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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE [Docket 77-96] Foreign-Trade Zone 147--Reading, Pennsylvania; Request for Manufacturing Authority, Baker Refractories, Inc. (Refractory Bricks)An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) by the Foreign Trade Zone Corporation of Southeastern Pennsylvania, grantee of FTZ 147, pursuant to Sec. 400.28(a)(2) of the Board's regulations (15 CFR Part 400), requesting authority on behalf of Baker Refractories, Inc. (Baker), to manufacture refractory bricks under zone procedures within FTZ 147. It was formally filed on October 18, 1996.
The Baker plant (446,000 sq. ft. on 624 acres) is located at 225 North Emigsville Road within a proposed site of FTZ 147 in the International Trade District of York, in the County of York, Pennsylvania. (Pending expansion application: Docket 3-96, 61 FR 2487, 1-26-96.) The Baker plant (360 employees) is used to manufacture refractory bricks and related products for the metals and mineral processing industries. A key material component, magnesia, is sourced from abroad (magnesia duty rate, $0.2/kg). The finished magnesite bricks are duty-free. The application indicates that 35 percent of the plant's shipments are exported.
Zone procedures would exempt Baker from Customs duty payments on the foreign components used in export production. On its domestic sales, Baker would be able to defer duty payments on the foreign sourced magnesia until the finished bricks (duty-free) are shipped from the plant. The company is also seeking an exemption from Customs duties on scrap and waste that is generated in the production process (2.5%). The request indicates that the savings from zone procedures would help improve the plant's international competitiveness.
In accordance with the Board's regulations, a member of the FTZ Staff has been designated 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 November 29, 1996. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period (to December 16, 1996).
A copy of the application and the accompanying exhibits will be available for public inspection at the following location: Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 3716, 14th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
Dated: October 18, 1996. John J. Da Ponte, Jr., Executive Secretary. [FR Doc. 96-27857 Filed 10-29-96; 8:45 am]