[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 130 (Wednesday, July 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 36875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18111]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket 34-98]


Proposed Foreign-Trade Zone--Santa Maria, California Area 
Application and Public Hearing

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) 
Board (the Board) by the Santa Maria Public Airport District, to 
establish a general-purpose foreign-trade zone in the Santa Maria, 
California area, adjacent to the Port San Luis, California, port of 
entry. The application was submitted pursuant to the provisions of the 
FTZ Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), and the regulations of the 
Board (15 CFR Part 400). It was formally filed on June 30, 1998. The 
applicant is authorized to make the proposal under Section 6302 of the 
California Code.
    The proposed new zone would consist of 2 sites (2,787 acres) in 
Santa Barbara County: Site 1 (2,728 acres)--within and adjacent to the 
Santa Maria Public Airport, 3217 Terminal Drive, Santa Maria; and, Site 
2 (59 acres)--within the Vandenberg Air Force Base complex, 
approximately 20 miles southwest of the Santa Maria Airport. Site 1 is 
primarily owned by the applicant. Site 2 is owned by the Department of 
the Air Force but has been leased by Astrotech Space Operations, Inc., 
for a period of 20 years. Vandenberg Air Force Base has been designated 
the primary launch site for commercial space activity from the West 
Coast and pre-launch payload assembly activities would be conducted at 
proposed Site 2.
    The application indicates a need for foreign-trade zone services in 
the Santa Maria area. Several firms have indicated an interest in using 
zone procedures for warehousing, airport related activities and the 
preparation of space flight hardware for launches into outer space. 
Specific manufacturing approvals are not being sought at this time. 
Requests would be made to the Board on a case-by-case basis.
    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.
    As part of the investigation, the Commerce examiner will hold a 
public hearing on August 5, 1998, 11:00 a.m., at the Santa Maria 
Hilton, 3455 Skyway Drive, Santa Maria, California 93455.
    Public comment on the application 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 September 8, 1998. Rebuttal comments in response 
to material submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted 
during the subsequent 15-day period (to September 21, 1998).
    A copy of the application and accompanying exhibits will be 
available during this time for public inspection at the following 
locations:

Office of the Santa Maria Public Airport District, 3217 Terminal Drive, 
Santa Maria, CA 93455.
Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room 
3716, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20230.

    Dated: June 30, 1998.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Acting Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-18111 Filed 7-7-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P