CFR > Title 15 - Commerce and Foreign Trade > SUBTITLE B—Regulations Relating to Commerce and Foreign Trade > CHAPTER IV—FOREIGN-TRADE ZONES BOARD, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE (parts 400 to 400) > PART 400—REGULATIONS OF THE FOREIGN-TRADE ZONES BOARD > SUBPART B—Foreign-Trade Zones Board (§400.11 to §400.13) > 400.12—Responsibilities and authority of the Executive Secretary.

400.12—Responsibilities and authority of the Executive Secretary.

The Executive Secretary has the following responsibilities and authority:
(a) Represent the Board in administrative, regulatory, operational, and public affairs matters;
(b) Serve as director of the Commerce Department's Foreign-Trade Zones staff;
(c) Execute and implement orders of the Board;
(d) Arrange meetings and direct circulation of action documents for the Board;
(e) Arrange with other sections of the Department of Commerce, Board agencies and other governmental agencies for studies and comments on zone issues and proposals;
(f) Maintain custody of the seal, records, files and correspondence of the Board, with disposition subject to the regulations of the Department of Commerce;
(g) Issue notices on zone matters for publication in the Federal Register ;
(h) Determine subzone sponsorship questions as provided in § 400.22(d) ;
(i) Determine whether additional information is needed for evaluation of applications and other requests for decisions under this part, as provided for in various sections of this part, including §§ 400.24, 400.25, and 400.26 ;
(j) Issue guidelines on information required for subzone applications under § 400.25(a)(6) ;
(k) Determine whether proposed modifications involve major changes under § 400.26(a)(2) ;
(l) Determine whether applications meet prefiling requirements under § 400.27(b) ;
(m) Direct processing of applications, including designation of examiners and scheduling of hearings under §§ 400.27 and 400.32 ;
(n) Authorize minor modifications to zone projects under § 400.27(f) ;
(o) Review changes in sourcing under § 400.28(a)(3) ;
(p) Direct monitoring of zone activity under § 400.31(d) ;
(q) Direct reviews and make recommendations on requests for manufacturing/processing approvals under § 400.32(b) ;
(r) Determine questions of scope under § 400.32(c) ;
(s) Accept rate schedules and determine their sufficiency under § 400.42(b)(3) ;
(t) Review and decide zone rate complaints cases under § 400.42(b)(5) ;
(u) Make recommendations in cases involving questions as to whether zone activity should be prohibited or restricted for public interest reasons, including reviews under § 400.43 ;
(v) Authorize under certain circumstances the return of “zone-restricted merchandise” for entry into Customs territory under § 400.44 ;
(w) Authorize certain duty-paid retail trade under § 400.45 ;
(x) Determine the format for the annual reports of zone grantees to the Board and direct preparation of an annual report to Congress from the Board under § 400.46(d); and
(y) Designate an acting Executive Secretary.