[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 223 (Friday, November 17, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 69599]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29519]



[[Page 69599]]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Bureau of Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs

[Public Notice No. 3475]


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 
fifth and final negotiations through the United Nations Environment 
Program (UNEP) on a global agreement to address the release of certain 
persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The final negotiating session is 
scheduled to take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, on December 4-9, 
2000. The Department of State will host a public meeting for 
environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs) 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, November 
21, 2000, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Room 7835 of the U.S. 
Department of State, 2201 C Street NW, Washington, DC. 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, November 
20, 2000. Attendees should enter the C Street entrance and bring 
picture identification with them. For further information, please 
contact Dr. Marie Ricciardone, U.S. Department of State, Office of 
Environmental Policy (OES/ENV), Room 4325, 2201 C Street NW, Washington 
DC 20520. Phone 202-736-4660, 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, hexachlorobenzene, 
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, a major goal for the agreement is broad 
participation 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 in Johannesburg. In preparation 
for the fifth session of the INC, the State Department is preparing its 
position for the negotiation, and has scheduled a public meeting to be 
held on Tuesday, November 21, 2000 from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in 
Room 7835 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 fifth 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 or individuals which cannot attend 
the 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: November 14, 2000.
Bob Ford,
Deputy Director, Office of Environmental Policy, U.S. Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 00-29519 Filed 11-16-00; 8:45 am]
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