[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 113 (Monday, June 13, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34203-34204]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14574]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 39-2011]


Foreign-Trade Subzone 78A Application for Expansion of 
Manufacturing Authority Nissan North America, Inc. (Electric Passenger 
Vehicles) Smyrna and Decherd, TN

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA), operator of FTZ 78A, 
NNA facilities, Smyrna and Decherd, Tennessee, requesting authority to 
expand the scope of FTZ manufacturing authority. The application was 
submitted pursuant to the provisions of the Foreign-Trade Zones Act, as 
amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), and section 400.28(a)(2) of the Board's 
regulations (15 CFR part 400). It was formally filed on June 7, 2011.
    Subzone 78A (over 4,000 employees, 550,000 light-duty motor 
vehicles/year) was approved by the Board in 1982 with authority granted 
for the manufacture of light-duty pickup trucks at the NNA plant 
located at 983 Nissan Drive in Smyrna, Tennessee (Board Order 190, 47 
FR 16191, 4-12-1982), and the scope of manufacturing authority was 
expanded to include passenger sedans and minivans, engines, and 
transmissions in 1984 (Board Order 272, 49 FR 35395, 9-7-1984). In 
1993, the subzone was expanded and the scope of manufacturing authority 
was expanded to accommodate an increase in overall production capacity 
at the plant (Board Order 632, 58 FR 18850, 3-30-1993). The subzone was 
subsequently expanded in 1997 to add a new engine and transmission 
production facility in Decherd, Tennessee (Board Order 869, 62 FR 
13595, 3-21-1997).
    The applicant now seeks to expand the scope of authority to include 
electric-powered, light-duty passenger vehicles (up to 150,000 
vehicles/year) and related lithium-ion batteries (200,000 units/year) 
as additional finished products to be manufactured under FTZ procedures 
at the Smyrna facility. The following foreign-origin materials and 
components (representing about 31% of the value of the finished 
products) would be used in the manufacture of the electric passenger 
vehicles and lithium-ion batteries: Acid-based additives, wash fluid 
(acrylic/

[[Page 34204]]

vinyl polymers), brake fluid, coolant, electrolytes (chemical), labels 
and film, separators (plastic), plastic fittings/gaskets/grommets/
emblems, v-belts, tires, tool sets, glass, mirrors, fasteners, tabs, 
locks, springs, rings, insulators, electrodes (anode, cathode), 
gaskets, valves, bearings, oil coolers, flywheels, pulleys, shaft 
couplings, sprockets, spacers, motors, battery chargers, magnets, 
batteries and related parts, electrical components, electronic 
controllers and modules, audio components, sensors, antennas, cables, 
wiring sets, connectors, brake parts (wireless), knobs, and junction 
boxes (duty rate range: Free--9.0%).
    Expanded FTZ procedures could exempt NNA from customs duty payments 
on the foreign-origin components used in electric passenger vehicles 
and lithium-ion batteries manufactured for export. On its domestic 
shipments, NNA would be able to choose the duty rate during customs 
entry procedures that applies to electric passenger vehicles (duty rate 
-- 2.5%) and lithium-ion batteries (3.4%) for the foreign inputs noted 
above. Customs duties also could possibly be deferred or reduced on 
foreign status production equipment. NNA would also be exempt from duty 
payments on foreign inputs that become scrap during the production 
process.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, Pierre Duy 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 following address: Office of the Executive Secretary, 
Room 2111, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230-0002. The closing period for receipt of comments 
is August 12, 2011. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to August 29, 2011.
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection 
at the Office of the Foreign-Trade Zones Board's Executive Secretary at 
the address listed above 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 Pierre Duy at [email protected] 
or (202) 482-1378.

    Dated: June 7, 2011.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-14574 Filed 6-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P