[Federal Register: June 11, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 111)]
[Notices]
[Page 27858-27859]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11jn09-115]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6658]
Title: Meetings of the United States-Chile Environment Affairs
Council and Joint Commission for Environmental Cooperation
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Department of State and the Office of the United States
Trade Representative (USTR) are providing notice that, as set forth in
Chapter 19 (Environment) of the United States-Chile Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) and the United States-Chile Environmental Cooperation
Agreement (ECA), the two governments intend to hold the fifth meeting
of the Environment Affairs Council (the ``Council'') and the third
meeting of the Joint Commission for Environmental Cooperation (the
``Commission'') in Washington, DC on July 1st, 2009. A public
information session will be held for on July 1st, at 3 p.m., in room
1107 at the U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street, NW., Washington,
DC 20520. If you would like to attend the session, please send the
following information to Robert Wing at the fax number or e-mail
address listed below under ADDRESSES: (1) Your name, (2) your date of
birth, and (3) the number of a valid identification card that a
government has issued to you.
The purpose of the Council and Commission meeting is detailed below
under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
The meeting agenda will include an overview of Chapter 19 and
review of its implementation, progress report on projects outlined in
the FTA's Environment Chapter, a discussion of the roles and activities
of the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee and the public
advisory committee that advises the Chilean government on trade and
environment policy issues, an overview of progress of implementing
selected projects under the 2007-2008 Work Program pursuant to the
United States-Chile ECA and the presentation of a new ECA Work Program.
The Department of State and USTR invite interested agencies,
organizations, and members of the public to submit written comments or
suggestions regarding agenda items and to attend the public session.
In preparing comments, we encourage submitters to refer to:
The FTA's Environment Chapter including Annex 19.3, and
the Final Environment Review of the FTA, available at: http://
www.ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements/Bilateral/Chile_FTA/Section_
Index.html.
The ECA, available at: http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/or/
22185.htm.
DATES: To be assured of timely consideration, comments are requested no
later than June 25, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be submitted to both:
(1) Robert Wing, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans,
Environment, and Science, Office of Environmental Policy by electronic
mail at wingRD@state.gov with the subject line ``US-Chile EAC Meeting''
or by fax to (202) 647-5947; and (2) Mara M. Burr, Deputy Assistant
United States Trade Representative for Environment and Natural
Resources, Office of the United States Trade Representative by
electronic mail at mburr@ustr.eop.gov with the subject line ``US-Chile
EAC Meetings'' or by fax to (202) 395-9517.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Wing, Telephone (202) 647-9266
or Mara M. Burr, Telephone (202) 395-7320.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States-Chile FTA entered into
force on January 4, 2004. Article 3 of Chapter 19 (Environment) of the
FTA establishes an Environment Affairs Council, which is required to
meet at least once a year to discuss the implementation of, and
progress under, Chapter 19. Chapter 19 requires that meetings of the
Council include a public session. Under Chapter 19, the two governments
agreed to undertake eight specific cooperative activities set out in
Annex 19.3 of the Chapter and to negotiate a United States-Chile
Environmental Cooperation Agreement to further environmental
cooperative activities. The ECA entered into force on May 1, 2004 and
sets out a framework for environmental cooperative activities between
the two governments. Article II of the ECA establishes the United
States-Chile Joint Commission for Environmental Cooperation, with
responsibilities that include developing and periodically reviewing a
Work Program. The Commission is required to meet at least every two
years. The first meetings of the Council and the Commission were held
on July 22, 2004, in Santiago, Chile, and the third meeting
[[Page 27859]]
of the Council and second meeting of the Commission were held on
October 23-24, 2006, in Santiago, Chile.
At the fourth Council meeting held on April 24, 2008, in Santiago,
Chile the Council discussed the implementation of Chapter 19 of the FTA
with respect to public participation, progress reports on the eight
cooperation projects under Chapter 19, implementation of the 2005-2006
Work Program, and elaboration of the 2007-2008 Work Program. At this
meeting the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee and Chile's
Advisory Committee held the first ever exchange between FTA-related
trade and environment advisory committees.
At the upcoming fifth meeting of the Council, the Council will
review the status of implementation of Chapter 19 and receive reports
on (1) The progress of projects outlined in the FTA's Environment
Chapter, (2) the roles and activities of the Trade and Environment
Policy Advisory Committee and the public advisory committee that
advises the Chilean government on trade and environment policy issues,
and (3) the 2009-2010 Work Program Pursuant to the U.S-Chile ECA. At
its third meeting, the Commission, during a Joint Public Session with
the Council, will receive reports on progress of implementing the 2007-
2008 ECA Work Program and review and approve a new Work Program. At
these meetings, the Council and Commission will also consider
recommendations for future bilateral environmental cooperation. The
public is advised to refer to the State Department Web site at http://
www.state.gov/g/oes/env/ and the USTR Web site at http://www.USTR.gov
for further information related to the Council meeting.
Dated: June 4, 2009.
Daniel T. Fantozzi,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-13619 Filed 6-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P