[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 43 (Friday, March 6, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9867-9868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4805]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6538]


Meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council (EAC) of the 
Dominican Republic--Central America--United States Free Trade Agreement 
(CAFTA-DR)

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State and the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative (USTR) are providing notice that, as set forth in 
Chapter 17 (Environment) of the Dominican Republic-Central America-
United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), the CAFTA-DR governments 
intend to hold the fourth meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council 
(the ``Council'') in San Jose, Costa Rica on March 10, 2009. The 
Council will hold an information session for members of the public on 
March 10, 2009, from 2-4 p.m. in the Ramada Herradura Hotel, facing the 
General Ca[ntilde]as Highway, five kilometers south of the Juan 
Santamaria International Airport. The purpose of the Council meetings 
is detailed below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    The meeting agenda will include a review of issues concerning 
implementation of the Environment Chapter, review and formal adoption 
of Working Procedures and a Public Outreach Plan for the Secretariat 
for Environmental Matters Under the CAFTA-DR (``Secretariat''), 
appointment of a new General Coordinator for the Secretariat, and 
presentations of various accomplishments under the CAFTA-DR 
Environmental Cooperation Program.
    The Department of State and USTR invite interested agencies, 
organizations, and members of the public to submit written comments or 
suggestions regarding agenda items and to attend the public session. In 
preparing comments, we encourage submitters to refer to the CAFTA-DR 
Environment Chapter and the Final Environment Review of the CAFTA-DR 
(available at http://www.ustr.gov) and the Environmental Cooperation 
Agreement (ECA) (available at http://www.state.gov/g/oes/env/ trade/).

DATES: To be assured of timely consideration, submit comments on or 
before March 9, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be submitted to both: 
(1) Rachel Kastenberg, Department of State, Bureau of Oceans, 
Environment, and Science, Office of Environmental Policy by electronic 
mail at [email protected] with the subject line ``CAFTA-DR EAC 
Meeting'' or by fax to (202) 647-5947; and (2) Mara M. Burr, Deputy 
Assistant United States Trade Representative for Environment and 
Natural Resources, Office of the United States Trade Representative by 
electronic mail at [email protected] with the subject line ``CAFTA-DR 
EAC Meeting'' or by fax to (202) 395-9517.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Kastenberg, Telephone (202) 
647-9266 or Mara M. Burr, Telephone (202) 395-7320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Article 17.5 of Chapter 17 of CAFTA-DR 
establishes an Environmental Affairs Council (the ``Council''). Article 
17.5 requires the Council to meet at least once a year, unless the 
Parties otherwise agree, to discuss the implementation of, and progress 
under, Chapter 17. Article 17.5 further requires, unless the Parties 
otherwise agree, that each meeting of the Council include a session in 
which members of the Council have an opportunity to meet with the 
public to discuss matters relating to the implementation of Chapter 17.
    In Article 17.9 of the Chapter, the Parties recognize the 
importance of strengthening capacity to protect the environment and to 
promote sustainable development in concert with strengthening trade and 
investment relations and state their commitment to expanding their 
cooperative relationship on environmental matters. Article 17.9 also 
notes that the Parties have negotiated an Environmental Cooperation 
Agreement (ECA) that sets out certain priority areas of cooperation on 
environmental activities. These priority areas are reflected in Annex 
17.9 and include, among other things, conserving and managing shared, 
migratory, and endangered species in international trade; exchanging 
information on domestic implementation of multilateral environmental 
agreements that all the Parties have ratified; and strengthening each 
Party's environmental management systems, including reinforcing 
institutional and legal frameworks and the capacity to develop, 
implement, administer, and enforce environmental laws, regulations, 
standards, and polices.
    At its fourth meeting, the Council will, among other things, (1) 
Review of issues concerning implementation of Chapter 17; (2) appoint a 
new General Coordinator for the Secretariat; (3) review and adopt the 
Secretariat's Working Procedures and Public

[[Page 9868]]

Outreach Plan; and (4) review the status of cooperative environmental 
activities the Parties are implementing consistent with the CAFTA-DR 
ECA.
    The public is advised to refer to the State Department Web site at 
http://www.state.gov/g/oes/env/ and the USTR Web site at http://www.ustr.gov for further information.

    Dated: February 27, 2009.
Daniel T. Fantozzi,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-4805 Filed 3-5-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P