[Federal Register: December 9, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 236)]
[Notices]               
[Page 72914]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09de02-28]                         


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Foreign-Trade Zones Board


[Docket 55-2002]


 
Foreign-Trade Zone 222--Montgomery, AL, Application for Subzone 
Status, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, LLC, Plant (Motor 
Vehicles), Montgomery, AL


    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones Board 
(the Board) by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, grantee of FTZ 
222, requesting special-purpose subzone status for the motor vehicle 
manufacturing plant of Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, LLC, 
(HMM)(a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co., of South Korea) located in 
Montgomery, Alabama. 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 November 27, 2002.
    The HMM plant (1,752 acres/2.1 million sq.ft.) is to be located at 
1500 Montgomery County Road 42 (Teague Road), between Interstate 65 and 
the main line of the CSX Railroad, in Montgomery (Montgomery County), 
Alabama. The facility, currently under construction, will be used to 
produce light-duty passenger vehicles (sedans, sport utility vehicles, 
minivans) for export and the domestic market. At full capacity, the 
facility (about 2,000 employees) will manufacture up to approximately 
250,000 vehicles annually. Components to be purchased from abroad 
(representing approximately 45% of vehicle material value) would 
include: diesel and gasoline engines and parts thereof, pumps, oils, 
compressors, air conditioner components, filters, paint, flexible 
tubes/hoses, self-adhesive plastic or polyurethane sheets/foil/film, 
labels, rubber belts, tires, seats, safety glass, engines and parts of 
engines, mirrors, flat-rolled steel (would be admitted under privileged 
foreign status (19 CFR 146.41)), stranded wire of steel and copper, 
body parts and trim, fasteners, cotter pins, catalytic converters, 
parts of steering systems, half shafts, transmissions and parts of 
transmissions, differentials, bearings and parts thereof, compasses, 
thermometers, motors, batteries, ignition parts, lighting equipment, 
horns, windshield wipers, audio components, antennas, wiring harnesses, 
handles/knobs, gaskets/seals, carpet sets, seat belts, airbag modules/
inflators, brake components, wheels, shock absorbers, radiators, 
exhaust systems, hinges, pneumatic dampeners, speedometers, 
tachometers, flow meters, regulators/controllers, windshields and 
windows, springs, valves, resistors, relays, clocks, and switches (duty 
rate range: free--9.0%).
    FTZ procedures would exempt HMM from Customs duty payments on the 
foreign components used in export production. On its domestic sales and 
exports to NAFTA countries, HMM would be able to choose the duty rate 
that applies to finished passenger vehicles (2.5%) for the foreign 
inputs noted above that have higher rates. Customs duties would be 
deferred and possibly reduced on foreign status production equipment. 
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 February 7, 2003. Rebuttal 
comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period 
may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period (to February 24, 
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 U.S. Department of Commerce Export 
Assistance Center, Suite 707, Medical Forum Building, 950 22nd Street 
North, Birmingham, AL 35203.


    Dated: November 27, 2002.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-31036 Filed 12-6-02; 8:45 am]