ponce Chamber of Commerce, requesting authority to establish a general-
purpose foreign-trade zone in Ponce, Puerto Rico, within the Ponce 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 January
20, 1988. PFZ is authorized to make the proposal under Joint Resolution
1406 of the Puerto Rico Legislative Assembly (approved 6/2/86).
The proposed zone is located on a 168-acre industrial park site east of
Avenida Malecon (State Board No. 14) at the Port of Ponce. The site, owned
by the City, is being developed as a trade and distribution center. Plans
call for the construction of 180,000 square feet of warehouse to be utilized
for general-purpose zone activity.
The application contains evidence of the need for zone services in the
Ponce area. Several firms have indicated an interest in using zone
procedures for warehousing/distribution of ceramics, food products, wearing
apparel and machinery parts. Specific manufacturing approvals are not being
sought at this time. Requests will 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: Dennis Puccinelli, Foreign-Trade Zones Staff, U.S.
Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; Howard Cooperman, Deputy
Assistant Regional Commissioner, U.S. Customs Service, Southeast Region,
409 Brickell Place, Room 7322, Miami, Florida 33130; and Colonel Charles T.
Myers III, District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer District Jacksonville,
P.O. Box 4970, Jacksonville, Florida 32232-0019.
As part of its investigation, the examiners committee will hold a public
hearing on March 9, 1988, beginning at 9:30 a.m., at the Casa Alcadia,
Salon Asamblea on the Plaza Degetau in Ponce.
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 March 2. 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 April
11, 1988.
A copy of the application and accompanying exhibits will be available
during this time for public inspection at each of the following locations:
Area/Port Director's Office,
U.S. Customs Service,
P.O. Box 127,
Ponce, Puerto Rico 00731
Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign-Trade Zones Board,
U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 1529,
14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230
Dated: January 27, 1988.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 88-2504 Filed 2-4-88; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M