Foreign-Trade Zone 261-Alexandria, Louisiana; Application for Reorganization Under Alternative Site Framework

An application has been submitted to the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board by the England Economic & Industrial Development District, grantee of FTZ 261, requesting authority to reorganize the zone under the alternative site framework (ASF) adopted by the FTZ Board (15 CFR 400.2(c)). The ASF is an option for grantees for the establishment or reorganization of zones and can permit significantly greater flexibility in the designation of new subzones or “usage-driven” FTZ sites for operators/users located within a grantee's “service area” in the context of the FTZ Board's standard 2,000-acre activation limit for a zone. 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 docketed on May 25, 2016.

FTZ 261 was approved by the FTZ Board on April 21, 2004 (Board Order 1325, 69 FR 26066, May 11, 2004). The current zone includes the following sites: Site 1 (1,594 acres)—England Airpark complex, 1611 Arnold Drive, Alexandria; Site 2 (124 acres)—Port of Alexandria, 600 Port Road, Alexandria; and, Site 3 (110 acres)—Central Louisiana Eco Business Park, 7636 Highway 1 South, Alexandria.

The grantee's proposed service area under the ASF would be Rapides Parish, Louisiana, as described in the application. If approved, the grantee would be able to serve sites throughout the service area based on companies' needs for FTZ designation. The application indicates that the proposed service area is adjacent to the Morgan City Customs and Border Protection port of entry.

The applicant is requesting authority to reorganize its existing zone to include existing Sites 1 and 2 as “magnet” sites. The ASF allows for the possible exemption of one magnet site from the “sunset” time limits that generally apply to sites under the ASF, and the applicant proposes that Site 1 be so exempted. The applicant is also requesting to remove Site 3 from the zone. No subzones/usage-driven sites are being requested at this time.

In accordance with the FTZ Board's regulations, Camille Evans of the FTZ Staff is designated examiner to evaluate and analyze the facts and information presented in the application and case record and to report findings and recommendations to the FTZ Board.

Public comment is invited from interested parties. Submissions shall be addressed to the FTZ Board's Executive Secretary at the address below. The closing period for their receipt is August 1, 2016. Rebuttal comments in response to material submitted during the foregoing period may be submitted during the subsequent 15-day period to August 16, 2016.

A copy of the application will be available for public inspection at the Office of the Executive Secretary, Foreign-Trade Zones Board, Room 21013, U.S. Department of Commerce, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230-0002, and in the “Reading Room” section of the FTZ Board's Web site, which is accessible via www.trade.gov/ftz. For further information, contact Camille Evans at Camille.Evans@trade.gov or (202) 482-2350.