Grant of Authority for Subzone Status; Valero Energy Corporation (Oil Refinery), Los Angeles County, CA, Area

Pursuant to its authority under the Foreign-Trade Zones Act of June 18, 1934, as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u), the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) adopts the following Order:

Whereas, by an Act of Congress approved June 18, 1934, an Act “To provide for the establishment * * * of foreign-trade zones in ports of entry of the United States, to expedite and encourage foreign commerce, and for other purposes,” as amended (19 U.S.C. 81a-81u) (the Act), the Foreign-Trade Zones Board (the Board) is authorized to grant to qualified corporations the privilege of establishing foreign-trade zones in or adjacent to U.S. Customs ports of entry;

Whereas, the Board's regulations (15 CFR part 400) provide for the establishment of special-purpose subzones when existing zone facilities cannot serve the specific use involved, and when the activity results in a significant public benefit and is in the public interest;

Whereas, an application from the Board of Habor Commissioners of the City of Long Beach, California, grantee of Foreign-Trade Zone 50, requesting special-purpose subzone status for the oil refinery complex of Valero Energy Corporation (formerly Ultramar, Inc.), located in the Los Angeles County, California, area, was filed by the Board on November 27, 2001, and notice inviting public comment was given in the Federal Register (FTZ Docket 47-2001, (66 FR 63362, 12/6/02)); and,

Whereas, the Board adopts the findings and recommendations of the examiner's report, and finds that the requirements of the FTZ Act and Board's regulations would be satisfied, and that approval of the application would be in the public interest if approval is subject to the conditions listed below;

Now, therefore, the Board hereby authorizes the establishment of a subzone (Subzone 501) at the oil refinery complex of the Valero Energy Corporation in the Los Angeles County, California, area, at the location described in the application, subject to the FTZ Act and the Board's regulations, including § 400.28, and subject to the following conditions:

1. Foreign status (19 CFR 146.41, 146.42) products consumed as fuel for the refinery shall be subject to the applicable duty rate.

2. Privileged foreign status (19 CFR 146.41) shall be elected on all foreign merchandise admitted to the subzone, except that non-privileged foreign (NPF) status (19 CFR 146.42) may be elected on refinery inputs covered under HTSUS Subheadings #2709.00.10, #2709.00.20, #2710.11.25, #2710.11.45, #2710.19.05, #2710.19.10, #2710.19.45, #2710.91.00, #2710.99.05, #2710.99.10, #2710.99.16, #2710.99.21, and #2710.99.45 which are used in the production of:

—Petrochemical feedstocks and refinery by-products (examiners report, Appendix “C”);

—Products for export;

—And, products eligible for entry under HTSUS # 9808.00.30 and #9808.00.40 (U.S. Government purchases).