[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 8031]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2569]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 5-2008]


Foreign-Trade Zone 244 - Riverside County, California, 
Application for Subzone, Skechers USA, Inc. (Footwear Distribution), 
Moreno Valley, California

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) 
Board (the Board) by the March Joint Powers Authority, grantee of FTZ 
244, requesting special-purpose subzone status for the footwear 
warehouse/distribution facility of Skechers USA, Inc. (Skechers), in 
Moreno Valley, California. 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 
February 1, 2008.
    The proposed subzone facility (113 acres, 1 building, 1.8 million 
sq. ft., with a possible expansion of an additional building of 500,000 
sq. ft.) will be constructed at Redlands Blvd. and Theodore St., just 
south of Freeway 60, Moreno Valley, California. The facility will be 
used for quality control, repairing, repackaging, labeling, ticketing, 
warehousing and distribution of foreign-origin footwear for both the 
U.S. market and for re-export. None of the activities which Skechers is 
proposing to perform under zone procedures would constitute 
manufacturing or processing under the FTZ Board's regulations. The 
application indicates that FTZ procedures would be used to support 
Skecher's California-based distribution activity in competition with 
facilities abroad.
    FTZ procedures would exempt Skechers from customs duty payments on 
foreign products that are re-exported, some 5 percent of the plant's 
shipments. On its domestic shipments, duty payments would be deferred 
until the products are entered for consumption. The company may also 
realize certain logistical benefits related to the use of direct 
delivery and weekly customs entry procedures. The application 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 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 
April 14, 2008. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period (to April 28, 2008).
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection 
at each of the following locations: March Joint Powers Authority, 23555 
Meyer Drive, Riverside, California 92518; and, Office of the Executive 
Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room 2111, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C. 20230-0002.
    For further information, contact Diane Finver at [email protected] or (202) 482-1367.

    Dated: February 1, 2008.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-2569 Filed 2-11-08; 8:45 am]
Billing Code: 3510-DS-S