[Federal Register: February 26, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 38)]
[Notices]               
[Page 9473]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26fe99-21]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket 9-99]

 
Proposed Foreign-Trade Zone--Berkeley County, West Virginia; 
Application and Public Hearing

    An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) 
Board (the Board) by the West Virginia Economic Development Authority 
(a West Virginia public corporation and grantee of FTZ 229 in 
Charleston, West Virginia), to establish a general-purpose foreign-
trade zone in the Martinsburg (Berkeley County), West Virginia, area , 
adjacent to the Front Royal, Virginia, Customs port of entry. The 
application was submitted pursuant to the provisions of the FTZ Act, as 
amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), and the regulations of the Board (15 CFR 
Part 400). It was formally filed on February 19, 1999. The applicant is 
authorized to make the proposal under West Virginia Code Sec. 31-15-6.
    The proposed zone would be the second general-purpose zone in the 
Front Royal Customs port of entry area. The existing zone is FTZ 185 at 
sites in Culpeper County, Virginia (Grantee: Culpeper County Chamber of 
Commerce, Inc., Board Order 578, 57 FR 23385, 6/3/92).
    The proposed new zone would be located at the Eastern West Virginia 
Regional Airport complex (317 acres) near Martinsburg, Berkeley County, 
West Virginia. The site includes the ``John D. Rockefeller, IV'' 
Science and Technology Center business/industrial park. It is owned by 
the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport Authority and will be 
operated by the grantee.
    The application indicates a need for foreign-trade zone services in 
the Martinsburg area to serve the auto parts, aeronautics, medical 
products, inorganic chemicals, machinery and wood products industries. 
Several firms have indicated an interest in using zone procedures for 
warehousing/distribution activities. Specific manufacturing approvals 
are not being sought at this time. Requests would be made to the Board 
on a case-by-case basis.
    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.
    As part of the investigation, the Commerce examiner will hold a 
public hearing on March 24, 1999, 11:00 a.m., City Council Chamber, 2nd 
Floor, Martinsburg City Hall, 243 North Queen Street, Martinsburg, West 
Virginia 25401.
    Public comment on the application is invited from interested 
parties. Submissions (original and 3 copies) shall be addressed to the 
Board's Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing period 
for their receipt is April 27, 1999. Rebuttal comments in response to 
material submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted during 
the subsequent 15-day period (to May 12, 1999.
    A copy of the application and accompanying exhibits will be 
available during this time for public inspection at the following 
locations:

Office of the Executive Director, Region IX Planning and Development 
Council, 121 West King Street, Martinsburg, WV 25401
Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room 
3716, U.S. Department of Commerce 14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20230

    Dated: February 22, 1999.
Dennis Puccinelli,
Acting Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-4855 Filed 2-25-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DS-P