[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 163 (Monday, August 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 45044]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-22665]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket 38-98]


Foreign-Trade Zone 226--Atwater, CA; Request for Export 
Manufacturing Authority Pacesetter Industries, Inc. (Modular Buildings)

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by Merced County, California, grantee of FTZ 226, pursuant 
to Sec. 400.32(b)(1) of the Board's regulations (15 CFR Part 400), 
requesting authority on behalf of Pacesetter Industries, Inc. 
(Pacesetter), for the manufacture of modular buildings under FTZ 
procedures for export within FTZ 226. It was formally filed on August 
12, 1998.
    Pacesetter operates a 500,000 square-foot facility (600 employees) 
within FTZ 226-Site 1A (Castle Airport) for the manufacture of modular 
buildings (HTSUS heading 9406) for the U.S. market and export. This 
application requests authority to allow Pacesetter to conduct 
manufacturing under FTZ procedures for export of modular building 
systems. Components purchased from foreign sources pursuant to current 
and future export contracts may include dimensional lumber, plywood, 
chipboard, flooring, other wood products, cabinets, moldings, 
furniture, fasteners, ceramic bathroom fixtures, shelving, cooking 
appliances, refrigerators, temperature control units, pipe hardware, 
roofing tiles, and glass windows (none of the lumber products which 
would be imported under FTZ procedures would be from Canadian sources). 
Foreign-sourced components are expected to comprise 10 to 30 percent of 
the finished products' value. The duty rates on the imported components 
currently range from free to 8.0 percent. The foreign-sourced products 
would be admitted to FTZ 226 under privileged foreign status (19 CFR 
Sec. 146.41). U.S.-origin inputs may include steel plates, steel pipes 
and tubes, assorted steel accessories, fasteners, various wood 
products, bentwood and other furniture, shelving, building adhesives, 
paints, tapes, sand, asphalt, metal doors, lights and switches, 
insulation, plastic tubes, oxygen, acetylene, argon, and 
``prefabricated structure components.'' All modular building products 
made under FTZ procedures would be exported.
    FTZ procedures would exempt Pacesetter from Customs duty payments 
on the foreign components used in export activity. The application 
indicates that the savings from FTZ procedures would help to improve 
the facility'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 October 8, 1998. Rebuttal comments in 
response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be 
submitted during the subsequent 15-day period (to October 23, 1998).
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection 
at the following location: Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-
Trade Zones Board, Room 3716, U.S. Department of Commerce 14th Street & 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230.

    Dated: August 12, 1998.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Acting Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-22665 Filed 8-21-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P