[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 192 (Friday, October 3, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51926-51927]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-26236]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 2608]


Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs; Notice of a Public Meeting Regarding Government Activities on 
International Harmonization of Chemical Classification and Labeling 
Systems

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocenans and International Envoronmental and 
Scientific Affairs (OES), Department of State.

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SUMMARY: This public meeting will provide an update on current 
activities related to international harmonization since the previous 
public meeting, conducted July 30, 1997. (See Department of State 
Public Notice 2570, on page 38337 of the Federal Register of July 17, 
1997.) The meeting will also offer interested organizations and 
individuals the opportunity to provide information and views for 
consideration in the development of U.S. government policy positions. 
For more complete information on the harmonization process, please 
refer to State Department Public Notice 2526, pages 15951-15957 of the 
Federal Register of April 3, 1997.
    The meeting will take place from 10 am until noon on October 17 in 
Room S4215 ABC, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, 
Washington, D.C. Attendees should use the entrance at C and Third 
Streets NW. To facilitate entry, please have a picture ID available 
and/or a U.S. government building pass if applicable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information or to submit 
written comments or information, please contact Mary Frances Lowe, U.S. 
Department of State, OES/ENV, Room 4325, 2201 C Street NW, Washington 
D.C. 20420. Phone (202) 647-9266, fax (202) 647-5947.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of State is announcing a 
public meeting of the interagency committee concerned with the 
international harmonization of chemical hazard classification and 
labeling systems. The purpose of the meeting is to provide interested 
groups and individuals with an update on activities since the July 30 
public meeting, a preview of key upcoming international meetings, and 
an opportunity to submit additional information and comments for 
consideration in developing U.S. government positions. Representatives 
of the following agencies participate in the interagency group: the 
Department of State, the Environmental Protection Agency, the 
Department of

[[Page 51927]]

Transportation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the 
Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, 
the Department of Commerce, the Department of Agriculture, the Office 
of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the National Institute of 
Environmental Health Sciences.
    The Agenda of the public meeting will include:

1. Introduction
2. Reports on recent international meetings
    --Meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and 
Development (OECD) Advisory Group on Harmonization, October 1-3, 1997, 
in Paris, France. The agenda for this meeting includes review and 
discussion of OECD health and environmental hazard classification 
proposals.
3. Preparation for upcoming meetings
    --Meeting of the Coordinating Group for the Harmonization of 
Chemical Classification Systems (CG/HCCS), November 24-26, 1997, in 
Toronto, Canada. The agenda for this meeting includes further 
consideration of the clarification of the scope of the GHS and of the 
appropriate institutional arrangements for updating and maintaining the 
system. Papers for the meeting are expected to become available in 
early October and will be placed in the public docket, described below.
4. Public Comments
5. Concluding Remarks

    Participants in the meeting may submit written comments as well as 
speak on topics relating to harmonization of chemical classification 
and labeling systems. All written comments will be placed in the public 
docket (OSHA docket H-022H). The docket is open from 10 am until 4 pm, 
Monday through Friday, and is located at the Department of Labor, Room 
2625, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. (Telephone: 202-219-
7894; Fax: 202-219-5046). The public may also consult the docket to 
review previous Federal Register notices, comments received to date, a 
working ``thought starter'' document of the CG/HCCS on the scope of the 
harmonization effort, U.S. government and stakeholder comments on the 
``though starter'' scope clarification, Questions and Answers about the 
GHS, and a response to comments on the April 3 Federal Register notice.

    Dated: September 22, 1997.
Michael Metelits,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Bureau of Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
[FR Doc. 97-26236 Filed 10-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-M