[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 73 (Tuesday, April 15, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20247-20248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-8030]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 23-2008]


Foreign-Trade Zone 26 Atlanta, Georgia, Application for Subzone, 
Noramco, Inc. (Pharmaceutical Intermediate Manufacturing), Athens, 
Georgia

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) 
Board (the Board) by the Georgia Foreign-Trade Zone, Inc., grantee of 
FTZ 26, requesting special-purpose subzone status with manufacturing 
authority at the pharmaceutical intermediate manufacturing facility of 
Noramco, Inc. (Noramco), located in Athens, Georgia. 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 April 3, 2008.
    Noramco, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, Inc., 
produces intermediates for prescription and over-the-counter 
pharmaceutical products. Noramco has requested authority to manufacture 
under zone procedures an active ingredient (Tapentadol Hydrochloride) 
for a new prescription analgesic product at the facility (170 
employees). The proposed subzone facility (130 acres, 121,300 sq. ft. 
within 3 buildings for the proposed activity) is located at 1440 
Olympic Drive, Athens, Georgia.
    Foreign-origin chemical ingredient inputs to be used in the 
manufacturing process (about half of finished product value) have duty 
rates ranging from 3.7 percent to 6.5 percent, ad valorem. The 
applicant is also requesting to import polyethylene bags and poly 
drums, duty rates 3 percent and 5.3 percent respectively, for use in 
processing of the active ingredient. FTZ procedures would exempt 
Noramco from customs duty payments on foreign materials used in export 
production. At this time, the final product will only be marketed in 
the United States; however, the plant may in the future support export 
of the final product to Canada and Japan. On its domestic shipments, 
Noramco could defer duty until the product is entered for consumption, 
and choose the duty-free rate that applies to the finished active 
ingredient for the foreign inputs used in production. The company may 
also realize certain logistical/procedural savings related to weekly 
entry and direct delivery procedures, as well as savings on materials 
that become scrap/waste during manufacturing. The application indicates 
that FTZ

[[Page 20248]]

procedures would help improve the plant's international 
competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, Diane Finver of the FTZ 
staff is 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 
June 16, 2008. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period (to June 30, 2008).
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection 
at each of the following locations: U.S. Department of Commerce Export 
Assistance Center, 75 Fifth Street, N.W, Suite 1055, Atlanta, Georgia 
30308; 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: April 3, 2008.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-8030 Filed 4-14-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S