Applications, hearings, determinations, etc.: DuPont Agricultural Caribe Industries, Ltd.,

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Federal Register: May 18, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 95)NoticesPage 26934From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr18my99-39

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board

Docket 21-99Foreign-Trade Zone 7--Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; Application for Foreign-Trade Subzone Status; DuPoint Agricultural Caribe Industries, Ltd. (Crop Protection Products), Manati, Puerto Rico

An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) by the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company, grantee of FTZ 7, requesting special-purpose subzone status for the manufacturing facilities (crop protection products) of DuPoint Agricultural Caribe Industries, Ltd. (DACI), located in Manati, Puerto Rico. The application was submitted pursuant to 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 filedon May 7, 1999.

The DACI facilities (458.5 acres, 797,000 sq. ft.+235,000 sq. ft proposed) are located at Km 2.3, State Road 686, Manti, Puerto Rico. The facilities (695 employees) produce herbicide products for crop protection. DACI indicates that it intends to manufacture, test, package, and warehouse under FTZ procedures sulfonylurea herbicides, as well as ``technicals'' to be used by the E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Inc., plant in El Paso, Illinois for the production of such herbicides. The herbicides which may be produced at the Manati facility are marketed under the following trade names: Accent<Register>Accent Gold<Register>. Basis<Register>,Basis Gold<Register>, Pinnacle<Register>, Reliance<Register>, Classic<Register>, Canopy<Register>, Canopy XL<Register>, Granstar<Register>, Express<Register>, Ally<Register>, Escort<Register>, Glean<Register>, Harmony<Register>, Harmony Extra<Register>, Refine<Register>, Finesse<Register>, Londax<Register>, Gulliver<Register>, and Canvas<Register>. Foreign-sourced materials will account for, on average, 13 to 17 percent of the finished products' value. DACI indicates that the foreign-sourced inputs are as follows: 2-methyl-5- methoxy-6-methylamino-1,3,5-triazine;2-(isocyanatosulfonyl)-benozic acid, methyl; 2-Amino-4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazine; 3- (isocyanatosulfonyl)-2-thiophenecarboxylic acid, methyl ester; 2- chloro-benzenesulfonyl isocyanate; 2-Amino-4,6-dimethoxypyrimidine; 2-

[(isocyanatosulfonyl) methyl] -benzoic acid, methyl ester; (4,6- dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl) carbamic acid, phenyl ester; 1-methyl-4-[2- methyl-2H-tetrazol-5-yl]-1H-pyrazole-5-sulfonamide; 4,6-dimethyl-2- pyrimidinamine; phenyl (3-((dimethylamino)carbonyl)-2- pyridinylsulfonyl)carbamate; 3-(ethylsulfonyl)-2-pyridinesulfonamide; 2-(isocyanatosulfonyl)-benzoic acid, ethyl ester; and 2-amino-4-chloro- 6-methoxypyrimidine (duty rates on these items range from duty free to 10.0%+1.8 cents/kg.). This application also indicates that the company may in the future import under FTZ procedures a wide variety of other chemical materials, as well as other products used in production, packaging, and distribution of crop protection products.

Zone procedures would exempt DACI from Customs duty payments on foreign materials used in production for export. On domestic shipments, the company would be able to defer Customs duty payments on foreign materials, and to choose the duty rate that applies to the finished products (6.5%-10%) instead of the rates otherwise applicable to the foreign input materials (noted above). The company would also be exempt from duty payments on foreign merchandise that becomes scrap/waste. FTZ status may also make a site eligible for benefits provided under state/ local programs. The application indicates that the savings from zone procedures would held 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 Exeutive Secretary at the address below. The closing period for their receipt is July 19, 1999. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period to August 2, 1999.

A copy of the application and the accompanying exhibits will be available for public inspection at each of the following locations:

Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 3716, 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20230 U.S. Department of Commerce Export Assistance Center, 525 F.D. Roosevelt Avenue, Suite 905, San Juan, PR 00918

Dated: May 7, 1999. Dennis Puccinelli, Acting Executive Secretary.

FR Doc. 99-12507Filed5-17-99; 8:45 amBILLING CODE 3510-SD-M

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