[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 40 (Wednesday, February 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12354-12355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-4857]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 7809]


Meeting of the Joint Forum on Environmental Technical Cooperation 
Pursuant to the United States-Jordan Joint Statement on Environmental 
Technical Cooperation

ACTION: Notice of the meeting of the Joint Forum on Environmental 
Technical Cooperation and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of State is providing notice that, as set forth 
in paragraph three of the United States-Jordan Joint Statement on 
Environmental Technical Cooperation (``Joint Statement''), the United 
States and Jordan will hold a meeting of the Joint Forum on 
Environmental Technical Cooperation (``Joint Forum'') at 9 a.m. on 
March 4, 2012, at the Hashemite Auditorium, Royal Scientific Society, 
in Amman, Jordan. If you are interested in attending, please email Rob 
Wing at [email protected]. See below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for 
additional details on the background and purpose of the meeting.
    During the meeting, the United States and Jordan intend to present 
a brief history of U.S.-Jordan environmental cooperation, review 
activities under the 2008-2011 Work Program, and approve a 2012-2013 
Work Program. The entire meeting will be open to the public and include 
public question and answer sessions. The meeting will be conducted in 
English and Arabic. The Department of State invites interested 
organizations and members of the public to submit written comments or 
suggestions regarding items to include on the agenda and to attend the 
meeting. In preparing comments, we encourage submitters to refer to: 
(1) The United States-Jordan Joint Statement on Environmental Technical 
Cooperation; (2) the United States-Jordan 2008-2011 Work Program on 
Environmental Cooperation; (3) Article 5 (Environment) of the Agreement 
Between the United States of America and the Hashemite Kingdom of 
Jordan on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area (U.S.-Jordan Free 
Trade Agreement (FTA)); and (4) the environmental review of the U.S.-
Jordan FTA. These documents are available at: http://www.state.gov/e/oes/env/trade/jordan/index.htm.

DATES: The United States and Jordan will hold the Joint Forum meeting 
at 9 a.m. on March 4, 2012, at the Hashemite Auditorium, Royal 
Scientific Society, in Amman, Jordan. If you are interested in 
attending, please email Rob Wing by March 2, 2012 at [email protected]. 
To ensure timely consideration, please submit comments and suggestions 
in writing no later than March 2, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments or suggestions via email 
([email protected]) or fax ((202) 647-5947) to Rob Wing, Office of 
Environmental Policy, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental 
and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, with the subject line 
``United States-Jordan Joint Forum Meeting.'' If you have access to the 
Internet, you may make comments electronically by going to http://contact-us.state.gov/app/ask.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob Wing, telephone (202) 647-6780 or 
email ([email protected]).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States and Jordan announced the 
establishment of the United States-Jordan Joint Forum on Environmental 
Technical Cooperation (Joint Forum) when they signed the United States-
Jordan Joint Statement on Environmental Technical Cooperation (Joint 
Statement), on October 24, 2000, along with the U.S.-Jordan FTA. The 
Joint Forum is to meet regularly and advance environmental protection 
in Jordan by developing environmental technical cooperation 
initiatives, which take into account environmental priorities, and 
which are agreed to by the two governments. In paragraph 4 of the Joint 
Statement, the countries identify an initial focus of technical 
cooperation on Jordanian environmental quality issues and the 
development and effective implementation of Jordanian environmental 
laws, as defined in Articles 5.4 and 18.2(a) of the U.S.-Jordan FTA. 
The Joint Forum has met twice since 2000--in September 2004 and March 
2009--and issued two plans for implementing the Joint Statement. The 
first--a Plan of Action--focused on implementing a strategic vision for 
Jordan's Ministry of Environment, established in 2002, to promote 
sustainable economic growth and development. The plan outlined 
activities to, among other things, strengthen the Ministry's capacity 
for setting, implementing, and ensuring compliance with environmental 
standards; harness market forces to protect the environment while 
bringing economic benefits; undertake industrial wastewater treatment 
and hazardous waste management for a target region; seek out economic 
benefits of ecotourism; and promote the development of a regional 
network of environmental lawmakers and enforcement officials. The 
second, a

[[Page 12355]]

Work Program for 2008-2011, identifies long-term goals and specifies 
activities in four priority areas. The long-term goals are to achieve: 
(1) Compliance with obligations in Article 5 (Environment) of the U.S.-
Jordan FTA; (2) improved protection and conservation of the 
environment, including natural resources; (3) transparency and 
meaningful public participation in environmental decision-making; and 
(4) a culture of environmental protection and compliance with 
environmental laws through, among other things, the promotion of 
economic opportunities, voluntary measures to enhance environmental 
performance, and job creation. The priority areas are: (1) 
Institutional and policy strengthening; (2) biodiversity conservation 
and improved management of protected areas; (3) improved private sector 
environmental performance; and (4) environmental education, 
transparency, and public participation in environmental decision-making 
and enforcement. For the 2012-2013 Work Program, we anticipate building 
upon the cooperative work initiated under the previous two plans, while 
focusing on creating green jobs and other economic opportunities that 
promote green growth and sustainable development.

    Dated: February 23, 2012.
George N. Sibley,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2012-4857 Filed 2-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P