[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 1987]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-715]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 2708]


Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs; Notice of Meeting

AGENCY: Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs (OES), Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of a public meeting regarding Government Activities on 
International Harmonization of Chemical Classification and Labeling 
Systems.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This public meeting will provide an update on current 
activities related to international harmonization since the previous 
public meeting, conducted October 17, 1997 (See Department of State 
Public Notice 2608, on pages 51926-51927 of the Federal Register of 
October 3, 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 January 23 in 
Room N3437 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. 20520. Phone (202) 736-
7111, 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 (an effort often referred to as the ``globally 
harmonized system'' or GHS). The purpose of the meeting is to provide 
interested groups and individuals with an update on activities since 
the October 17, 1997, 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 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 
Services.
    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) Mixtures Working Group, November 20-21, Ottawa, 
Canada. The working group conducted its first meeting and outlined a 
workplan for developing a review of existing classification systems for 
chemical mixtures.
     Meeting of the Coordinating Group for the Harmonization of 
Chemical Classification Systems (CG/HCCS), November 24-26, 1997, in 
Ottawa, Canada. The agenda for this meeting included further 
consideration of the clarification of the scope of the GHS and of the 
appropriate institutional arrangements for updating and maintaining the 
system. Papers from the meeting on these subjects are available in the 
public docket, described below.
     Meeting of the UN Subcommittee of Experts on the Transport 
of Dangerous Goods, December 8-18, in Geneva, Switzerland. The 
Subcommittee considered physical hazard classification criteria 
proposals.
    3. Preparation for upcoming meetings.
     Meeting of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and 
Development Advisory Group on Harmonization. This meeting will focus on 
classification criteria proposals for health and environmental 
endpoints.
    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, a working 
``thought starter'' document of the CG/HCCS on the scope of the 
harmonization effort, U.S. government and stakeholder comments on the 
``thought starter'' scope clarification, Questions and Answers about 
the GHS, and a response to comments on the April 3 Federal Register 
notice.

    Dated: January 6, 1998.
Robert J. Ford,
Deputy Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Bureau of Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-715 Filed 1-12-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-M