[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6731-6732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1834]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice No. 3553]


Bureau of Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific 
Affairs; Public Meeting To Discuss Recently Completed Negotiations on 
an International Agreement Through the United Nations Environment 
Program (UNEP) on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

SUMMARY: The United States Government, through an interagency working 
group chaired by the U.S. Department of State, participated in the 
successful fifth negotiating session on a global agreement to address 
the release of certain POPs. The Department of State will host a public 
meeting for interested parties, including

[[Page 6732]]

environmental non-governmental organizations and industry 
representatives on Tuesday, January 30, 2001, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 
a.m. in Room 1408 of the U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW, 
Washington, DC. To arrange for 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, January 29, 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 
POPs chemicals. 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.
    The global agreement is an ambitious undertaking, since it 
encompasses a broad range of measures to address POPs of transboundary 
concern. These range from controls on production and use for commercial 
chemicals, restrictions 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 manufacture and use of these 
substances have been restricted, 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 is the technical and 
financial assistance mechanisms to help developing countries 
effectively implement their obligations.

Timetable and Point of Contact

    The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 20, 2001 from 
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Room 1408 of the U.S. Department of State. Some 
members of the interagency working group who participated in the 
negotiation will provide an overview of 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 the conclusion of 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: January 16, 2001.
Daniel T. Fantozzi,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 01-1834 Filed 1-19-01; 8:45 am]
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