[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 21, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35612-35613]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-9823]


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 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 22-2006]


Foreign-Trade Zone 84 - Houston, TX, Application for Subzone 
Status, Academy Sports and Outdoors, (Apparel, Footwear, and Sporting 
Goods)

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Port of Houston Authority, grantee of FTZ 84, 
requesting special-purpose subzone status for the warehousing and 
distribution facilities (apparel, footwear, and sporting goods) of 
Academy Sports and Outdoors (Academy), located in Katy and Brookshire, 
Texas. 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 
June 13, 2006.
    The proposed subzone would include Academy's warehousing facilities 
at two sites near Houston, Texas: Site 1 - (5 parcels) Mason Road 
Distribution Center (warehouse/94 acres/1,471,000 sq.ft. under roof/300 
employees) - 1800 N. Mason Road, Katy (Harris County), Texas, about 15 
miles west of Houston; and Site 2 - (2 parcels) West Distribution 
Center (future warehouse/165 acres) situated on FM 362 North near FM 
359, Brookshire (Waller County), Texas, about eight miles west of Site 
1. The facilities are used for warehousing and distribution of foreign-
origin and domestic sporting goods, outdoor recreational equipment, 
apparel, and footwear for the U.S. market. FTZ procedures would be 
utilized to support Academy's distribution activity. Finished products 
to be admitted to the proposed subzone for distribution would include: 
camping gear, fishing gear, bicycles, games machines, sleds, travel/
sports bags (not of cotton; Other - Textile Quota Category 870, will be 
admitted under privileged foreign (PF) status), men's/boys' and 
women's/girls' apparel, furniture, appliances, footwear, knives, pumps, 
hunting rifles, tools, sporting goods, and garden equipment. All quota-
class textile and apparel products classified under Textile Import 
Quota categories shall be admitted to the proposed subzone under 
privileged foreign status (19 CFR 146.41).
    FTZ procedures would exempt Academy from Customs duty payments on 
foreign products that are re-exported. On domestic sales, the company 
would be able to defer payments until merchandise is shipped from the 
facility and entered for U.S. consumption. Academy also plans to 
realize logistical benefits through the use of weekly entry procedures. 
The application indicates that all of the above-cited savings from FTZ 
procedures would help 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 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 
August 21, 2006. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to September 5, 2006.
    A copy of the application and accompanying exhibits will be 
available for public inspection at each of the following locations: 
U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center, 15600 John F. 
Kennedy Blvd., Suite 530,

[[Page 35613]]

Houston, TX 77032; and, Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-
Trade Zones Board, Room 1115, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, District of Columbia 20230-0002; 
Tel: (202) 482-2862.

    Dated: June 13, 2006.
Pierre V. Duy,
Acting Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-9823 Filed 6-20-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S