[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 15, Volume 2]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 15CFR400.24]

[Page 65-67]
 
                  TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND FOREIGN TRADE
 
      CHAPTER IV--FOREIGN-TRADE ZONES BOARD, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
 
PART 400--REGULATIONS OF THE FOREIGN-TRADE ZONES BOARD--Table of Contents
 
       Subpart C--Establishment and Modification of Zone Projects
 
Sec. 400.24  Application for zone.

    (a) In general. An application for a grant of authority to establish 
a zone project shall consist of a transmittal letter, an executive 
summary and five exhibits.
    (b) Letter of transmittal. The transmittal letter shall be currently 
dated and signed by an authorized officer of

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the corporation and bear the corporate seal.
    (c) Executive summary. The executive summary shall describe:
    (1) The corporation's legal authority to apply;
    (2) The type of authority requested from the Board;
    (3) The proposed zone site and facilities and the larger project of 
which the zone is a part;
    (4) The project background, including surveys and studies;
    (5) The relationship of the project to the community's and state's 
overall economic development plans and objectives;
    (6) The plans for operating and financing the project; and
    (7) Any additional pertinent information needed for a complete 
summary description of the proposal.
    (d) Exhibits. (1) Exhibit One (Legal Authority for the Application) 
shall consist of:
    (i) A certified copy of the state enabling legislation described in 
Sec. 400.22;
    (ii) A copy of pertinent sections of the applicant's charter or 
organization papers; and
    (iii) A certified copy of the resolution of the governing body of 
the corporation authorizing the official signing the application.
    (2) Exhibit Two (Site Description) shall consist of:
    (i) A detailed description of the zone site, including size, 
location, address, and a legal description of the area proposed for 
approval; a table with site designations shall be included when more 
than one site is involved;
    (ii) A summary description of the larger project of which the zone 
is a part, including type, size, location and address;
    (iii) A statement as to whether the zone is within or adjacent to a 
customs port of entry;
    (iv) A description of zone facilities and services, including 
dimensions and types of existing and proposed structures;
    (v) A description of existing or proposed site qualifications 
including: land-use zoning, relationship to flood-plain, infrastructure, 
utilities, security, and access to transportation services;
    (vi) A description of current activities carried on in or contiguous 
to the project;
    (vii) If part of a port facility, a summary of port and 
transportation services and facilities; if not, a summary description of 
transportation systems indicating connections from local and regional 
points of arrival to the zone; and
    (viii) A statement as to the possibilities and plans for zone 
expansion.
    (3) Exhibit Three (Operation and Financing) shall consist of:
    (i) A statement as to site ownership (if not owned by the applicant 
or proposed operator, evidence as to their legal right to use the site);
    (ii) A discussion of the operational plan (if the zone or a portion 
thereof is to be operated by other than the grantee, a summary of the 
selection process used or to be used, the type of operation agreement 
and, if available, the name and qualifications of the proposed 
operator);
    (iii) A brief explanation of the plans for providing facilities, 
physical security, and for satisfying the requirements for Customs 
automated systems;
    (iv) A summary of the plans for financing capital and operating 
costs, including a statement as to the source and use of funds; and
    (v) The estimated time schedule for construction and activation.
    (4) Exhibit Four (Economic Justification) shall include:
    (i) A statement of the community's overall economic goals and 
strategies in relation to those of the region and state;
    (ii) A reference to the plan or plans on which the goals are based 
and how they relate to the zone project;
    (iii) An economic profile of the community including identification 
and discussion of dominant sectors in terms of percentage of employment 
or income, area resources and problems, economic imbalances, 
unemployment rates, area foreign trade statistics, and area port 
facilities and transportation networks;
    (iv) A statement as to the role and objective of the zone project, 
and a justification for each of the proposed sites;

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    (v) A discussion of the anticipated economic impact, direct and 
indirect, of the zone project, including references to public costs and 
benefits, employment, U.S. international trade, and environmental 
impact;
    (vi) A statement as to the need for zone services in the community, 
with information on surveys of business, and specific expressions of 
interest from proposed zone users, with letters of intent from those 
firms that are considered prime prospects; and
    (vii) A description of proposed manufacturing and processing 
operations, if applicable, with information covering the factors 
described in Sec. 400.31(b), including the nature and scope of the 
operation and production process, materials and components used, items 
to be foreign sourced with relevant tariff information, zone benefits 
anticipated and how they will affect the firm's plans, and the economic 
impact of the operation on the community and on related domestic 
industries.
    (5) Exhibit Five (Maps) shall consist of:
    (i) The following maps and drawings:
    (A) State and county maps showing the general location of the zone 
in terms of the area's transportation network;
    (B) A local community map showing in red the location of the 
proposed zone; and
    (C) A detailed blueprint of the zone or subzone area showing zone 
boundaries in red, with dimensions and metes and bounds, or other legal 
description, and showing existing and proposed structures.
    (ii) Proposals involving existing zones shall include a drawing 
showing existing zone sites and the proposed changes.
    (e) Additional information. The Board or the Executive Secretary may 
require additional information needed to adequately evaluate a proposal.
    (f) Amendment of application. The Board or the Executive Secretary 
may allow amendment of the application.
    (g) Drafts. Applicants may submit a draft application to the 
Executive Secretary for review.
    (h) Format and number of copies. Unless the Executive Secretary 
alters the requirements of this paragraph, submit an original and 8 
copies of the application on 8\1/2\"  x  11" (216  x  279 mm) paper. 
Exhibit Five of the original application shall contain full-sized maps, 
and copies shall contain letter-sized reductions.
    (i) Where to file. Address and mail the application to the Secretary 
of Commerce, Attention: Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, 
U.S. Department of Commerce, Pennsylvania Avenue and 14th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20230.

(Approved by the Office of Management and Budget under control number 
0625-0139)

[56 FR 50798, Oct. 8, 1991, as amended at 62 FR 53535, Oct. 15, 1997]