(Cite as: 58 FR 68115)
NOTICES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
(Docket 62-93)
Proposed Foreign-Trade Zone--Tri-City Area TN/VA; Johnson City, Kingsport,
Bristol, Sullivan County and Washington County, TN, and Bristol, VA;
Application and Public Hearing
Thursday, December 23, 1993
An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the
Board) by the Tri-City Airport Commission (an interstate public entity
involving 6 Tri-City area municipalities), requesting authority to
establish a general-purpose foreign-trade zone at sites in Johnson City,
Kingsport, Bristol, Sullivan County and Washington County, Tennessee, and
Bristol, Virginia (the Tri-City area). A request is pending with the U.S.
Customs Service for designation of the Tri-City Regional Airport as a
Customs user fee facility. The FTZ 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 December 13, 1993. The applicant is authorized to make
the proposal under Chapter 85 of the Tennessee Code Annotated, and Chapter
14 of the Code of Virginia.
The proposed foreign-trade zone would consist of 7 sites (2,998 acres) in
the Tri-City area. Site 1 (1,040 acres)--Tri-City Regional Airport complex,
Blountville, Sullivan County, TN, located 15 miles from the Cities of
Bristol, TN/VA, Kingsport, and Johnson City, TN--owned and operated by the
applicant; Site 2 (440 acres)--St. John/Eldred Business Park, City of
Johnson City, Washington County, TN--and has two private owners; Site 3
(330 acres)-- Northeast Tennessee Business Park, adjacent to the Tri-City
Regional Airport at the intersection of TN 357 and Hwy 75, City of
Kingsport, Sullivan County, TN-- owned by the City; Site 4 (129
acres)--Bristol Tennessee Industrial Park, Bristol, Sullivan County,
TN--owned by the Bristol Tennessee Electric System; Site 5 (750
acres)--Tri-County Industrial Park, Piney Flats, Sullivan County, TN--owned
by Sullivan County, the Cities of Johnson City, Bristol and Elizabethton,
TN--operated by Sullivan County Industrial Commission; Site 6 (206
acres)--Regional Med-Tech Center, Johnson City, Washington County, TN--
owned by 4 private owners; and, Site 7 (103 acres)--Linden/Hairston
Industrial Park, Linden Drive at Bonham Road, Bristol, VA--owned by the
City of Bristol. The zone project will be operated by the Greater Tri-City
Foreign-Trade Zone, Inc.
The application contains evidence of the need for zone services in the Tri-
City area. Several firms have indicated an interest in using zone
procedures for warehousing/distribution of such items as pharmaceuticals,
electronics, automotive and aerospace products. Specific manufacturing
approvals are not being sought at this time. Requests would be made to the
Board on a case-by- case basis.
In accordance with the Board's regulations (as revised, 56 FR 50790-50808,
10- 8-91), an examiner has been designated to investigate the application
and report to the Board.
As part of the investigation, the Commerce examiner will hold a public
hearing on February 25, 1994, at 10 a.m., in the Auditorium of the
Northeast State Technical Community College, State Highway 75, Blountville,
Tennessee.
Public comment on the application is invited from interested parties.
Submissions (original and 3 copies) shall be addressed to the Board's
Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing period for their
receipt is March 17, 1994. Rebuttal comments in response to material
submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted during the
subsequent 15-day period (to April 1, 1994).
A copy of the application and accompanying exhibits will be available
during this time for public inspection at the following locations:
Tri-City Regional Airport,
Office of the Deputy Director,
State Highway 75,
Blountville, TN 37617.
Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign-Trade Zones Board, room 3716,
U.S. Department of Commerce,
14th & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230.
Dated: December 16, 1993.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
(FR Doc. 93-31386 Filed 12-22-93; 8:45 am)