[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 101 (Thursday, May 28, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25488-25489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-12456]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

(Docket 22-2009)


Foreign-Trade Zone 203 Moses Lake, Washington, Application for 
Subzone, REC Silicon (Polysilicon and Silane Gas), Moses Lake, 
Washington

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Port of Moses Lake Public Corporation, grantee of 
FTZ 203, requesting special-purpose subzone status for the polysilicon 
and silane gas manufacturing facility of REC Silicon, located in Moses 
Lake, 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 May 21, 2009.
    The REC Silicon facility (425 employees, 219 acres, 10,500 metric 
ton

[[Page 25489]]

capacity) is located at 3322 Road ``N'' NE, Moses Lake, Washington. The 
facility is used for the manufacturing and warehousing of solar grade 
polysilicon and silane gas using domestic and imported silicon metal 
(duty rate ranges from 5.3-5.5%). Pursuant to Section 400.33 of the 
Board's regulations, any silicon metal subject to antidumping or 
countervailing duties would be required to be admitted to the subzone 
in privileged foreign status (19 CFR 146.41).
    FTZ procedures could exempt REC Silicon from customs duty payments 
on the silicon metal used in export production. The company anticipates 
that over 95% of polysilicon and 90% of silane gas shipped from the 
plant will be exported. On its domestic sales, REC Silicon would be 
able to choose the duty rates during customs entry procedures that 
apply to polysilicon and silane gas (duty rate ranges from duty-free to 
3.7%) for the foreign inputs noted above. FTZ designation would further 
allow REC Silicon 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 27, 2009. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to August 11, 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 website, which is accessible via www.trade.gov/ftz.
    For further information, contact Elizabeth Whiteman at [email protected] or (202) 482-0473.

    Dated: May 21, 2009.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-12456 Filed 5-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-S