[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 73 (Friday, April 16, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 18878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9611]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket 14-99]


Foreign-Trade Zone 163--Ponce, Puerto Rico; Application For 
Foreign-Trade Subzone Status: Peerless Oil & Chemicals, Inc.--Petroleum 
Product Storage and Processing Penuelas, Puerto Rico

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by Codezol, C.D., grantee of FTZ 163, requesting special-
purpose subzone status for the petroleum product storage and processing 
facility of Peerless Oil & Chemicals, Inc., located at sites in 
Penuelas, Puerto Rico. The application was submitted pursuant to 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 
March 29, 1999.
    The Peerless facilities are located at three sites in the vicinity 
of Rt. 127, Km. 17.1 in Penuelas, Puerto Rico. The facilities (27 
employees) are used for receipt, storage, distribution, and minor 
processing of petroleum products (duty rates on these items range from 
5.25 to 84 cents per barrel). The company also uses a number of 
foreign-sourced products that are duty free.
    Zone procedures would exempt Peerless from Customs duties on 
petroleum products which are re-exported. On domestic sales, the 
company would be able to defer Customs duty payments until the products 
leave the facility. No authority is being sought which would result in 
a change in tariff classification, and the company would admit imported 
merchandise into the proposed subzone in privileged foreign status (19 
CFR 146.41).
    The application indicates that the main benefit to Peerless from 
FTZ procedures will be an improved ability to attract international 
customers. The company will also achieve some savings by deferral of 
Customs duties while foreign merchandise is stored within Peerless' 
facilities. FTZ status may also make a site eligible for benefits 
provided under commonwealth/local programs.
    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 June 15, 1999. Rebuttal comments in 
response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be 
submitted during the subsequent 15-day period to June 30, 1999.
    A copy of the application and the accompanying exhibits will be 
available for public inspection at each of the following locations:

Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Room 3716, 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, 
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230
U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center, 525 F.D. 
Roosevelt Avenue, Suite 905, San Juan, PR 00918

    Dated: April 7, 1999.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Acting Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-9611 Filed 4-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P