[Federal Register: October 7, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 194)]
[Notices]              
[Page 57868]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07oc03-38]                        

[[Page 57868]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 50-2003]

Foreign-Trade Zone 249--Pensacola, FL; Application for Subzone
Status, General Electric Wind Energy and Energy Rentals (Wind
Turbines), Pensacola, FL

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board
(the Board) by the Pensacola-Escambia County Promotion and Development
Commission, grantee of FTZ 249, requesting special-purpose subzone
status for the wind turbine manufacturing plant of General Electric
Wind Energy and Energy Rentals (GEWE/GEER), located in Pensacola,
Florida. 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
September 25, 2003.
    The GEWE/GEER plant (102 acres/375,000 sq. ft.) is located at 8301
Scenic Highway in Pensacola (Escambia County), Florida. The facility
(250 employees) is used to produce 1.5 megawatt, wind-powered turbines
(with potential for 3.6 megawatt units in the future) and wind turbine
blades for export and the domestic market. The manufacturing process at
the facility involves machining, assembly, testing, and warehousing.
The plant has capacity to produce about 500 turbines and 850 wind

turbine blades annually. Components that are, or may be, purchased from
abroad (representing about 40-70% of finished product value) used in
manufacturing include: glue, polycetal/polyester/epoxide/polyamide/
polycarbonate resins (hardeners), plastic foil/film/tape, plate/sheet/
film of styrene/polyvinyl polymers (foam cores), printed labels, glass
fibers and fabric (root bands), glass fiber yarn (Category 201; must be
admitted under privileged foreign status--19 CFR 146.41), electrical
grounding rods, steel belts/bands, doors, fasteners, pumps, cylinders,
hub castings, bed plates, compressors, pulleys, winches, hoists,
electric motors, generators, transmissions, transmission shafts, gear
boxes, bearings, flanges/couplers, gears, clutches, couplings, chains,
sprockets, electrical connectors, motors, transformers, stators,
rotors, ballasts, static converters, inductors, magnets, batteries (Ni-
Cad, Ni-Iron, lead acid), lightning arresters, circuit breakers,
relays, switches, lampholders/sockets, panel/distribution boards, speed

controllers, control panels, pitch motor encoders, motor starters,
terminals, connectors, diodes, transistors, bridge rectifiers,
photosensitive semiconductors, conductors, revolution counters, and
voltage meters (2003 duty rate range: free--8.5%).
    FTZ procedures would exempt GEWE/GEER from Customs duty payments on
the foreign component inputs used in export production. On its domestic
shipment and exports to NAFTA markets, the company would be able to
choose the duty rate that applies to finished wind turbines (2.5%) or
wind turbine blades (3%) for the foreign-sourced inputs noted above.
The company would be able to defer Customs duty payments on the
foreign-origin finished turbines that would be admitted to the proposed
subzone for U.S. distribution. Duties would be deferred or reduced on
foreign production equipment admitted to the proposed subzone until
which time it becomes operational. The application indicates that
subzone status would help improve the plant's international
competitiveness.

    In accordance with the Board's regulations, a member of the FTZ
Staff has been designated examiner to investigate the application and
report to the Board.
    Public comment on the application is invited from interested
parties. Submissions (original and three copies) shall be addressed to
the Board's Executive Secretary at 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 Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005; or,
    2. Submissions via the U.S. Postal Service: Foreign-Trade Zones
Board, U.S. Department of Commerce, FCB-4100W, 1401 Constitution Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC 20230.
    The closing period for their receipt is December 8, 2003. Rebuttal
comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period
may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period (to December 22,
2003).
    A copy of the application will be available for public inspection
at the Office of the Foreign-Trade Zones Board's Executive Secretary at

address No.1 listed above and at the Office of the Port Director, U.S.
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, Suite 102, 1 South A Street,
Pensacola, FL 32501.

    Dated: September 25, 2003.
Pierre V. Duy,
Acting Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-25388 Filed 10-6-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P