[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 47 (Thursday, March 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 12611]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5647]



[[Page 12611]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice No. 3240]


Bureau of Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs; Public Meeting To Discuss Preparations for Negotiations on an 
International Agreement Through the United Nations Environment Program 
on Persistent Organic Pollutants

SUMMARY: The United States government, through an interagency working 
group chaired by the U.S. Department of State, is preparing for the 
fourth in a series of negotiations through the United Nations 
Environment Program (UNEP) on a global agreement to address certain 
persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that result in risks of a 
transboundary nature. The fourth negotiating session is scheduled to 
take place in Bonn, Germany, on March 20-25, 2000. The Department of 
State will host a public meeting in advance of this session to outline 
issues likely to arise in the context of the negotiations. The public 
meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 14, 2000, from 10 a.m. to 
11:30 a.m. in Room 1408 of the U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street 
NW, Washington, D.C. To expedite their entrance into the building, 
attendees should provide to Eunice Mourning of the Office of 
Environmental Policy, U.S. Department of State (tel. 202-647-9266, fax 
202-647-5947) their name, organization, date of birth and Social 
Security number by noon on Monday, February 13, 2000. Attendees should 
enter the C Street entrance and bring picture identification with them. 
For further information, please contact Ms. Cornelia Weierbach, U.S. 
Department of State, Office of Environmental Policy (OES/ENV), Room 
4325, 2201 C Street NW, Washington DC 20520. Phone 202-647-4548, fax 
202-647-5947, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The UNEP POPs Negotiations

    The POPs treaty is the first global treaty to address in a 
comprehensive manner the risks to human health and the environment of 
chemicals and other pollutants. The treaty will in the first instance 
deal with twelve substances: Aldrin, Endrin, HCBs, Toxaphene, 
Chlordane, Dieldrin, Heptachlor, Mirex, DDT, PCBs, dioxins and furans. 
These substances fall into three categories: pesticides, industrial 
chemicals, and unintended by-products of combustion and industrial 
processes.
    These global negotiations are an ambitious undertaking, since they 
encompass a broad range of measures to address POPs of transboundary 
concern. These range from controls on production and use for commercial 
chemicals, controls on POPs wastes, and controls on by-products that 
come from combustion and industrial processes. For many countries, this 
will be the first time that these substances have been controlled, and 
the effects are likely to be far-reaching.
    Since the U.S. and other developed countries have already taken 
actions on these chemicals, major goals are broad participation in the 
agreement by developing countries and, consequently, meaningful 
reductions in the amount of pollutants that are released into the 
environment. A critical part of the agreement will be technical and 
financial assistance mechanisms to help developing countries 
effectively implement their obligations.

Timetable and Point of Contact

    The POPs Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) expects to 
complete its work at its fifth session, which will take place in South 
Africa in fall 2000. In preparation for the fourth session of the INC, 
the Administration is preparing its position for the negotiation, and 
has scheduled a public meeting to be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2000 
from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Room 1408 of the U.S. Department of 
State. Members of the interagency working group who will participate in 
the proposed negotiation will provide an overview of U.S. preparations 
for the fourth session. The U.S. Department of State is issuing this 
notice to help ensure that interested and potentially affected parties 
are aware of and knowledgeable about these negotiations, and have an 
opportunity to offer comments. Those organizations/individuals which 
cannot attend the March 14, 2000 meeting, but wish to either submit a 
written comment or to remain informed, should provide Eunice Mourning 
of the Office of Environmental Policy, U.S. Department of State (phone 
202-647-9266; fax 202-647-5947) with their statement and/or their name, 
organization, address, telephone and fax numbers, and their e-mail 
address.

    Dated: March 3, 2000.
Daniel Fantozzi,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 00-5647 Filed 3-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-U