[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 88 (Friday, May 8, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21621-21622]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-10814]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 20-2009]


Foreign-Trade Zone 29--Louisville, KY; Application for Subzone; 
Dow Corning Corporation (Silicones); Carrollton, Elizabethtown and 
Shepherdsville, KY

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Louisville and Jefferson County Riverport Authority, 
grantee of FTZ 29, requesting special-purpose

[[Page 21622]]

subzone status for the silicone manufacturing facilities of Dow Corning 
Corporation (Dow Corning), located in Carrollton, Elizabethtown and 
Shepherdsville, Kentucky. 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 May 1, 2009.
    The Dow Corning facilities (860 employees, 385,000 metric ton 
capacity) consist of four sites on 768 acres in Kentucky: Site 1 (650 
acres) is located at 4770 US Highway 42 East, Carrollton, Carroll 
County; Site 2 (88 acres) is located at 760 Hodgenville Road, 
Elizabethtown, Hardin County; Site 3 (9 acres) is located at 907 
Peterson Drive, Elizabethtown, Hardin County; and Site 4 (21 acres) is 
located at 270 Omega Parkway, Suite 200, Shepherdsville, Bullitt 
County. The facilities are used for the manufacturing and warehousing 
of silanes, siloxane and silicones, primarily silicone fluids and 
sealants. Components and materials sourced from abroad (representing 
30-35% of the value of the finished product) include: Silicon metal, 
methanol, silica fillers, cuprous chloride powder, methyl chloride, 
derivatives containing only sulfo groups, surface active agents, 
catalysts, organofunctional silanes and blends, acrylic polymers, 
polyacetal co-polymers, silicone polymers, methyl cellulose, 
hydrocarbons, fillers, silicates, alcohol, ketones, esters, sulfuric 
acid esters, acyclic amides, organo-sulfur compounds, caulking 
compounds, prepared binders, and silicone polymers (duty rate ranges 
from duty-free to 7%). The application indicates that any inputs that 
fall under HTSUS Headings 3204, 3206 and 3212 of the HTSUS will be 
admitted to the subzone in privileged foreign (PF) status (19 CFR 
146.41). In addition, it is noted that Section 400.33 of the Board's 
regulations requires that any inputs subject to antidumping or 
countervailing duties, such as silicon metal, be admitted to the 
subzone in PF status.
    FTZ procedures could exempt Dow Corning from customs duty payments 
on the foreign components used in export production. The company 
anticipates that some 20 percent of the plant's shipments will be 
exported. On its domestic sales, Dow Corning would be able to choose 
the duty rates during customs entry procedures that apply to the 
finished silicone products (duty rate ranges from duty-free to 6.5%) 
for the foreign inputs noted above. FTZ designation would further allow 
Dow Corning 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 
July 7, 2009. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to July 22, 2009.
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection 
at the Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, 
Room 2111, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230-0002, and in the ``Reading Room'' section of the 
Board's Web site, which is accessible via www.trade.gov/ftz.
    For further information, contact Elizabeth Whiteman at [email protected].gov or (202) 482-0473.

    Dated: May 1, 2009.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-10814 Filed 5-7-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P