[Federal Register: April 1, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket 12-94]
Foreign-Trade Zone 84; Houston, TX; Application for Subzone
Hydril Company Facilities (Oil Field Equipment)
An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board
(the Board) by the Port of Houston Authority, grantee of FTZ 84,
requesting special-purpose subzone status for export activity at the
oil well equipment manufacturing facilities of the Hydril Company
(Inc.), located in Houston, Texas. 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 March 24, 1994.
The Hydril facilities consist of two sites in Houston (Harris
County), Texas. Site 1: (96 acres)--administrative/manufacturing
buildings, 3300 North Sam Houston Parkway East, one mile south of
Houston Intercontinental Airport; and, Site 2: (10 acres)--
manufacturing buildings, 8641 Moers Road, about \1/2\ mile east of
Hobby Airport. The facilities (350 employees) produce offshore and
surface oil field drilling equipment, such as blowout preventers,
diverter systems, chokes, and drill stem valves, for export and the
domestic market. Foreign-origin materials used in the manufacturing
process (about 10% of total) include: plastic articles, iron, steel, or
non-alloy casings; drill pipe of iron, non-alloy, or alloy; tubes of
iron, non-alloy or alloy, alloy tube/pipe fittings, insulated wire, and
lighting fittings. The application requests subzone status for export
activity only (foreign materials would be admitted under privileged
foreign status (19 CFR 146.41)).
Zone procedures would exempt Hydril from Customs duty payments on
the foreign materials used in export production (60% of output).
Foreign materials and finished products held for export would be
eligible for an exemption from certain state and local ad valorem
taxes. The application indicates that the savings from zone procedures
would help improve the Hydril facilities' international
competitiveness.
In accordance with the Board's regulations (as revised, 56 FR
50790-50808, 10-8-91), a member of the FTZ Staff has been appointed
examiner to investigate the application and report to the Board.
Public comment on the application is invited from interested
parties. Submissions (original and three copies) shall be addressed to
the Board's Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing
period for their receipt is May 31, 1994. Rebuttal comments in response
to material submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted
during the subsequent 15-day period (to June 15, 1994).
A copy of the application and the accompanying exhibits will be
available for public inspection at each of the following locations:
U.S. Department of Commerce District Office, #1 Allen Center, 500
Dallas, suite 1160, Houston, TX 77002.
Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, U.S.
Department of Commerce, room 3716, 14th Street & Constitution Avenue
NW., Washington, DC 20230.
Dated: March 25, 1994.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 94-7855 Filed 3-31-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P