[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 183 (Friday, September 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53989-53990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-18697]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[lsqb]Docket 46-2007[rsqb]


Request for Comments on Uniform Treatment (and Related Issues) in 
Local Access to Foreign-Trade Zone Procedures

    Pursuant to the Foreign-Trade Zones Act of 1934, as amended (19 
U.S.C. 81a-81u), many local (primarily public) entities have been 
granted the privilege of establishing foreign-trade zones (FTZs) within 
or adjacent to U.S. Customs and Border Protection ports of entry. 
Section 81n of the FTZ Act states, in part, that each such ``grantee'' 
of a local FTZ shall operate the zone ``as a public utility, and all 
rates and charges for all services or privileges within the zone shall 
be fair and reasonable. . . .'' In addition, the FTZ Act states that 
``the grantee shall afford to all who may apply to use the zone . . . 
uniform treatment under like conditions . . . .'' (19 U.S.C. 81n).
    Concerns have been raised to the FTZ Board related to uniform 
treatment in local access (including possible conflicts of interest) 
where a third-party agent of the grantee(s) may effectively control 
access to FTZ procedures in a particular community or region. Potential 
conflicts of interest may be linked to the non-grantee entity also 
engaging in business -- in competition with other private firms -- to 
provide various FTZ-related services to potential users of the zone. In 
this context, we believe that it is appropriate for the FTZ Board to 
gather information and various parties' views related to potential 
conflicts of interest in local access to FTZ procedures, including 
regarding practices that parties believe may be inconsistent with the 
FTZ Act or the FTZ Board's regulations.
    Comment is invited from interested parties. To enable the FTZ Board 
to gain a full understanding of the range of potential issues, parties 
may present both current and historical information. Submissions in 
response to this notice should be marked with ``Docket 46-2007.'' 
Business confidential documents may be submitted, if necessary. Any 
business confidential document should be clearly marked ``BUSINESS 
CONFIDENTIAL'' in the upper right-hand corner of each page of the 
document.
    Submissions may be faxed to (202) 482-0002. Physical submission of 
comments should be directed to the Office of the Executive Secretary, 
Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room 2111, U.S. Department of Commerce,

[[Page 53990]]

1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
    While interested parties are always encouraged to provide comments 
on the operation of the FTZ program, we are requesting comments on this 
matter by November 30, 2007, so that the Board may proceed with its 
examination. Questions relating to the submission of comments should be 
directed to Pierre Duy or Andrew McGilvray at (202) 482-2862.

    Dated: September 18, 2007.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-18697 Filed 9-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S