[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 231 (Thursday, December 3, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63495-63496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28876]



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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6829]


Suggestions for 2009-2011 Work Program for Joint Commission for 
Environmental Cooperation Established Pursuant to the United States-
Chile Environmental Cooperation Agreement

ACTION: Notice of preparation of the 2009-2011 U.S.-Chile Environmental 
Cooperation Work Program and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State is soliciting ideas and suggestions 
for environmental cooperation projects between the United States and 
Chile. The United States and Chile are in the process of developing a 
2009-2011 Work Program pursuant to the United States-Chile 
Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA) signed in June 2003. The ECA 
outlines broad areas for environmental cooperation with the objective 
of establishing a framework for cooperation between the United States 
and Chile to promote the conservation and protection of the 
environment, the prevention of pollution and degradation of natural 
resources and ecosystems, and the rational use of natural resources, in 
support of sustainable development. In addition, in the Environment 
Chapter of the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement (FTA) (Chapter 19), 
``[t]he Parties recognize the importance of strengthening capacity to 
protect the environment and promote sustainable development in concert 
with strengthening trade and investment relations between them [and] 
agree to undertake cooperative environmental activities.'' (U.S.-Chile 
FTA, Article 19.5(1)). The main areas of cooperation under the 2009-
2011 Work Program are: (1) Strengthening the effective implementation 
and enforcement of environmental laws and regulations; (2) encouraging 
the development and adoption of sound environmental practices and 
technologies, particularly in business enterprises; (3) promoting the 
sustainable development and management of environmental resources, 
including wild fauna and flora, protected wild areas, and other 
ecologically important ecosystems; and (4) civil society participation 
in the environmental decision-making process and environmental 
education. During 2009-2011, the United States and Chile intend to 
continue to build upon the cooperative work initiated in the 2007-2008 
Work Program, and to continue to follow up on the themes reflected in 
the environment chapter of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
    The Department of State invites government agencies and the public, 
including NGOs, educational institutions, private sector enterprises 
and other interested persons, to submit written comments or suggestions 
regarding items for the Work Program and implementation of 
environmental cooperation activities. In preparing such comments or 
suggestions, we encourage submitters to refer to: (1) The U.S.-Chile 
ECA, (2) the U.S.-Chile Joint Commission for Environmental Cooperation 
(JCEC) 2007-2008 Work Program, (3) the U.S.-Chile FTA available at 
http://www.ustr.gov, and (4) the Environmental Review of the FTA. 
(Documents are available at: http://www.state.gov/g/oes/env/trade/chile/index.htm). In the near future, the Department of State will be 
seeking ideas and suggestions for environmental cooperation projects 
with Peru, Bahrain and Oman through a similar Federal Register notice.

