[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-1091]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: January 18, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 011094 B]

 

International Whaling Commission; Meetings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: NOAA makes use of a public Interagency Committee to assist in 
preparing for meetings of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). 
This notice sets forth guidelines for participating on the Committee 
and a tentative schedule of meetings and other important dates.

DATES: See ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' for dates of scheduled 
meetings.

ADDRESSES: Recommendations to the U.S. Commissioner to the IWC and 
nominations to the U.S. delegation to the IWC should be sent to: Dr. D. 
James Baker, Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, Department of 
Commerce, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 14th and Constitution Avenue, 
NW., Washington, DC 20230, with a copy sent to Kevin Chu, Office of 
International Affairs, room 14247, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Chu, Office of International 
Affairs, room 14247, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East West 
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Phone: (301) 713-2276.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary of Commerce is charged with 
the responsibility of discharging the obligations of the United States 
under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, 1946. 
This authority has been delegated to the Under Secretary of NOAA. The 
U.S. Commissioner to the IWC has primary responsibility for the 
preparation and negotiation of U.S. positions on international issues 
concerning whaling and for all matters involving the IWC. He is staffed 
by the Department of Commerce, and assisted by the Department of State, 
the Department of the Interior, the Marine Mammal Commission, and other 
interested agencies.
    Each year, NOAA conducts a series of meetings and other actions to 
prepare for the annual meeting of the IWC, which is usually held in the 
spring or summer. The major purpose of the preparatory meetings is to 
provide for input in the development of policy by members of the public 
and non-governmental organizations interested in whale conservation. 
NOAA believes that this participation is important for the effective 
development and implementation of U.S. policy concerning whaling.
    Any person with an identifiable interest in United States whale 
conservation policy may participate in the meetings, but NOAA reserves 
the authority to inquire about the interest of any person who appears 
at a meeting and to determine the appropriateness of that person's 
participation. Foreign nationals and persons who represent foreign 
governments may not attend. These stringent measures are necessary to 
promote the candid exchange of information. Such measures are a 
necessary basis for the relatively open process of preparing for IWC 
meetings that characterizes current practice.
    The tentative schedule of meetings and deadlines, including those 
of the IWC and deadlines for the preparation of position papers during 
1994 is as follows:

    January 3, 1994--Publish in the Federal Register the Agency 
views on: (1) The current population levels and annual net 
recruitment rate of bowhead whales, (2) the nature and extent of the 
aboriginal/subsistence need for bowhead whales, (3) the level of 
take of bowhead whales that is consistent with provisions of the IWC 
aboriginal/subsistence whaling management scheme, and (4) a list of 
documents reviewed by NOAA and used by the Administrator in 
formulating these views.
    January 11, 1994 (2 p.m., room 6009, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution, Washington, DC)--
Meeting of the Interagency Committee to review past events and to 
begin preparation for the 1994 Annual Meeting of the IWC. As with 
all such meetings, interested persons who are unable to attend are 
welcome to submit comments. Recommendations to the U.S. Commissioner 
should be sent to the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere at 
the above address.
    February 1, 1994--Nominations for the U.S. Delegation to the May 
IWC meetings are due to the U.S. Commissioner, with a copy to Kevin 
Chu at the address above. All persons wishing to be considered 
pursuant to the U.S. Commissioner's recommendation to the Department 
of State concerning the composition of the Delegation should ensure 
that nominations are received by this date. Prospective 
Congressional advisors to the Delegation should contact the 
Department of State directly.
    February 20-24, 1994, Norfolk Island, Australia--Intersessional 
meeting of the IWC to discuss a proposal to create a whale sanctuary 
in the Antarctic. (Attendance is limited to official delegations and 
observers from inter-governmental organizations and non-member 
governments.)
    March 10, 1994 (2 p.m., room 6009, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution, Washington, DC)--
Tentative Interagency Committee meeting date to review recent events 
relating to the IWC, to continue preparations for the upcoming IWC 
Annual Meeting.
    April 21, 1994 (2 p.m., room 6009, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution, Washington, DC)--
Tentative Interagency Committee Meeting date for finalizing 
preparations for 1991 IWC meetings.
    May 23-27, 1994, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico--46th Annual Meeting of 
the International Whaling Commission.

    Dated: January 4, 1994.
Nancy Foster,
Deputy Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 94-1091 Filed 1-14-94; 8:45 am]
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