[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 199 (Friday, October 15, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 61203]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-23282]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

International Trade Administration


Office of Manufacturing; Roundtable on the 3Rs Initiative (Reduce 
Waste, Reuse and Recycle); Notice of Request for Written Comments

    On October 14, 2004, the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Office 
of Manufacturing hosted an outreach meeting to discuss the 3Rs 
Initiative (Reduce waste, Reuse and Recycle) that was introduced by the 
Government of Japan and supported by the U.S. at the 2004 G8 summit in 
Sea Island, Georgia. The following objectives for the Initiative were 
established by the G-8 nations:
    (1) Reduce waste, reuse and recycle resources and products to the 
extent feasible;
    (2) Reduce barriers to the international flow of goods and 
materials for recycling and remanufacturing, recycled and 
remanufactured products, and cleaner, more efficient technologies, 
consistent with existing environmental and trade obligations and 
frameworks;
    (3) Encourage cooperation among various stakeholders (central 
governments, local governments, the private sector, NGOs and 
communities), including voluntary and market-based activities;
    (4) Promote science and technology suitable for 3Rs; and
    (5) Cooperate with developing countries in such areas as capacity 
building, raising public awareness, human resource development and 
implementation of recycling projects.
    It was further agreed at Sea Island that Japan would host a 
Ministerial level conference on the Initiative. This has been scheduled 
by the Government of Japan for April 28-30, 2005 in Tokyo. The White 
House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) is leading an interagency 
effort to determine what the United States shall attempt to accomplish 
through the 3Rs Initiative and the policy approaches for the 
Ministerial Conference. Joseph H. Bogosian, the Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for Manufacturing at the U.S. Department of Commerce, hosted 
the 3Rs meeting on October 14th in order to solicit input from all 
interested stakeholders including representatives of manufacturers, 
retailers, recyclers, and environmental organizations. Further written 
comments or input from interested stakeholders may be submitted to 
[email protected] no later than October 29th, 2004. Please 
include your name, phone number, and organization affiliation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah E. Aker, Office of the Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing, Department of Commerce, Room 
2132, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20230 (Phone: (202) 
482-4073).

    Dated: October 13, 2004.
Sarah E. Aker,
Special Assistant.
[FR Doc. 04-23282 Filed 10-14-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-DR-P