[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 150 (Thursday, August 3, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 47712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19692]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 45-2000]


Foreign-Trade Zone 73--BWI Airport, Maryland, Expansion of 
Manufacturing Authority--Subzone 73A, Rotorex Company, Inc. (Air 
Cleaners); Walkersville, MD

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Maryland Department of Transportation, grantee of 
FTZ 73, requesting authority on behalf of the Rotorex Company, Inc. 
(Rotorex) and Trion, Inc. (Trion), to expand the scope of manufacturing 
activity conducted under zone procedures within Subzone 73A at the 
Rotorex facility in Walkersville, Maryland. The application was 
submitted pursuant to the provisions of 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 July 27, 2000.
    Subzone 73A was approved by the Board in 1995 (Board Order 767, 60 
FR 47149, 9/11/95). The Rotorex plant (210,000 sq. ft. on 18 acres) is 
located at 8301-B Retreat Road in Walkersville (Frederick County), 
Maryland, about 55 miles northwest of Washington, DC. Approval was 
originally granted for the manufacture of rolling piston rotary pumps 
and compressors for R-22 unitary heat pumps and air conditioners. The 
applicant is now seeking authority to manufacture residential air 
cleaners at the facility (HTS 8421.39, duty free). Components and 
materials sourced from abroad (representing about 28% of all parts 
consumed in manufacturing) include: motors and power supplies (HTS 
8501.10 and 8501.40, duty rate ranges from 1.5% to 4.0%).
    FTZ procedures would exempt Rotorex and Trion from Customs duty 
payments on the foreign components used in export production. Some 10 
percent of the plant's shipments are exported. On its domestic sales, 
Rotorex and Trion would be able to choose the duty rates during Customs 
entry procedures that apply to finished air cleaners (duty-free) for 
the foreign inputs noted above. The request indicates that the savings 
from FTZ procedures would help improve the plant's international 
competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, a member of the FTZ 
staff has been appointed examiner to investigate the application and 
report to the Board.
    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 October 2, 2000. Rebuttal comments in response to 
material submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted during 
the subsequent 15-day period (to October 17, 2000).
    A copy of the application and the accompanying exhibits will be 
available for public inspection at each of the following locations:

U.S. Department of Commerce, Export Assistance Center, World Trade 
Center, 401 East Pratt Street, Suite 2432, Baltimore, MD 21202
Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room 
4008, U.S. Department of Commerce, 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230

    Dated: July 28, 2000.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-19692 Filed 8-2-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P