[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 57149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-26538]



[[Page 57149]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 46-2009]


Foreign-Trade Zone 265--Conroe, TX; Application for Subzone; 
Materials Science Technology, Inc.; (Elastomer and Fire Retardant 
Chemical Manufacturing); Conroe, TX

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the City of Conroe, grantee of FTZ 265, requesting 
special-purpose subzone status for the elastomer manufacturing facility 
of Materials Science Technology, Inc, (MST), located in Conroe, Texas. 
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 27, 2009.
    MST's facility (20 employees, 10,000 square feet of enclosed space) 
is located at 3607 North Loop 336 West, Conroe, Texas. The facility is 
used for the research, development, manufacturing, warehousing and 
distribution of a polyphosphazene elastomer intermediate which will be 
used in aerospace, oil and gas production, and medical device 
applications. Current annual production capacity is 15 metric tons with 
projections up to 100 metric tons. The request indicates that the 
manufacturing process also produces a fire-retardant chemical by-
product. Components and materials sourced from abroad (representing 
some 20% of the value of the finished product) include: 
octafluoropentanol, trifluoroethanol, and phosphonitrilic chloride 
trimer (duty rates range from 2.8% to 5.5%).
    FTZ procedures could exempt MST from customs duty payments on the 
foreign components used in export production. The company anticipates 
that some 50 percent of the plant's shipments will be exported. On its 
domestic sales, MST would be able to choose the duty rates during 
customs entry procedures that apply to the elastomer (duty-free) and 
the fire-retardant chemical (2.8%) for the foreign inputs noted above. 
FTZ designation would further allow MST to realize logistical benefits 
through certain customs procedures. The request indicates that the 
savings from FTZ 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 evaluate and analyze the facts and 
information presented in the application and case record and to report 
findings and recommendations 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 4, 2010. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to January 19, 2010.
    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 http://www.trade.gov/ftz.
    For further information, contact Diane Finver at [email protected] (202) 482-1367.

    Dated: October 27, 2009.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-26538 Filed 11-3-09; 8:45 am]
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