DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket 21-90]
55 FR 23955
June 13, 1990
Foreign-Trade Zone 65 -- Panama City, FL; Application for Extension,
Berg Steel Pipe Corp., Zone Manufacturing Operation
TEXT: An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board
(the Board) by the Panama City Port Authority, grantee of FTZ 65, Panama
City, Florida, requesting an extension of authority on behalf of Berg Steel
Pipe Corporation (BSPC) for its manufacturing operations at its steel pipe
plant within FTZ 65. The application was formally filed on May 30, 1990.
The Board authorized the Port Authority to establish a foreign-trade zone
in Panama City within its Port complex in 1981 (Board Order 171, 46 FR
8072, 1/26/81). The decision included authorization for BSPC's new steel
pipe plant for five years, subject to extension. In 1987, the authority was
extended to September 30, 1990 (Board Order 362, 52 FR 28713). The Port
Authority is now requesting an indefinite extension.
BSPC is a producer of large diameter steel pipe with outer diameters of
24 to 72 inches, employing over 200 persons. In recent years, the plant has
purchased over 65 percent of its carbon steel plate requirements from
domestic sources. Some of the products are exported.
Zone procedures would exempt BSPC from duty payments on the foreign
steel used in its exports. On its domestic sales, the company is able to
choose the same duty rate available to importers of finished pipe (1.9%).
The duty rate on steel plate is 6.0 percent The application indicates that
the zone savings helps BSPC compete against imports of finished steel pipe
and in foreign markets.
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 (Chairman), Foreign-Trade Zones
Staff, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230; Howard Cooperman,
Deputy Assistant Regional Commissioner, U.S. Customs Service, Southeast
Region, 99 SE. 5th Street, Miami, Florida 33131; and Colonel Larry S.
Bonine, District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer District Mobile, P.O. Box
2286, Mobile, Alabama 36628.
Comments concerning the proposed extension of authority are invited in
writing from interested parties. They should be addressed to the Board's
Executive Secretary at the address below and postmarked on or before July
25, 1990.
A copy of the application and accompanying exhibits will be available
during this time for public inspection at each of the following locations:
Port Director's Office,
U.S. Customs Service,
5321 W. Highway 98,
Panama City, Florida 32401.
Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign-Trade Zones Board,
U.S. Department of Commerce,
14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., room 2835,
Washington, DC 20230.
Dated: June 6, 1990.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 90-13605 Filed 6-12-90; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M