[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 63282]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-26392]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 61-2011]


Foreign-Trade Zone 140--Flint, Michigan; Application for Subzone; 
Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation (Polysilicon); Hemlock, MI

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the City of Flint, grantee of FTZ 140, requesting 
special-purpose subzone status for the polysilicon manufacturing 
facility of Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation (HSC), located in 
Hemlock, 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 HSC facility (2,055 employees, 524 acres, 41,000 metric tons 
capacity) is located at 12334 Geddes Road, Hemlock, Michigan. The 
facility is used for the manufacturing and distribution of polysilicon, 
monosilane gas, silicon tetrachloride, trichlorosilane, dichlorosilane, 
hydrogen chloride and direct process residue. Components and materials 
sourced from abroad (representing 5% of the value of the finished 
product) include: silicon metal, silicon tetrachloride, 
trichlorosilanes and dichlorosilanes (duty rate ranges from duty-free 
to 5.5%). HSC 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 HSC from customs duty payments on the 
foreign components used in export production. The company anticipates 
that some 75 percent of the plant's shipments will be exported. On its 
domestic sales, HSC would be able to choose the duty rates during 
customs entry procedures that apply to finished products (duty rate 
ranges from duty-free to 6.5%) for the foreign inputs noted above. FTZ 
designation would further allow HSC 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. 2011-26392 Filed 10-11-11; 8:45 am]
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