E7-25175. Ethyl Alcohol for Fuel Use: Determination of the Base Quantity of Imports

AGENCY:

United States International Trade Commission.

ACTION:

Notice of determination.

SUMMARY:

Section 423(c) of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2703 note), requires the United States International Trade Commission to determine annually the amount (expressed in gallons) that is equal to 7 percent of the U.S. domestic market for fuel ethyl alcohol during the 12-month period ending on the preceding September 30. This determination is to be used to establish the “base quantity” of imports of fuel ethyl alcohol with a zero percent local feedstock requirement that can be imported from U.S. insular possessions or CBERA-beneficiary countries. The base quantity to be used by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the administration of the law is the greater of 60 million gallons or 7 percent of U.S. consumption, as determined by the Commission.

For the 12-month period ending September 30, 2007, the Commission has determined the level of U.S. consumption of fuel ethyl alcohol to be 6.46 billion gallons; 7 percent of this amount is 452.5 million gallons (these figures have been rounded). Therefore, the base quantity for 2008 should be 452.5 million gallons.

ADDRESSES:

All Commission offices, including the Commission's hearing rooms, are located in the United States International Trade Commission Building, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC. All written submissions should be addressed to the Secretary, United States International Trade Commission, 500 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20436.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Douglas Newman, [phone], [e-mail], in the Commission's Office of Industries. For information on legal aspects of the investigation contact Mr. William Gearhart, [e-mail], of the Commission's Office of the General Counsel at [phone]. The media should contact Margaret O'Laughlin, Office of External Relations (202-205-1819 or [e-mail]). Hearing-impaired individuals may obtain information on this matter by contacting the Commission's TDD terminal at 202-205-1810. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its Internet server (http://www.usitc.gov). Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000.

Background: Section 423(c) of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, as amended, which concerns local feedstock requirements for fuel ethyl alcohol imported by the United States from U.S. insular possessions or CBERA-beneficiary countries, requires that the Commission determine annually the amount that is equal to 7 percent of the U.S. domestic market for fuel ethyl alcohol. The Commission published its notice instituting this investigation in the Federal Register of March 21, 1990 (55 F.R. 10512), and published its most recent previous determination for the 2007 amount in the Federal Register of January 5, 2007 (72 F.R. 580). The Commission uses official statistics of the U.S. Department of Energy to make these determinations, as well as the PIERS database of the Journal of Commerce, which is based on U.S. export declarations.

By order of the Commission.

Issued: December 20, 2007.

Marilyn R. Abbott,

Secretary to the Commission.