DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Order No. 424]
54 FR 3516
January 24, 1989
Approval of Revised Plan and Extension of Zone Status for Foreign-Trade
Zone No. 84, Harris County, Texas, Houston Customs Port of Entry
TEXT: Pursuant to its authority under the Foreign-Trade Zones Act of June
18, 1934, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), and the Foreign-Trade Zones Board
Regulations (15 CFR Part 400), the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board)
adopts the following order:
Whereas, the Port of Houston Authority (PHA), Grantee of Foreign-Trade
Zone No. 84, has applied to the Board for authority to revise the plan and
extend the authority for its foreign-trade zone located in Harris County,
Texas, within the Houston Customs port of entry;
Whereas, the application was accepted for filing on February 8, 1988,
and notice inviting public comments was given in the Federal Register on
February 18, 1988 (Docket No. 8-88, 53 FR 4865);
Whereas, after the application was filed the Board conditionally
approved three petroleum and chemical terminal sites, which were processed
as separate applications (Docket Nos. 20-86, 41-85, 7-87);
Whereas, an examiners committee has investigated the application and
PHA's request to include the three foregoing terminal sites in its revised
zone plan in accordance with the Board's regulations and recommends
approval with restrictions; and,
Whereas, the Board has found that the requirements of the Foreign-Trade
Zones Act, as amended, and the Board's regulations would be satisfied if
approval is given subject to the following conditions:
1. FTZ 84 sites shall be designated for identification in accordance
with Appendix I of the examiners report.
2. The private manufacturing sites (formerly D-5, D-8) are redesignated
subzones (SZ 84A, SZ 84B) and approved for a period of five years, subject
to extension.
3. The zone will continue to operate under a centralized inventory
control system approved by Customs, subject to exceptions allowed by
Customs.
4. Manufacturing operations involving steel or steel products are
restricted to items produced for export, otherwise formal entries shall be
made on any foreign steel items prior to their use in a manufacturing
process, and all steel mill products admitted to the zone shall be
licensed under the President's Steel Program, while the program or a
substitute program is in effect.
5. Full zone benefits for blending and processing at petroleum and
chemical storage and blending sites shall be available for export only.
6. Privileged foreign status (19 CFR 146.65) shall be elected for any
foreign merchandise prior to any blending or processing operations at
petroleum and chemical storage and blending sites.
7. The FTZ Board's Executive Secretary shall be notified for approval
prior to the commencement of any new manufacturing operations.
8. The District Director of Customs shall be notified for approval prior
to the activation of any zone site.
9. Because of the nature of the project, PHA, as grantee, should play an
active and continous role as overseer to ensure that the zone project is
operated in the public interest and consistent with FTZ public utility
principles.
10. Any further changes to the Houston zone plan should be presented and
reviewed under conventional requirements.
Now, therefore, the Board hereby orders:
That the extension and revised zone plan requested by the Grantee,
including the three petroleum and chemical terminals, is approved subject
to the conditions listed above. The grant does not include authority for
manufacturing operations not covered in the application, and the Grantee
shall notify the Board for approval prior to the commencement of any new
manufacturing or assembly operations. The authority given in this Order is
subject to settlement locally by the District Director of Customs and the
District Army Engineer regarding compliance with their respective
requirements relating to foreign-trade zones.
Signed at Washington, DC this 12th day of January 1989.
Jan W. Mares,
Assistance Secretary of Commerce for Enforcement and Compliance, Chairman,
Committee of Alternates, Foreign-Trade Zones Board.
Attest:
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 89-1531 Filed 1-23-89; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M