[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 70 (Thursday, April 11, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21699-21700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08507]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 8271]


Notice of the Next CAFTA-DR Environmental Affairs Council Meeting

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of the CAFTA-DR Environmental Affairs Council Meeting 
and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of State and the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative are providing notice that the government parties 
to the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade 
Agreement (CAFTA-DR) intend to hold the seventh meeting of the 
Environmental Affairs Council (Council) established under Chapter 17 of 
that agreement in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on May 9, 2013 at a 
venue to be announced. All interested persons are invited to attend

[[Page 21700]]

a public session beginning at 2:00 p.m. on May 9.
    During the meeting, each Council Member will present its country's 
progress in implementing Chapter 17 obligations and the impacts of 
environmental cooperation in their respective countries. The Council 
will also receive a presentation from the CAFTA-DR Secretariat for 
Environmental Matters (SEM). For the public session of the meeting, the 
Council will highlight issues from the above discussion elements with a 
particular focus on Chapter 17 obligations and environmental 
cooperation successes.
    All interested persons are invited to attend a public session where 
they will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss 
implementation of Chapter 17 and environmental cooperation with Council 
Members. In addition, the SEM will present on the public submission 
process established under Chapter 17. More information on the Council 
is included below under Supplementary Information.
    The Department of State and Office of the United States Trade 
Representative invite written comments or suggestions regarding the 
meeting. In preparing comments, we encourage submitters to refer to 
Chapter 17 of the CAFTA-DR, the Final Environmental Review of the 
CAFTA-DR and the Agreement among the CAFTA-DR countries on 
Environmental Cooperation (ECA) (all documents available at http://www.state.gov/e/oes/env/trade/caftadr/index.htm).

DATES: The Council will hold the meeting on May 9, 2013, in Santo 
Domingo. If you are interested in attending, please email Abby Lindsay 
at [email protected] for the specific time and place. To be assured of 
timely consideration, all written comments or suggestions are requested 
no later than April 19, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be submitted to both: 
(1) Abby Lindsay, 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 ``CAFTA-DR EAC Meeting'' or by 
fax to (202) 647-5947; and (2) Sarah Stewart, Director for Environment 
and Natural Resources, Office of the United States Trade Representative 
by email to [email protected] with the subject line ``CAFTA-
DR EAC Meeting'' 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-2013-
0009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Abby Lindsay, (202) 647-8772 or Sarah 
Stewart, (202) 395-3858.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Article 17.5 of the CAFTA-DR establishes an 
Environmental Affairs Council (the Council). Article 17.5 requires the 
Council to meet to oversee the implementation of, and review progress 
under, Chapter 17. Article 17.5 further requires, unless the 
governments otherwise agree, that each meeting of the Council include a 
session in which members of the Council have an opportunity to meet 
with the public to discuss matters relating to the implementation of 
Chapter 17.
    In Article 17.9 of the CAFTA-DR, the governments recognize the 
importance of strengthening capacity to protect the environment and to 
promote sustainable development in concert with strengthening trade and 
investment relations and state their commitment to expanding their 
cooperative relationship on environmental matters. Article 17.9 also 
references the ECA, which sets out certain priority areas of 
cooperation on environmental activities that are also reflected in 
Annex 17.9 of the CAFTA-DR. These priority areas include, among other 
things: Reinforcing institutional and legal frameworks and the capacity 
to develop, implement, administer, and enforce environmental laws, 
regulations, standards and policies; conserving and managing shared, 
migratory and endangered species in international trade and management 
of protected areas; promoting best practices leading to sustainable 
management of the environment; and facilitating technology development 
and transfer and training to promote clean production technologies. The 
public is advised to refer to the State Department Web site at http://www.state.gov 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 on the 
Council meeting agenda. There is no expectation of resources or funding 
associated with any comments or suggestions.

    Dated: April 8, 2013.
George N. Sibley,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2013-08507 Filed 4-10-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P