The Executive Secretary has the following responsibilities and authority:

1. (a) Represent the Board in administrative, regulatory, operational, and public affairs matters;
2. (b) Serve as director of the Commerce Department's Foreign-Trade Zones staff;
3. (c) Execute and implement orders of the Board;
4. (d) Arrange meetings and direct circulation of action documents for the Board;
5. (e) Arrange with other sections of the Department of Commerce and other governmental agencies for studies and comments on zone issues and proposals;
6. (f) Maintain custody of the seal, records, files and correspondence of the Board, with disposition subject to the regulations of the Department of Commerce;
7. (g) Issue notices on zone matters for publication in the Federal Register;
8. (h) Direct processing of applications and reviews, including designation of examiners and scheduling of hearings, under various sections of this part;
9. (i) Make determinations on questions pertaining to grantees' applications for subzones as provided in § 400.12(d);
10. (j) Make recommendations in cases involving questions as to whether zone activity should be prohibited or restricted for public interest reasons, including proceedings and reviews under § 400.5;
11. (k) Determine questions of scope under § 400.14(d);
12. (l) 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 §§ 400.21-400.25;
13. (m) Issue instructions, guidelines, forms and related documents specifying time, place, manner and formats for applications and notifications in various sections of this part, including §§ 400.21(b) and 400.43(f);
14. (n) Determine whether proposed modifications are major modifications or minor modifications under § 400.24(a)(2);
15. (o) Determine whether applications meet pre-docketing requirements under § 400.31(b);
16. (p) Terminate reviews of applications under certain circumstances pursuant to § 400.36(g);
17. (q) Authorize minor modifications to zones under § 400.38, commencement of production activity under § 400.37(d) and subzone designation under § 400.36(f);
18. (r) Review notifications for production authority under § 400.37;
19. (s) Direct monitoring and reviews of zone operations and activity under § 400.49;
20. (t) Review rate schedules and determine their sufficiency under § 400.44(c);
21. (u) Assess potential issues and make recommendations pertaining to uniform treatment under § 400.43 and review and decide complaint cases under § 400.45;
22. (v) Make certain determinations and authorizations pertaining to retail trade under § 400.47;
23. (w) Authorize under certain circumstances the entry of “zone-restricted merchandise” into the customs territory under § 400.48;
24. (x) Determine the format and deadlines for the annual reports of zone grantees to the Board and direct preparation of an annual report from the Board to Congress under § 400.51(c);
25. (y) Make recommendations and certain determinations regarding violations and fines, and undertake certain procedures related to the suspension of activated status, as provided in § 400.62; and
26. (z) Designate an acting Executive Secretary.