[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 43 (Friday, March 6, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9867-9868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4805]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6538]
Meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council (EAC) of the
Dominican Republic--Central America--United States Free Trade Agreement
(CAFTA-DR)
AGENCY: Department of State.
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 17 (Environment) of the Dominican Republic-Central America-
United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), the CAFTA-DR governments
intend to hold the fourth meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council
(the ``Council'') in San Jose, Costa Rica on March 10, 2009. The
Council will hold an information session for members of the public on
March 10, 2009, from 2-4 p.m. in the Ramada Herradura Hotel, facing the
General Ca[ntilde]as Highway, five kilometers south of the Juan
Santamaria International Airport. The purpose of the Council meetings
is detailed below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
The meeting agenda will include a review of issues concerning
implementation of the Environment Chapter, review and formal adoption
of Working Procedures and a Public Outreach Plan for the Secretariat
for Environmental Matters Under the CAFTA-DR (``Secretariat''),
appointment of a new General Coordinator for the Secretariat, and
presentations of various accomplishments under the CAFTA-DR
Environmental Cooperation 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 CAFTA-DR
Environment Chapter and the Final Environment Review of the CAFTA-DR
(available at http://www.ustr.gov) and the Environmental Cooperation
Agreement (ECA) (available at http://www.state.gov/g/oes/env/ trade/).
DATES: To be assured of timely consideration, submit comments on or
before March 9, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be submitted to both:
(1) Rachel Kastenberg, Department of State, Bureau of Oceans,
Environment, and Science, Office of Environmental Policy by electronic
mail at [email protected] with the subject line ``CAFTA-DR 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 [email protected] with the subject line ``CAFTA-DR
EAC Meeting'' or by fax to (202) 395-9517.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Kastenberg, Telephone (202)
647-9266 or Mara M. Burr, Telephone (202) 395-7320.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Article 17.5 of Chapter 17 of CAFTA-DR
establishes an Environmental Affairs Council (the ``Council''). Article
17.5 requires the Council to meet at least once a year, unless the
Parties otherwise agree, to discuss the implementation of, and progress
under, Chapter 17. Article 17.5 further requires, unless the Parties
otherwise agree, that each meeting of the Council include a session in
which members of the Council have an opportunity to meet with the
public to discuss matters relating to the implementation of Chapter 17.
In Article 17.9 of the Chapter, the Parties recognize the
importance of strengthening capacity to protect the environment and to
promote sustainable development in concert with strengthening trade and
investment relations and state their commitment to expanding their
cooperative relationship on environmental matters. Article 17.9 also
notes that the Parties have negotiated an Environmental Cooperation
Agreement (ECA) that sets out certain priority areas of cooperation on
environmental activities. These priority areas are reflected in Annex
17.9 and include, among other things, conserving and managing shared,
migratory, and endangered species in international trade; exchanging
information on domestic implementation of multilateral environmental
agreements that all the Parties have ratified; and strengthening each
Party's environmental management systems, including reinforcing
institutional and legal frameworks and the capacity to develop,
implement, administer, and enforce environmental laws, regulations,
standards, and polices.
At its fourth meeting, the Council will, among other things, (1)
Review of issues concerning implementation of Chapter 17; (2) appoint a
new General Coordinator for the Secretariat; (3) review and adopt the
Secretariat's Working Procedures and Public
[[Page 9868]]
Outreach Plan; and (4) review the status of cooperative environmental
activities the Parties are implementing consistent with the CAFTA-DR
ECA.
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.
Dated: February 27, 2009.
Daniel T. Fantozzi,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-4805 Filed 3-5-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P