FR Doc 05-10887
[Federal Register: June 1, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 104)]
[Notices]              
[Page 31420-31421]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01jn05-42]                        

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

(Docket 25-2005)

Foreign-Trade Zone 18, San Jose, California, Application for
Subzone, Space Systems/Loral, Inc. (Satellites), Palo Alto, Menlo Park
and Mountain View, California

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board
(the Board) by the City of San Jose, grantee of FTZ 18, requesting
special-purpose subzone status for the manufacturing facilities of
Space Systems/Loral, Inc. (SS/L), located in Palo Alto, Menlo Park and
Mountain View, 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 May 24, 2005.
    The SS/L facilities (1,300 employees) consist of five sites on 37
acres: Site 1 (28.4 acres) is located at 3825, 3850 and 3875 Fabian
Way, Palo Alto; Site 2 (1 acre) is located at 3977 and 3963 Fabian Way,
Palo Alto; Site 3 (5 acres) is located at 1034-1036 and 1025 E. Meadow
Circle, Palo Alto; Site 4 (110,000 square feet) is located at 1205 and
1145 Hamilton Court, Menlo Park; and Site 5 (2.5 acres) is located at
2288 Charleston Road, Mountain View. The facilities are used for the
manufacture of satellites and satellite systems (HTS 8802.60 and

8525.10 duty-free). Components and materials sourced from abroad
(representing 15% of all parts used in the manufacturing process)
include: coated wire, articles of aluminum, handtools, digital ADP
machines, digital systems, computer parts, lithium ion battery cells,
parts of storage batteries, switching apparatus, modems, magnetic tape,
magnetic discs, computer discs, transmission apparatus, transmission
with reception apparatus, radar apparatus, radio navigational
apparatus, reception apparatus, antennas, apparatus parts, capacitors,
resistors, printed circuits, electrical apparatus, switches, electrical
panels, diodes, transistors, thyristors, photosensitive devices,
semiconductor devices, integrated circuits, hybrid integrated circuits,
signal generators, containers, parts of spacecraft, space navigation
instruments, oscilloscopes, multimeters, voltage checking instruments,
parts of test equipment and thermocouples (duty rate ranges from duty-
free to 6.1%).
    FTZ procedures would exempt SS/L from customs duty payments on the

foreign components used in export production. Some 13 percent of the
plant's shipments are sold to export markets; however, satellites
launched from domestic sites are considered exported and a total of 96%
of SS/L's zone savings would come from exports. The request indicates
that the savings from FTZ procedures would help improve the plant's
international competitiveness.
    In accordance with the Board's regulations, a member of the FTZ
staff has been appointed examiner to investigate the application and
report to the Board.

[[Page 31421]]

    Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions
(original and 3 copies) shall be addressed to the Board's Executive
Secretary at one of the following addresses:
1. Submissions Via Express/Package Delivery Services: Foreign-Trade-
Zones Board, U.S. Department of Commerce, Franklin Court Building -
Suite 4100W, 1099 14th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20005; or
2. Submissions Via the U.S. Postal Service: Foreign-Trade-Zones Board,
U.S. Department of Commerce, FCB - Suite 4100W, 1401 Constitution Ave.
NW, Washington, D.C. 20230.
    The closing period for their receipt is August 1, 2005. Rebuttal
comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period
may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period to August 15,
2005.
    A copy of the application and accompanying exhibits will be
available for public inspection at the Office of the Foreign-Trade
Zones Board's Executive Secretary at the first address listed above,
and at the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center, 2152

N. Third Street, Suite 550, San Jose, California 95112.

    Dated: May 24, 2005.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 05-10887 Filed 5-31-05; 8:45 am]