[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 211 (Wednesday, October 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 55955]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27857]


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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]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P