DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket No. 4-90]
55 FR 6027
February 21, 1990
Foreign-Trade Zone 155 -- Calhoun-Victoria Counties, TX; Application for
Subzone; Alcoa Alumina and Aluminum Fluoride Plant
TEXT: An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board
(the Board) by the Calhoun-Victoria Foreign-Trade Zone, Inc., grantee of FTZ
155, requesting special-purpose subzone status for the alumina and aluminum
fluoride manufacturing plant of the Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) in
Calhoun County, Texas, adjacent to the Point Comfort 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 February 9, 1990.
The Alcoa plant (373 acres) is located on Highway 35, adjacent to Lavaca
Bay and the Alcoa Ship Channel near Point Comfort, Calhoun County, Texas.
The facility is used to produce alumina and aluminum fluoride. Alumina
production involves refining bauxite, and aluminum fluoride production
involves the use of fluorspar and sulfuric acid. The bauxite and fluorspar
are sourced abroad.
Zone procedures would exempt Alcoa from Customs duty payments on foreign
material used in its exports. On domestic sales, the company would be able
to choose the finished product duty rate that applies to aluminum fluoride
(duty-free) rather than the rate on fluorspar ($2.07/ton). Bauxite is duty
free. Alcoa would also be exempt from certain state and local inventory
taxes.
The Alcoa plant is part of Site 2 (494 acres) of the Calhoun-Victoria
general-purpose zone. The site was originally slated for development as a
multi-user industrial park. However, since approved in late-1988, a 120-acre
portion of the site was sold to a single user, which will be applying for
subzone status prior to commencement of manufacturing. Meanwhile, Alcoa has
decided to activate the remainder of the site (373 acres) as a subzone for
its own use.
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, DC 20230; Paul
Rimmer, Deputy Assistant Regional Commissioner, U.S. Customs Service,
Southwest Region, 5850 San Felipe Street, Houston, TX 77057-3012; and
Colonel Brink P. Miller, District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer District
Galveston, P.O. Box 1227, Galveston, TX 77553-1229.
Comments concerning the proposed subzone 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 April 4, 1990.
A copy of the application is available for public inspection at each of
the following locations:
Port Director's Office,
U.S. Customs Service, Southwest Region,
P.O. Box 1027,
Point Comfort, TX 78403.
Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign-Trade Zones Board,
U.S. Department of Commerce, room 2835,
14th & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230.
Dated: February 12, 1990.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 90-3885 Filed 2-20-90; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M