[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 144 (Thursday, July 25, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 38711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18938]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
[Order No. 837]


Grant of Authority for Subzone Status; Exxon Corporation (Oil 
Refinery), Harris County, Texas

    Pursuant to its authority under the Foreign-Trade Zones Act of 
June 18, 1934, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), the Foreign-Trade 
Zones Board (the Board) adopts the following Order:

    Whereas, by an Act of Congress approved June 18, 1934, an Act ``To 
provide for the establishment * * * of foreign-trade zones in ports of 
entry of the United States, to expedite and encourage foreign commerce, 
and for other purposes,'' as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u) (the Act), the 
Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) is authorized to grant to 
qualified corporations the privilege of establishing foreign-trade 
zones in or adjacent to U.S. Customs ports of entry;

    Whereas, the Board's regulations (15 CFR Part 400) provide for the 
establishment of special-purpose subzones when existing zone facilities 
cannot serve the specific use involved;

    Whereas, an application from the Port of Houston Authority, grantee 
of Foreign-Trade Zone 84, for authority to establish special-purpose 
subzone status at the oil refinery/petrochemical complex of Exxon 
Corporation, in Harris County, Texas, was filed by the Board on 
December 12, 1995, and notice inviting public comment was given in the 
Federal Register (FTZ Docket 79-95, 61 FR 1323, 1-19-96); and,

    Whereas, the Board adopts the findings and recommendations of the 
examiner's report, and finds that the requirements of the FTZ Act and 
Board's regulations would be satisfied, and that approval of the 
application would be in the public interest if approval is subject to 
the conditions listed below;

    Now, therefore, the Board hereby authorizes the establishment of a 
subzone (Subzone 84O) at the oil refinery/petrochemical complex of 
Exxon Corporation, in Harris County, Texas, at the location described 
in the application, subject to the FTZ Act and the Board's regulations, 
including Sec. 400.28, and subject to the following conditions:

    1. Foreign status (19 CFR 146.41, 146.42) products consumed as fuel 
for the refinery shall be subject to the applicable duty rate.

    2. Privileged foreign status (19 CFR 146.41) shall be elected on 
all foreign merchandise admitted to the subzone, except that non-
privileged foreign (NPF) status (19 CFR 146.42) may be elected on 
refinery inputs covered under HTSUS Subheadings #2709.00.1000-
#2710.00.1050, #2710.00.2500 and #2710.00.4510 which are used in the 
production of:

--Petrochemical feedstocks and refinery by-products (examiners report, 
Appendix D);
--Products for export; and,
--Products eligible for entry under HTSUS # 9808.00.30 and 9808.00.40 
(U.S. Government purchases).

    3. The authority with regard to the NPF option is initially granted 
until September 30, 2000, subject to extension.

    Signed at Washington, DC, this 16th day of July 1996.
Robert S. LaRussa,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Import Administration, 
Alternate Chairman, Foreign-Trade Zones Board.
John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-18938 Filed 7-24-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P