[Federal Register: October 19, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 200)]
[Notices]
[Page 53542-53543]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19oc09-107]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6790]
Suggestions for Updated 2009-2011 Plan of Action for Working
Group on Environmental Cooperation Established Pursuant to the United
States--Morocco Joint Statement on Environmental Cooperation
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Department of State is soliciting ideas and suggestions
for environmental cooperation projects between the United States and
Morocco. The United States and Morocco are in the process of developing
an updated 2009-2011 Plan of Action pursuant to the United States-
Morocco Joint Statement on Environmental Cooperation issued in 2004.
The Joint Statement outlines broad areas of environmental cooperation
to assist Morocco in complying with its obligations under the United
States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement. It is envisioned that the 2009-
2011 Plan of Action will focus on the following themes: (1)
Institutional and policy strengthening for effective implementation and
enforcement of environmental laws, (2) biodiversity conservation and
improved management of protected areas, and other ecologically
important ecosystems, (3) improved private sector environmental
performance, and (4) environmental education, transparency, and public
participation in environmental decision-making and enforcement.
The Department of State invites Government agencies and the public,
including NGOs, educational institutions, private sector enterprises,
and other interested persons, to submit written comments or suggestions
regarding items for the Plan of Action. In preparing such comments or
suggestions, we encourage submitters to refer to: (1) The U.S.-Morocco
Joint Statement on Environmental Cooperation, (2) the 2005-2007 Plan of
Action, (3) the Free Trade Agreement between the United States and
Morocco, (4) the 2004 Final Environmental Review of the U.S.-Morocco
Free Trade Agreement, and (5) the website of the Moroccan Ministry of
the Environment (French and Arabic) which are all available or linked
at: http://www.state.gov/g/oes/env/trade/. In the near future, the
Department of State will be seeking ideas and suggestions for
environmental cooperation projects with U.S. Free Trade Agreement
partners Bahrain and Oman through similar Federal Register notices.
DATES: To be assured of timely consideration, all written comments or
suggestions are requested no later than November 4, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be e-mailed
(LowtherAB@state.gov) or faxed ((202) 647-1052) to Alan Lowther, U.S.
Department of State, Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science, Office
of Environmental Policy, with the subject line ``U.S.-Morocco Work Plan
on Environmental Cooperation.'' For those with access to the Internet,
comments may be submitted at the following address: http://
www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#home.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Lowther, telephone (202) 647-
6777.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In Paragraph 5 of the U.S.-Morocco Joint
Statement on Environmental Cooperation, the United States and Morocco
announced the establishment of a Working Group on Environmental
[[Page 53543]]
Cooperation intended to meet regularly. The mandate of the Working
Group is to advance environmental protection in Morocco by developing
cooperative environmental activities that take into account
environmental priorities and that are agreed to by the two Governments.
The Working Group will develop a Plan of Action towards meeting this
goal.
The 2005-2007 Plan of Action focused on a set of mutually
identified goals in line with the main themes of cooperation noted
above. These goals were: (1) Strengthening the capacity to develop,
implement and enforce environmental laws and regulations, (2)
encouraging the development of incentives and voluntary mechanisms to
contribute to the achievement and maintenance of high levels of
environmental protection, (3) promoting opportunities for public
participation in environmental protection efforts and improving public
access to information and access to justice on environmental issues,
(4) protecting coastal environmental zones and estuaries and preventing
the over-exploitation of fisheries resources, (5) safeguarding
important natural resources, such as water, and protected areas in
Morocco, and (6) promoting the growth of the environmental-technology
business sector. Some indicative actions undertaken in these areas have
included workshops on environmental impact assessment and the use of
economic incentives for environmental decision making. Ongoing work
includes: Assistance to Morocco on enhanced compliance with the
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora
and Fauna (CITES) through legislation; technical assistance for a plan
to enforce environmental rules in the textile sector; and development
of a plan to manage waste from olive oil factories. The United States
Agency for International Development, the Department of the Interior,
the Department of Commerce, the Environmental Protection Agency, the
Department of Agriculture and the Trade and Development Agency and
others have been involved in implementing these activities. The 2009-
2011 Plan of Action seeks to build upon the progress made in the
previous Plan of Action.
The Plan of Action to be developed envisions cooperative activities
in four main priority areas: Institutional and policy strengthening;
biodiversity conservation and improved management of protected areas;
improved private sector environmental performance; and environmental
education, transparency, and public participation in environmental
decision-making and enforcement.
Please refer to the State Department Web site at http://
www.state.gov/g/oes/env/trade/.
Dated: October 13, 2009.
Lawrence J. Gumbiner,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-25081 Filed 10-16-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P