2023-15803. Reorganization of Foreign-Trade Zone 84 (Expansion of Service Area) Under Alternative Site Framework; Houston, Texas

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, the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Act provides 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,” and authorizes the Board to grant to qualified corporations the privilege of establishing foreign-trade zones in or adjacent to U.S. Customs and Border Protection ports of entry;

Whereas, the Board adopted the alternative site framework (ASF) (15 CFR 400.2(c)) as an option for the establishment or reorganization of zones;

Whereas, the Port of Houston Authority, grantee of Foreign-Trade Zone 84, submitted an application to the Board (FTZ Docket B–4–2023, docketed January 11, 2023) for authority to expand the service area of the zone to include Waller County, Texas, as described in the application, adjacent to the Houston Customs and Border Protection port of entry;

Whereas, notice inviting public comment was given in the Federal Register (88 FR 2602, January 17, 2023) and the application has been processed pursuant to the FTZ Act and the Board's regulations; and,

Whereas, the Board adopts the findings and recommendations of the examiners' report, and finds that the requirements of the FTZ Act and the Board's regulations are satisfied;

Now, therefore, the Board hereby orders:

The application to reorganize FTZ 84 to expand the service area under the ASF is approved, subject to the FTZ Act and the Board's regulations, including section 400.13, and to the Board's standard 2,000-acre activation limit for the zone.

Dated: July 21, 2023.

Lisa W. Wang,

Assistant Secretary for Enforcement and Compliance, Alternate Chairman, Foreign-Trade Zones Board.