[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 90 (Tuesday, May 9, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 26815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11550]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 042600A]


International Whaling Commission; Meetings

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

ACTION: Notice of public meetings.

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

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

DATES: The May 17, 2000, Interagency Meeting will be held at 2:00 p.m. 
See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for tentative 2000 meeting schedules.

ADDRESSES: The May 17, 2000, meeting will be held in Room B841-B, 
Herbert C. Hoover Building, Department of Commerce, 14th Street and 
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cathy Campbell, (202) 482-2652.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of the May 17, 2000, Interagency 
Committee meeting is to review recent events relating to the IWC and to 
discuss the draft agenda and U.S. positions for the 2000 IWC annual 
meeting.
    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 for Oceans and 
Atmosphere. 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 by other interested agencies.
    Each year, NOAA conducts meetings and other activities to prepare 
for the annual meeting of the IWC. The major purpose of the preparatory 
meetings is to provide input in the development of policy by 
individuals 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 and to 
establish the necessary basis for the relatively open process of 
preparing for IWC meetings that characterizes current practices.

Tentative Meeting Schedule

    The tentative schedule of additional meetings and deadlines, 
including those of the IWC, during 2000 follows. Specific locations and 
times will be published in the Federal Register.
    May 17, 2000 (Rm B841-B, Herbert C. Hoover Building, Department of 
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.): 
Interagency Committee meeting to review recent events relating to the 
IWC and to discuss the draft agenda and U.S. positions for the 2000 IWC 
annual meeting.
    June 5, 2000 (Rm B841-A, Herbert C. Hoover Building, Department of 
Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.): 
Interagency Committee meeting to review recent events relating to the 
IWC and to review U.S. positions for the 2000 IWC annual meeting.
    June 12-13, 2000 (Adelaide, Australia): IWC Scientific Committee 
Working Groups and Sub-committees.
    June 14-26, 2000 (Adelaide, Australia): IWC Scientific Committee.
    June 28-July 1, 2000 (Adelaide, Australia): IWC Commission 
Committees, Sub-committees and Working Groups.
    July 3-6, 2000 (Adelaide, Australia): IWC 52nd Annual 
Meeting.

Special Accommodations

    Department of Commerce meetings are physically accessible to people 
with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other 
auxiliary aids should be directed to Cathy Campbell (see FOR FURTHER 
INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

    Dated: April 27, 2000.
Don Knowles,
Director, Office Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 00-11550 Filed 5-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F