[Federal Register: January 18, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 11)]
[Notices]               
[Page 2850-2851]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18ja05-25]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

[Docket 1-2005]

 
Foreign-Trade Zone 45--Portland, OR, Application for Subzone, 
Epson Portland Inc. (Inkjet Cartridges), Hillsboro, OR

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Port of Portland, grantee of FTZ 45, requesting 
special-purpose subzone status for the inkjet cartridge manufacturing 
facility of Epson Portland Inc. (EPI), in Hillsboro, Oregon. 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 January 4, 2005.
    The EPI facility (1 building, 184,492 sq. ft. on 16.61 acres) is 
located at 3950 Aloclek Place, Hillsboro, Oregon. The EPI plant (455 
employees) is used for warehousing and manufacturing of inkjet 
cartridges (which includes the production of plastic injection molded 
cartridge parts); activities which EPI is proposing to perform under 
FTZ procedures.
    Foreign-sourced materials will account for some 50 to 55 percent of 
total materials used in production, and may include items from the 
following general categories: ink (HTSUS 3215.11 and 3215.19), cleaning 
liquid for printers (3402.19), polypropylene colorant (3901.20), 
polypropylene resins (3902.30), labels and label tape (3919.90), 
sealing film (3920.10), tape (3920.62), silicone sheet (3920.99), 
urethane foam (3921.13), poly bags (3923.21), seals (4016.93), vent 
film (5911.10), seals/valves/springs (7320.10), nylon filters 
(8421.19), and ink degassing modules (8421.21).
    Zone procedures would exempt EPI from Customs duty payments on 
foreign materials used in production for export. Some 60 percent of the 
plant's shipments are currently exported. On domestic sales, the 
company would be able to choose the duty rates that apply to the 
finished products (HTSUS 8473.30, duty-free), rather than the duty 
rates that would otherwise apply to the foreign-sourced materials noted 
above (duty-free to 6.5%, weighted average--3.4%). The application 
indicates that the savings from zone procedures will 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 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 Street, NW., Washington, DC 20005; or
    2. Submissions via the U.S. Postal Service: Foreign-Trade-Zones 
Board, U.S. Department of Commerce, FCB--Suite 4100W, 1401 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.
    The closing period for their receipt is March 21, 2005. Rebuttal 
comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period 
may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period (to April 4, 
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 address Number 1 listed above, and 
at the U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center, One World 
Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon Street, Suite 242, Portland, Oregon 
97204.


[[Page 2851]]


    Dated: January 6, 2005.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 05-937 Filed 1-14-05; 8:45 am]