[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 71 (Wednesday, April 14, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 19453]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-8556]
[[Page 19453]]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice 6927]
Suggestions for Environmental Cooperation Pursuant to the United
States-Peru Environmental Cooperation Agreement
ACTION: Notice of preparation of the 2011-2012 U.S.-Peru Environmental
Cooperation Work Program and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Department invites the public, including NGOs, educational
institutions, private sector enterprises and other interested persons,
to submit written comments or suggestions regarding items for inclusion
in a new Work Program for implementing the United States-Peru
Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA), which entered into force in
August 2009. The ECA Work Program will focus in particular on the
implementation of the Annex on Forest Sector Governance of the U.S.-
Peru Trade Promotion agreement (PTPA). Please review the Annex
carefully when preparing your ideas and suggestions. We also encourage
submitters to refer to: (1) The Environment Chapter of the PTPA, (2)
the U.S.-Peru ECA, (3) the U.S.-Peru 2009-2010 Environmental
Cooperation Work Program, and (4) the Environmental Review of the PTPA.
(Documents are available at: http://www.state.gov/g/oes/env/trade/peru/index.htm).
DATES: To be assured of timely consideration, all written comments or
suggestions are requested no later than May 25, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be e-mailed
([email protected]) or faxed to Jacqueline Tront ((202) 647-5947),
Office of Environmental Policy, Bureau of Oceans and International
Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, with
the subject line ``U.S.-Peru Environmental Cooperation Work Program.''
If you have access to the Internet and wish to make comment on this
Public Notice, you may do so by going to http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#home.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacqueline Tront, telephone (202) 647-
4750, Office of Environmental Policy, Bureau of Oceans and
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of
State.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the U.S.-Peru Environmental Cooperation
Agreement, the Parties (1) recognize that cooperation is a principal
means to contribute to ``efforts * * * to ensure that trade and
environmental policies are mutually supportive and to promote the
optimal use of resources in accordance with the objective of
sustainable development'' and (2) ``establish a framework for enhancing
bilateral and/or regional environmental cooperation between the
Parties.'' In the Environment Chapter of the PTPA (Chapter 18), the
Parties likewise ``recognize the importance of strengthening their
capacity to protect the environment and of promoting sustainable
development in concert with strengthening their trade and investment
relations.'' The Parties commit to ``undertaking cooperative
environmental activities pursuant to the ECA, including activities
related to implementation of the [Environment] Chapter.'' In
particular, in the Environment Chapter's Annex on Forest Sector
Governance, the Parties commit to work cooperatively to implement
certain actions required under the Annex, including through capacity-
building and other joint initiatives to promote sustainable management
of Peru's forest resources, in accordance with the ECA.
Article III of the ECA establishes the Environmental Cooperation
Commission (ECC) to coordinate and review environmental cooperation
activities. The responsibilities of the ECC include developing and
periodically reviewing the work program. The work program is a tool to
identify and establish goals, objectives and areas for cooperation,
including short-, medium- and long-term bilateral and/or regional
projects and activities. The Parties also agree to take into account
public comments and recommendations regarding cooperative environmental
activities.
In August 2009, the Parties agreed to the 2009-2010 U.S.-Peru
Environmental Cooperation Work Program. The main areas of cooperation
under the 2009-2010 Work Program are: (1) Institutional and policy
strengthening for effective implementation and enforcement of
environmental laws, including natural resource-related laws; (2)
biodiversity conservation and improved management of forests, protected
areas and other ecologically important ecosystems; (3) transparency and
public participation in environmental decision-making and enforcement;
(4) community and market-based activities; and (5) improved
environmental performance in the productive sector. The Parties agreed
to focus cooperation on the capacity building activities identified in
the Annex on Forest Sector Governance to ensure effective and timely
implementation of those obligations. The capacity building activities
listed in the Annex include: (a) Strengthening the legal, policy, and
institutional framework governing the forest estate and the
international trade in forest products; (b) building institutional
capacity for forest law enforcement and the international trade in
forest products; (c) improving the performance of the forest concession
system in meeting economic, social, and ecological objectives; and (d)
increasing public participation and improving transparency in forest
resource planning and management decision-making.
The United States anticipates building upon the cooperative work
initiated in the 2009-2010 Work Program with a primary focus on
activities related to the Annex on Forest Sector Governance. We are
requesting ideas and suggestions that may be considered for inclusion
in the next Work Program.
For additional information: http://www.state.gov/g/oes/env/trade/peru/index.htm.
Disclaimer: This Public Notice is a request for comments and
suggestions, and is not a request for applications. No granting or
money is directly associated with this request for suggestions for the
Work Program. There is no expectation of resources or funding
associated with any comments or suggestions provided for the work
program.
Dated: April 6, 2010.
Willem H. Brakel,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-8556 Filed 4-13-10; 8:45 am]
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