[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 168 (Tuesday, August 31, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53088-53089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-19788]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Availability of the Draft United States World Heritage 
Periodic Report for Public Review

AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior.

SUMMARY: The National Park Service (NPS) announces the availability of 
the draft United States World Heritage Periodic Report for public 
review. The draft Periodic Report was prepared in compliance with US 
commitments under the World Heritage Convention, an international 
conservation treaty. The Periodic Report consists of the following 
three components: Section I, a national overview report on US 
implementation of the World Heritage Convention in the context of 
overall cultural and natural resource protection and management in the 
nation; Section II, individual site reports on the current status of 
each US World Heritage Site with particular reference to the condition 
of the outstanding universal value for which the site was inscribed on 
the World Heritage List; and, a joint US-Canada North American Regional 
Report outlining the key strengths and issues facing World Heritage in 
the region.
    Periodic reporting provides an opportunity for the United States 
and Canada to raise international awareness of their World Heritage 
Sites and to provide for the continued protection of these sites and 
their outstanding universal value.

DATES: There will be a 60-day public review period for these documents. 
Comments must be received on or before November 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES: The US World Heritage Periodic Report will be available to 
the public on the NPS Office of International Affairs Web site at 
http://www.nps.gov/oia/topics/periodic.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Morris, National Park Service, 
Office of International Affairs, 1849 C Street, NW., (org. code 0050), 
Washington, DC 20240; or by calling (202) 354-1800.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the World Heritage Convention, both 
the United States and Canada are required to submit a country-specific 
periodic report and a joint regional periodic report for North America, 
by the end of 2004. Periodic reporting provides the World Heritage 
Committee with an overview of each participating nation's 
implementation of the World Heritage Convention and a ``snapshot'' of 
current conditions at World Heritage Sites.
    In 1998, the World Heritage Committee approved a periodic reporting 
format and process to provide up-to-date information about the 
application of the World Heritage Convention and the state of 
conservation of World Heritage Sites around the world. The Periodic 
Report for North America (followed by the Periodic Report for Europe) 
once accepted by the World Heritage

[[Page 53089]]

Committee, represent the conclusion of the first cycle of periodic 
reporting by the various regions of the world as defined by the World 
Heritage Committee.
    Each periodic report is comprised of three sections:
    In Section I, each country reports on the application of the World 
Heritage Convention. This includes: Identifying properties of cultural 
or natural value on their territory; legal measures and efforts to 
protect, conserve and present cultural and natural heritage; 
international cooperation and fund-raising; and education, information 
and awareness-building activities.
    Section II describes the state of conservation of specific World 
Heritage Sites located in each country and updates the information that 
was provided to the World Heritage Committee at the time of 
inscription. The main objective is to assess whether the World Heritage 
values, for which the property was inscribed on the World Heritage 
List, are being maintained over time.
    The National Park Service is responsible for developing the United 
States' country-specific periodic report and Parks Canada is 
responsible for developing Canada's country-specific periodic report. 
The United States and Canada worked together to develop the third 
component, a joint regional report outlining the major strengths and 
issues facing World Heritage in the region as a whole. Both countries 
have coordinated consultations with World Heritage Site managers and 
information sharing with key stakeholders.
    The ultimate objective is to produce concise, accurate periodic 
reports for both the United States and Canada, and a joint regional 
periodic report for North America that fully address the requirements 
of the World Heritage convention and focus on the criteria established 
by the World Heritage Committee.
    Public Comment Solicitation: Persons wishing to comment on these 
documents may do so by mailing written comments to Stephen Morris, 
National Park Service, Office of International Affairs, 1849 C Street, 
NW., (org. code 0050), Washington, DC 20240. They also may submit 
written comment via e-mail to WASO--Office-- of--International--
[email protected] (include name and return address in the e-mail 
message).
    The NPS practice is to make comments, including names and home 
addresses of respondents, available for public review during regular 
business hours. Individual respondents may request we withhold their 
home address from the record, which we will honor to the extent 
allowable by law. There also may be circumstances in which we would 
withhold from the record a respondent's identity, as allowable by law. 
If you wish us to withhold your name and/or address, you must state 
this prominently at the beginning of your comment. However, we will not 
consider anonymous comments. We will make all submissions from 
organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying 
themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or 
businesses, available for public inspection in their entirety.

    Dated: August 5, 2004.
Paul Hoffman,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 04-19788 Filed 8-30-04; 8:45 am]
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