[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 83 (Monday, April 30, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 25408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-10374]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XB150


International Whaling Commission; 64th Annual Meeting; 
Announcement of Public Meetings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces the date, time, and location of the 
public meeting being held prior to the 64th annual International 
Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting.

DATES: The public meeting will be held June 5, 2012, at 2 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the NOAA Science Center Room, 
1301 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa Andersen, 301-427-8385.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary of Commerce is responsible for 
discharging the domestic obligations of the United States under the 
International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, 1946. The U.S. 
IWC Commissioner has responsibility for the preparation and negotiation 
of U.S. positions on international issues concerning whaling and for 
all matters involving the IWC. The U.S. IWC Commissioner is staffed by 
the Department of Commerce and assisted by the Department of State, the 
Department of the Interior, the Marine Mammal Commission, and other 
U.S. Government agencies.
    A draft agenda for the annual IWC meeting should be posted on the 
IWC Secretariat's Web site at http://www.iwcoffice.org by late May.
    NOAA will a hold public meeting to discuss the tentative U.S. 
positions for the upcoming IWC meeting. Because the meeting will 
address U.S. positions, the substance of the meeting must be kept 
confidential. Any U.S. citizen with an identifiable interest in U.S. 
whale conservation policy may participate, but NOAA reserves the 
authority to inquire about the interests of any person who appears at 
the meeting and to determine the appropriateness of that person's 
participation. In particular, persons who represent foreign interests 
may not attend. These stringent measures are necessary to protect the 
confidentiality of U.S. negotiating positions.
    The June 5, 2012, meeting will be held in the NOAA Science Center 
Room, 1301 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Photo 
identification is required to enter the building.

Special Accommodations

    The meeting is physically accessible to people with disabilities. 
Requests for sign language interpretation or other auxiliary aids 
should be directed to Melissa Andersen, [email protected] or 
301-427-8385, by May 23, 2012.

    Dated: April 24, 2012.
Rebecca J. Lent,
Director, Office of International Affairs, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-10374 Filed 4-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P