[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 230 (Thursday, November 30, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61527-61528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-29268]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket 78-95]


Foreign-Trade Zone 82--Mobile, Alabama; Application for Subzone 
Status; Sony Magnetic Products Inc. of America; Dothan, AL

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the City of Mobile, Alabama, grantee of FTZ 82, 
requesting special-purpose subzone status for the magnetic media and 
battery systems manufacturing plant of Sony Magnetic Products Inc. of 
America (Sony) (subsidiary of Sony Corp., Japan) located in Dothan, 
Alabama. 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 
November 21, 1995.

[[Page 61528]]

    The Sony plant (1.2 mil. sq. ft. on 80 acres) consists of three 
sites in Dothan, Alabama: Site 1 (77 acres)--4275 Main Street; Site 2 
(3.3 acres)--135 Woodburn Drive; and, Site 3 (1.6 acres)--921 Tate 
Drive. The facilities (1,100 employees) currently are used to produce 
magnetic media products for the recording of audio and video signals 
and digital information, including audio tape cassettes, video tape 
cassettes, 3.5-inch computer floppy disks and computer data tape. The 
plant may also be used to produce a lithium ion battery and recharger 
system. Some 50 percent of the products are exported.
    Foreign-sourced materials and components for the media products 
(accounting for some 15% of final product value) include carbon, 
corundum, chromium and iron compounds, acyclic monocarboxylic acids, 
amine-function compounds, nitrogen compounds, coloring matter, paints, 
styrene, acrylic polymers, polyacetals, resins, silicones, cellulose, 
plastics, packing materials, fasteners, steel springs, articles of iron 
or steel, and prepared unrecorded media.
    Foreign-sourced materials related to the proposed battery/recharger 
production would include transformers, batteries, capacitors, 
resistors, printed circuits, diodes, semiconductors, consoles, 
electrical apparatus, wire and battery parts.
    Zone procedures would exempt Sony from Customs duty payments on 
foreign materials used in export production. On its domestic sales, the 
company would be able to choose the duty rates that apply to the 
finished products (zero to 8.7%), rather than the duty rates that would 
otherwise apply to the foreign material and components (zero to 18.6%). 
The application indicates that the savings from zone procedures would 
help improve the Sony plant's international competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, a member of the FTZ 
Staff has been appointed examiner to investigate the application and 
report to the Board.
    Public comment 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 
January 29, 1996. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period (to February 13, 1996).
    A copy of the application and accompanying exhibits will be 
available for public inspection at each of the following locations:

Customs Service Port Director's Office, 150 N. Royal Street, Suite 
3004, Mobile, Alabama 36602
Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Room 3716, 14th & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230

    Dated: November 21, 1995.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 95-29268 Filed 11-29-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P