[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 6, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 76122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-31304]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 76-2011]


Foreign-Trade Zone 15--Kansas City, MO; Application for 
Manufacturing Authority; Blount, Inc. (Log Splitters); Kansas City, MO

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Greater Kansas City Foreign Trade Zone, Inc., 
grantee of FTZ 15, requesting manufacturing authority on behalf of 
Blount, Inc. (Blount), located in Kansas City, Missouri. 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 November 29, 
2011.
    The Blount facility (170 employees, 100,000 unit capacity) is 
located within Site 3 of FTZ 15. The facility is used for the assembly, 
warehousing and distribution of forestry, farm and log products. FTZ 
manufacturing authority is being requested for the assembly of gasoline 
powered log splitters. Components and materials sourced from abroad 
(representing 30% of the value of the finished product) include: Beams, 
cylinders, pumps, tanks, tires, wedges, tongue attachments, beam 
weldments and non-threaded fasteners (duty rate ranges from 2.8 to 
4.7%). The application also requests authority to include a broad range 
of inputs and finished forestry, farm and log products that Blount 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 Blount from customs duty payments on 
the foreign components used in export production. The company 
anticipates that some 10 percent of the plant's shipments will be 
exported. On its domestic sales, Blount would be able to choose the 
duty rates during customs entry procedures that apply to log splitters 
(duty rate 2.4%) for the foreign inputs noted above. FTZ designation 
would further allow Blount 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 
February 6, 2012. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted 
during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-
day period to February 20, 2012.
    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: November 29, 2011.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-31304 Filed 12-5-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P