[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 12, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66838-66839]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-26838]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 63-2008]


Foreign-Trade Zone 120 Cowlitz County, Washington, Application 
for SubzoneShin-Etsu Handotai America, Inc. (Semiconductor-Grade 
Silicon Wafers), Vancouver, Washington

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Cowlitz County Economic Development Council, grantee 
of FTZ 120, requesting special-purpose subzone status for the 
semiconductor-grade silicon wafer manufacturing facility of Shin-Etsu 
Handotai America, Inc. (SEH-A), located in Vancouver, Washington. 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 October 30, 2008.
    The SEH-A facility (882 employees, 135 acres, 1.6 million square 
feet) is located at 4111 NE 112th Avenue, Vancouver, Washington. The 
facility is used for the manufacturing of semiconductor-grade silicon 
ingots and wafers. Components and materials sourced from abroad 
(representing 5-15% of the value of the finished product) include: 
processed carbides of silicon, propylene glycol, acyclic polyamine, 
organic surface active agents, glues and other adhesives, organic 
reaction initiators, alumina silicate compounds, eslon solvent cements, 
anti-scruff paste, rust inhibitors, press coolants, polyamides, 
silicones, and plastic boxes and bags (duty rate ranges from duty-free 
to 6.5%).
    FTZ procedures could exempt SEH-A from customs duty payments on the 
foreign components used in export production. The company anticipates 
that between 60 and 70 percent of the

[[Page 66839]]

plant's shipments will be exported. On its domestic sales, SEH-A would 
be able to choose the duty rates during customs entry procedures that 
apply to finished semiconductor-grade silicon ingots and wafers (duty-
free) for the foreign inputs noted above. SEH-A also plans to realize 
logistical benefits through the use of weekly customs entry procedures. 
Customs duties also could possibly be deferred or reduced on foreign 
status production equipment. The request indicates that the savings 
from FTZ procedures would help improve the plant's international 
competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, Elizabeth Whiteman 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 
January 12, 2009. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to January 26, 2009.
    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, 2601 Fourth Ave., 
Suite 320, Seattle, Washington 98121.Office of the Executive Secretary, 
Foreign-Trade Zones Board, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 2111, 1401 
Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20230.
    For further information, contact Elizabeth Whiteman at [email protected] or (202) 482-0473.

    Dated: November 3, 2008.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-26838 Filed 11-10-08; 8:45 am]
Billing Code: 3510-DS-S