[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 221 (Thursday, November 15, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57456-57457]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28736]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7104-3]


Preparation of Third U.S. Climate Action Report

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice; request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: In June 1992, the United States signed, and later ratified in

[[Page 57457]]

October, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 
(UNFCCC). Pursuant to the national communication reporting requirements 
under Articles 4.2 and 12 of the Convention and to guidelines later 
adopted by the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP), the United 
States submitted the first U.S. Climate Action Report (CAR) to the 
UNFCCC Secretariat in 1994 and the second in 1997. The U.S. Government 
has prepared an initial draft of the third national communication for 
public review. The purpose of this announcement is to notify interested 
members of the public of the opportunity to submit input on the draft 
text of the national communication before the final document is 
completed.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before noon, December 
17, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted to Mr. Reid P. Harvey via e-
mail at [email protected] or via postal mail to Reid P. Harvey, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Atmospheric Programs (Mail 
Stop 6204N), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Reid P. Harvey, Office of 
Atmospheric Programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at (202) 
564-9429.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    In accordance with the UNFCCC's reporting requirements as specified 
in Articles 4.2 and 12, and following reporting guidelines developed 
(and adopted by the UNFCCC COP at its first session), the United States 
prepared the U.S. Climate Action Report (CAR) and submitted it to the 
UNFCCC Secretariat in October 1994.
    At the Second COP, the Parties requested developed country Parties 
to the Convention to submit to the UNFCCC Secretariat, in accordance 
with Articles 12.1 and 12.2 of the Convention, a second national 
communication by April 15, 1997. Parties who submitted first reports in 
1996 were to provide an update by the 1997 deadline and Parties with 
economies in transition were to provide their second communication by 
April 15, 1998. Developing country Parties have different guidelines 
and due dates for their national communications. The United States 
submitted its second national communication to the UNFCCC Secretariat 
in July 1997.
    At the Fifth COP in 1999, the Parties updated the guidelines for 
preparation of national communications (see FCCC/CP/1999/7). This 
document is available on the Internet at http://www.unfccc.int/resource/cop5.html. In addition, the Parties requested that third 
national communications be submitted no later than November 30, 2001. 
However, the U.S. is not able to meet this deadline and plans to submit 
the document by late January 2002.
    The U.S. issued a Federal Register notice on March 19, 2001 (66 FR 
15470-15471) to provide an opportunity for the public to submit input 
on the issues covered in the third national communication. A copy of 
the Federal Register notice can be found on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/actions/FRL-6954-1.pdf. Two 
comments were submitted by members of the public in response to that 
notice.

The Third United States Climate Action Report (CAR)

    The third CAR provides an update on key activities conducted by the 
U.S. since the second CAR, an inventory of U.S. greenhouse gas 
emissions and sinks, an estimate of the effects of mitigation measures 
and policies on future emissions levels, and a description of U.S. 
involvement in international programs, including associated 
contributions and funding efforts. In addition, the text discusses U.S. 
national circumstances that affect U.S. vulnerability and responses to 
climate change. Finally, the CAR presents information on the U.S. 
Global Change Research Program, Global Climate Observing Systems 
(GCOS), and adaptation programs.

Table of Contents of the Third US CAR

1. Executive summary
2. National circumstances
3. Greenhouse gas inventory
4. Policies and measures
5. Projections and effects of policies and measures
6. Vulnerability assessment, climate change impacts, and adaptation 
measures
7. Financial resources and transfer of technology
8. Research and systematic observation
9. Education, training, and public awareness

Public Input Process

    This Federal Register notice solicits comments on the draft 
chapters listed above. The individual chapters are posted on the 
Internet and may be downloaded from the national communication web site 
listed at the following web site: http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/nwinsite.html. However, two chapters (the executive summary and chapter 
5 on projections) are not yet complete, but will be made available for 
public comment in approximately two weeks through posting on the web 
site. Comments may be submitted to the contact listed above. Comments 
on each of the chapters will be due within 30 days of release, either 
through notice in the Federal Register or posting on the web site. As 
the U.S. submission will already be delayed by approximately two months 
beyond its deadline, a longer review period is not possible.
    You may view the 1997 U.S. Climate Action Report on the Internet 
at: 
http://www.state.gov/www/global/oes/97climate--report/index.html.

    Dated: November 9, 2001.
Robert Brenner,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 01-28736 Filed 11-14-01; 8:45 am]
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