DATES:  To be assured of timely consideration, all written comments or 
suggestions are requested no later than December 28, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be e-mailed 
([email protected]) or faxed to Jacqueline Tront ((202) 647-5947), U.S. 
Department of State, Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and Science, Office 
of Environmental Policy, with the subject line ``U.S.-Chile Work 
Program on Environmental Cooperation.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacqueline Tront, telephone (202) 647-
4750 U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans, Environment, and 
Science, Office of Environmental Policy.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Article 19.3 of the U.S.-Chile FTA 
establishes an Environmental Affairs Council (EAC), which is required 
to meet at least once a year to discuss the implementation and progress 
of environmental cooperation between the U.S. and Chile. Article II of 
the U.S.-Chile ECA establishes the JCEC, with responsibilities which 
include developing and periodically reviewing the work program. The 
work program is a tool which identifies and outlines agreed upon 
environmental cooperation priorities, on-going efforts and 
possibilities for future cooperation.
    The 2009-2011 Work Program focuses on the following priority areas, 
with the following corresponding general objectives: (1) Strengthening 
the effective implementation and enforcement of environmental laws and 
regulations (see FTA Art. 19.2.1(a); ECA Art. III.2); (2) Encouraging 
the development and adoption of sound environmental practices and 
technologies, particularly in business enterprises (see FTA Art. 19.10; 
ECA Art. II.2(d), Art. III.2(d)); (3) Promoting sustainable development 
and management of environmental resources, including wild fauna and 
flora, protected wild areas, and other ecologically important 
ecosystems (see FTA Annex 19.3 Art. 3(d); ECA Art. III.2(d)) and (4) 
Civil society participation in the environmental decision-making 
process and environmental education (see FTA Arts. 19.3 and 19.4; ECA 
Arts. III.1 and IV). We are seeking ideas and suggestions for 
activities which can be included in the work plan.
    Ongoing environmental cooperation work includes: environmental law 
training workshops for Chilean judges; environmental permitting 
training for Chilean inspectors; a Patagonia volunteer expedition 
project where volunteers are engaged in trail and habitat repair within 
Chilean protected areas; and consultations and information exchange to 
support Chile's efforts to implement a Pollutant Release and Transfer 
Registry. Projects that have been successfully completed and in which 
we are engaged in follow up activities include: promotion of renewable 
energy opportunities in Chile (e.g., geothermal, wind, biogas, solar, 
hydroelectric power) including sharing of prospective policy, 
regulatory and financial models for the adoption of renewable energy 
technologies; reduction of air pollution in the transport sector by 
implementing a diesel retrofit project; reduction of the environmental 
impacts of mining through information exchange on enhanced land use 
planning and generating and reviewing environmental impact assessments; 
and consultations on approaches to promoting sustainable agriculture 
and appropriate handling of pesticides and fertilizers. The listed 
activities and additional cooperative activities were outlined in 
previous work plans agreed upon by the EAC and discussed during 
previous meetings of the JCEC. Additional information can be found on 
the Web site listed below.
    The ECA was signed on June 17, 2003, and sets out a framework for 
environmental cooperative activities between the two governments. The 
United States and Chile negotiated the ECA in concert with the U.S.-
Chile FTA, which entered into force January 1, 2004. Article 19.3 of 
the U.S.-Chile FTA establishes the EAC. Article II of the ECA 
establishes the United States-Chile JCEC, with responsibilities which 
include developing and periodically reviewing the work program. The 
JCEC

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is required to meet at least every two years. The first meetings of the 
EAC and JCEC were held on July 22, 2004, in Santiago, Chile, the second 
EAC meeting was held on October 24, 2005, in Washington, DC, and the 
third EAC meeting and second JCEC meeting were held October 23-24, 2006 
in Santiago. At the fourth EAC meeting, held April 23-25, 2008, in 
Santiago, the EAC 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 the upcoming fifth EAC meeting in Washington, DC on January 20, 
2010, the EAC will review implementation of Chapter 19 and receive 
reports on (1) the progress of projects outlined in Chapter 19 of the 
FTA, (2) the roles and activities of the Trade and Environment Policy 
Advisory Committee and the public advisory committee that advises the 
Chilean government on environmental policy, and (3) the 2009-2011 Work 
Program. At its third meeting, the JCEC, during a Joint Public Session 
with the EAC, will receive reports on progress of implementing the 
2007-2008 Work Program and review and approve the 2009-2011 Work 
Program. The EAC and JCEC will also consider recommendations for future 
bilateral cooperation.
    In carrying out this cooperative work, the United States and Chile 
intend to explore the development of partnerships with private sector 
and civil society organizations, to build upon and complement ongoing 
bilateral cooperative work in other fora, and to explore opportunities 
for mutual collaboration in these priority areas with other countries 
in the Western Hemisphere.
    For additional information: http://www.state.gov/g/oes/env/trade/chile/index.htm.
    Disclaimer: This Public Notice is a request for comments and 
suggestions, and is not a request for applications. No granting or 
money is directly associated with this request for suggestions for the 
2009-2011 Work Program. There is no expectation of resources or funding 
associated with any comments or suggestions provided for the 2009-2011 
Work Program.

    Dated: November 30, 2009.
Willem H. Brakel,
Acting Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-28876 Filed 12-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P