[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 16 (Tuesday, January 25, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 4283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-1506]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 6-2011]


Foreign-Trade Zone 153--San Diego, CA; Application for 
Manufacturing Authority; Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. 
(Cardiovascular Device Manufacturing); Riverside County, CA

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the City of San Diego, grantee of FTZ 153, requesting 
manufacturing authority on behalf of Abbott Cardiovascular Systems, 
Inc. (Abbott), located in Riverside County, California. 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 January 18, 2011.
    The Abbott facilities (3,500 employees, up to 9 million units per 
year) are located within three sites of FTZ 153: Site 11 (54.2 acres) 
is located at 26531 Ynez Road, Temecula; Site 12 (8.3 acres) is located 
at 42301 Zevo Drive, Temecula; and, Site 13 (4.4 acres) is located at 
30590 Cochise Circle, Murrieta. The facilities are used for the 
production of cardiovascular devices including stents, catheters and 
guidewires. Components and materials sourced from abroad (representing 
5% of the value of the finished product) include: resins, plastic 
tubing, stent components, plastic packaging, plastic clips, nickel 
tubing and tantalum tubing (duty rate ranges from 2 to 6.5%). The 
application also requests authority to include a broad range of inputs 
and finished cardiovascular devices that Abbott may produce under FTZ 
procedures in the future. New major activity involving these inputs/
products would require review by the FTZ Board.
    FTZ procedures could exempt Abbott from customs duty payments on 
the foreign components used in export production. The company 
anticipates that some 50 percent of the plants' shipments will be 
exported. On its domestic sales, Abbott would be able to choose the 
duty rate during customs entry procedures that applies to the finished 
cardiovascular devices (duty free) for the foreign inputs noted above. 
FTZ designation would further allow Abbott 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 facilities' 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 
March 28, 2011. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to April 11, 2011.
    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] or (202) 482-1367.

    Dated: January 18, 2011.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-1506 Filed 1-24-11; 8:45 am]
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