[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 111 (Thursday, June 11, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27858-27859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-13619]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6658]


Title: Meetings of the United States-Chile Environment Affairs 
Council and Joint Commission for Environmental Cooperation

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 19 (Environment) of the United States-Chile Free Trade 
Agreement (FTA) and the United States-Chile Environmental Cooperation 
Agreement (ECA), the two governments intend to hold the fifth meeting 
of the Environment Affairs Council (the ``Council'') and the third 
meeting of the Joint Commission for Environmental Cooperation (the 
``Commission'') in Washington, DC on July 1st, 2009. A public 
information session will be held for on July 1st, at 3 p.m., in room 
1107 at the U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street, NW., Washington, 
DC 20520. If you would like to attend the session, please send the 
following information to Robert Wing at the fax number or e-mail 
address listed below under ADDRESSES: (1) Your name, (2) your date of 
birth, and (3) the number of a valid identification card that a 
government has issued to you.
    The purpose of the Council and Commission meeting is detailed below 
under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    The meeting agenda will include an overview of Chapter 19 and 
review of its implementation, progress report on projects outlined in 
the FTA's Environment Chapter, a discussion of the roles and activities 
of the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee and the public 
advisory committee that advises the Chilean government on trade and 
environment policy issues, an overview of progress of implementing 
selected projects under the 2007-2008 Work Program pursuant to the 
United States-Chile ECA and the presentation of a new ECA Work 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 FTA's Environment Chapter including Annex 19.3, and 
the Final Environment Review of the FTA, available at: http://www.ustr.gov/Trade_Agreements/Bilateral/Chile_FTA/Section_Index.html.
     The ECA, available at: http://www.state.gov/g/oes/rls/or/22185.htm.

DATES: To be assured of timely consideration, comments are requested no 
later than June 25, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be submitted to both: 
(1) Robert Wing, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans, 
Environment, and Science, Office of Environmental Policy by electronic 
mail at [email protected] with the subject line ``US-Chile 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 ``US-Chile 
EAC Meetings'' or by fax to (202) 395-9517.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States-Chile FTA entered into 
force on January 4, 2004. Article 3 of Chapter 19 (Environment) of the 
FTA establishes an Environment Affairs Council, which is required to 
meet at least once a year to discuss the implementation of, and 
progress under, Chapter 19. Chapter 19 requires that meetings of the 
Council include a public session. Under Chapter 19, the two governments 
agreed to undertake eight specific cooperative activities set out in 
Annex 19.3 of the Chapter and to negotiate a United States-Chile 
Environmental Cooperation Agreement to further environmental 
cooperative activities. The ECA entered into force on May 1, 2004 and 
sets out a framework for environmental cooperative activities between 
the two governments. Article II of the ECA establishes the United 
States-Chile Joint Commission for Environmental Cooperation, with 
responsibilities that include developing and periodically reviewing a 
Work Program. The Commission is required to meet at least every two 
years. The first meetings of the Council and the Commission were held 
on July 22, 2004, in Santiago, Chile, and the third meeting

[[Page 27859]]

of the Council and second meeting of the Commission were held on 
October 23-24, 2006, in Santiago, Chile.
    At the fourth Council meeting held on April 24, 2008, in Santiago, 
Chile the Council discussed the implementation of Chapter 19 of the FTA 
with respect to public participation, progress reports on the eight 
cooperation projects under Chapter 19, implementation of the 2005-2006 
Work Program, and elaboration of the 2007-2008 Work Program. At this 
meeting the Trade and Environment Policy Advisory Committee and Chile's 
Advisory Committee held the first ever exchange between FTA-related 
trade and environment advisory committees.
    At the upcoming fifth meeting of the Council, the Council will 
review the status of implementation of Chapter 19 and receive reports 
on (1) The progress of projects outlined in the FTA's Environment 
Chapter, (2) the roles and activities of the Trade and Environment 
Policy Advisory Committee and the public advisory committee that 
advises the Chilean government on trade and environment policy issues, 
and (3) the 2009-2010 Work Program Pursuant to the U.S-Chile ECA. At 
its third meeting, the Commission, during a Joint Public Session with 
the Council, will receive reports on progress of implementing the 2007-
2008 ECA Work Program and review and approve a new Work Program. At 
these meetings, the Council and Commission will also consider 
recommendations for future bilateral environmental cooperation. 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 related to the Council meeting.

    Dated: June 4, 2009.
Daniel T. Fantozzi,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-13619 Filed 6-10-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P