DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                           Foreign-Trade Zones Board

                                 [Docket 25-90]

                                  55 FR 26721

                                 June 29, 1990

   Foreign-Trade Zone 45 -- Portland, OR; Application for Subzone STC
Submarine Systems Undersea Cable Plant, Portland

TEXT: An aplication has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the
Board) by the Port of Portland, grantee of FTZ 45, requesting authority for
special-purpose subzone status at the undersea cable manufacturing plant of
STC Submarine Systems, Inc. (STC) (subsidiary of STC PLC, UK), located in
Portland, Oregon, within the Portland Customs port of entry. 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 June 20, 1990.

   The new 17-acre STC plant site (est. 1989) is located at 15540 W. Lombard
Street, Portland. The facility, which will employ 200, will produce
undersea telecommunication fiber optic cable. Foreign-sourced components
account for some 10 percent of the value of the cable, including copper-
clad stainless steel wire, copper, jointing kits, repeaters, heavy oil and
ink for coloring fibers. Other materials, including steel wire and
sheathing, are purchased from domestic sources. All finished cable would
be used for intercontinental undersea cable systems.

   Zone procedures are being requested for use on products made for export.
STC will be exempt from Customs duty payments on the foreign materials used
in such products. The application indicates that zone savings will help
improve STC's international competitiveness.

   In accordance with the Board's regulations, an examiners committee has
been appointed to investigate the application and report to the Board. The
committee consists of: John J. Da Ponte, Jr. (Chairman), Director,
Foreign-Trade Zones Staff, U.S. Department of Commerce, Washington, DC
20230; Thomas Hardy, District Director, U.S. Customs Service, Pacific
Region, 511 NW. Broadway, Federal Building, Portland, OR 97209; and,
Colonel Charles E. Cowan, District Engineer, U.S. Army Engineer District
Portland, P.O. Box 2946, Portland, OR 97229. 

   Comments concerning the proposed subzone are invited in writing from
interested parties. They should be addressed to the Board's Executive
Secretary at the address below and postmarked on or before August 18, 1990.

   A copy of the application is available for public inspection at each of
the following locations:


U.S. Department of Commerce, District Office,
1220 SW. 3rd Avenue, room 618,
Portland, OR 97204.

Office of the Executive Secretary,
Foreign-Trade Zones Board,
U.S. Department of Commerce, room 2835,
14th & Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20230. 

   Dated: June 25, 1990.


John J. Da Ponte, Jr.,

   Executive Secretary. 
[FR Doc. 90-15235 Filed 6-28-90; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 3510-DS-M