[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 53035]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-20505]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Trade Policy Staff Committee; Notice of Availability and Request 
for Public Comment on Draft Environmental Review of United States-
Singapore Free Trade Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), on behalf 
of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), seeks comment on the draft 
environmental review of the proposed U.S.-Singapore Free Trade 
Agreement (FTA). The draft environmental review is available at http://www.ustr.gov/environment/environmental.shtml. Copies of the review will 
also be sent to interested members of the public by mail upon request.

DATES: Comments on the draft environmental review are requested by 
September 20, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions concerning 
public comments, contact Gloria Blue, Executive Secretary, TPSC, Office 
of the USTR, 1724 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508, telephone (202) 
395-3475. Questions concerning the environmental review, or requests 
for copies, should be addressed to Alice Mattice or David Brooks, 
Environment and Natural Resources Section, Office of the USTR, 
telephone 202-395-7320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 13121--Environmental Review 
of Trade Agreements (64 FR 63,169, Nov. 18, 1999) and its implementing 
guidelines (65 FR 79,442, Dec. 19, 2000) require environmental reviews 
of certain major trade agreements. The Trade Act of 2002, signed by the 
President on August 6, 2002, provides that the President shall conduct 
environmental reviews consistent with the Order and its relevant 
guidelines, and report on such reviews to the Committee on Ways and 
Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of 
the Senate. The Order and guidelines are available at http://www.ustr.gov/environment/environmental.shtml.
    On November 29, 2000, at the outset of the negotiations, the TPSC 
initiated the environmental review of the Singapore FTA and requested 
public comments on the scope of the review, including the potential 
environmental effects that might flow from the FTA and the potential 
implications for environmental laws and regulations. See 65 FR 71,197 
(Nov. 29, 2000); 65 FR 80,982 (Dec. 22, 2000) (extending public comment 
period). Because the negotiating schedule proved to be more extended 
than originally anticipated, the TPSC provided a supplemental 
opportunity for public comments. See 67 FR 8833 (Feb. 26, 2002). The 
TPSC also held a public hearing to discuss issues raised in connection 
with the Singapore FTA, including environmental issues. See 67 FR 9349 
(Feb. 28, 2002).

Written Comments

    In order to facilitate prompt processing of submissions of 
comments, the Office of the Unites States Trade Representative strongly 
urges and prefers e-mail submissions in response to this notice. 
Persons submitting comments by e-mail should use the following e-mail 
address: [email protected] with the subject line: ``Singapore Draft 
Environmental Review.'' Documents should be submitted as either 
WordPerfect, MSWord, or text (.TXT) files. Persons who make submissions 
by e-mail should not provide separate cover letters; information that 
might appear in a cover letter should be included in the submission 
itself. To the extent possible, any attachments to the submission 
should be included in the same file as the submission itself, and not 
as separate files. If submission by e-mail is impossible, comments 
should be made by facsimile to (202) 395-6143, attention: Gloria Blue.
    Written comments will be placed in a file open to public inspection 
in the USTR Reading Room at 1724 F Street, NW., Washington DC. An 
appointment to review the file may be made by calling (202) 395-6186. 
The Reading Room is open to the public from 10-12 a.m. and from 1-4 
p.m., Monday through Friday.

Carmen Suro-Bredie,
Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 02-20505 Filed 8-13-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-P