[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70874-70875]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28770]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 8095]


Notification of the Next Meetings of the U.S.-Chile FTA 
Environmental Affairs Council and ECA Joint Commission for 
Environmental Cooperation and Request for Comments on the Meeting 
Agenda

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of the next meeting of the U.S.-Chile Free Trade 
Agreement Environmental Affairs Council and Environmental Cooperation 
Agreement Joint Commission for Environmental Cooperation and request 
for comments on the meeting agenda.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State and the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative (``USTR'') are providing notice that the United 
States and Chile intend to hold the sixth meeting of the Environmental 
Affairs Council (the ``Council'') and the fourth meeting of the Joint 
Commission for Environmental Cooperation (the ``Commission'') in 
Santiago, Chile, on January 9, 2013. The United States and Chile 
created the Council and Commission pursuant to Chapter 19 (Environment) 
of the United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement (``FTA'') and Article 
II of the United States-Chile Environmental Cooperation Agreement 
(``ECA''), respectively.
    During the Council meeting, the United States and Chile 
(collectively the ``Parties'') will discuss their respective 
implementation of and progress under Chapter 19. During the Commission 
meeting, the Parties will provide an overview of environmental 
cooperation projects and the impact of those projects in their 
countries, and present and sign the new 2012-2014 Work Program for 
Environmental Cooperation. All interested persons are invited to attend 
a public session in the afternoon where they will have the opportunity 
to ask questions and discuss implementation of Chapter 19 and 
environmental cooperation with Council and Commission Members. The time 
and location of the public session is still being determined; for more 
information please contact Rebecca Slocum and Leslie Yang (contact 
information below).
    The Department of State and USTR also invite interested agencies, 
organizations, and members of the public to submit written comments or 
suggestions regarding the meeting agenda. In preparing comments, we 
encourage submitters to refer to: (1) The United States-Chile 
Environmental Cooperation Agreement; (2) the United States-Chile 2009-
2011 Work Program for Environmental Cooperation; (3)

[[Page 70875]]

Chapter 19 (Environment) of the United States-Chile Free Trade 
Agreement; and (4) the Environmental Review of the United States-Chile 
Free Trade Agreement. These documents are available at http://www.state.gov/e/oes/env/trade/chile/index.htm.

DATES: The Council and Commission meetings are to be held January 9, 
2013 in Santiago, Chile. To be assured of timely consideration, all 
written comments or suggestions for the agenda are requested no later 
than December 14, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be submitted to both: 
(1) Rebecca Slocum, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of 
Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues by email to 
[email protected] with the subject line ``U.S.-Chile EAC/JCEC 
Meetings'' or fax to (202) 647-5947; and (2) Leslie Yang, Director for 
International Environmental Policy, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative by email to [email protected] with the subject 
line ``U.S-Chile EAC/JCEC Meetings'' or by fax to (202) 395-9517. If 
you have access to the Internet you can view and comment on this notice 
by going to: http://www.regulations.gov/#!home and searching on docket 
number DOS-2012-0057.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rebecca Slocum, (202) 647-4828 or 
Leslie Yang, (202) 395-3167.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Article 19.3 of the United States-Chile FTA 
establishes an Environment Affairs Council, which shall meet to discuss 
the implementation of, and progress under, Chapter 19 (Environment). 
Article 19.3 further provides that meetings of the Council shall 
include a public session, unless the Parties otherwise agree.
    The United States and Chile established the U.S.-Chile Joint 
Commission for Environmental Cooperation when they signed the U.S.-
Chile ECA on June 17, 2003, negotiated in concert with the U.S.-Chile 
FTA. The Commission is to meet every two years to advance environmental 
cooperation and review progress in implementing the ECA. The Commission 
also is responsible for establishing and developing work programs that 
reflect national priorities for cooperative environmental activities.
    Please refer to the Department of State Web site at http://www.state.gov/e/oes/env/trade/index.htm and the USTR Web site at 
www.ustr.gov for more information.
    Disclaimer: This Public Notice is a request for comments and 
suggestions, and is not a request for applications. No granting of 
money is directly associated with this request for suggestions for the 
meeting agenda. There is no expectation of resources or funding 
associated with any comments or suggestions for the agenda.

    Dated: November 20, 2012.
George N. Sibley,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2012-28770 Filed 11-26-12; 8:45 am]
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