[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63282-63283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26364]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 60-2011]


Foreign-Trade Zone 140--Flint, Michigan; Application for Subzone; 
Dow Corning Corporation (Silicon-Based Products); Midland, MI

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the

[[Page 63283]]

Board) by the City of Flint, grantee of FTZ 140, requesting special-
purpose subzone status for the silicon-based product manufacturing 
facility of Dow Corning Corporation (Dow Corning), located in Midland, 
Michigan. 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 5, 2011.
    The Dow Corning facility (1,250 employees, 489 acres, 450,000 
metric tons capacity) is located at 3901 S. Saginaw Road, Midland, 
Michigan. The facility is used for the manufacturing and distribution 
of silicon-based products including elastomers, resins, fluids, 
silanes, polymers, gums, sealants and emulsions. Components and 
materials sourced from abroad (representing 10% of the value of the 
finished product) include: isododecane, iso hexadecane, silicon metal, 
carbon dioxide liquid, magnesium sulfate, methallyl chloride, 
monochlorobenzene, trifluoromethane sulfonic, ethylene glycol, 2-ethyl-
1,3-hexanediol, glycerine, biocide, ionol CP, allylglycol, allyl 
glycidyl ether, methyl ethyl ketone, diacetone alcohol, octanoic acid, 
undecylenic acid, monoplex dos, ethyl silicate, sparc base, 
dimethylethanolamine, vinyltriacetoxysilane, dimethyl me phosphonate, 
hexamethylcyclotrisilazane, lutensol, reactivated carbon, tonsil 
catalyst, kathon CG preservative, acticide, organosilane solution, 
silicone resin solution, silicone dispersion, carbopol, polycerin and 
KBM 802 (duty rate ranges from duty-free to 7%). The application 
indicates that any inputs that fall under HTSUS Heading 3204 will be 
admitted to the subzone in privileged foreign (PF) status (19 CFR 
146.41). In addition, Dow Corning has indicated that they will accept a 
restriction prohibiting the admission of foreign status silicon metal 
subject to an antidumping or countervailing duty order into the 
proposed subzone.
    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 finished 
silicon-based 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 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 
December 12, 2011. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to December 26, 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 Elizabeth Whiteman at 
[email protected] or (202) 482-0473.

    Dated: October 5, 2011.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-26364 Filed 10-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P