[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53183-53184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20930]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Request for Public Comments Regarding the Interim Environmental 
Review of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), on behalf 
of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), invites written comments 
from the public on the interim environmental review of the proposed 
Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP). The interim environmental 
review will be available at: http://www.ustr.gov/trade-topics/environment/environmental-reviews.

DATES: In order to be assured of consideration, comments should be 
submitted not later than 11:59 p.m., September 25, 2013 to inform the 
negotiations and the final environmental review of the agreement.

ADDRESSES: Submissions should be made via the Internet at 
www.regulations.gov docket number USTR-2013-0028. For alternatives to 
on-line submissions please contact Yvonne Jamison (202-395-3475). The 
public is strongly encouraged to file submissions electronically rather 
than by facsimile or mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the submission of 
comments in response to this notice should be directed to Yvonne 
Jamison at (202) 395-3475. Questions concerning the interim 
environmental review should be addressed to David Oliver at (202) 395-
7320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Trade Act of 2002 provides that the 
President shall conduct environmental reviews of certain international 
trade agreements consistent with Executive Order 13141-Environmental 
Review of Trade Agreements (64 FR 63,169, Nov. 18, 1999) and its 
implementing guidelines (65 FR 79,442, Dec. 19, 2000) and report on 
such reviews to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on

[[Page 53184]]

Finance of the Senate. The Executive Order and guidelines are available 
at: http://www.ustr.gov/trade-topics/environment/environmental-reviews. 
The purpose of environmental reviews is to ensure that policymakers and 
the public are informed about reasonably foreseeable environmental 
impacts of trade agreements (both positive and negative), to identify 
complementarities between trade and environmental objectives, and to 
help shape appropriate responses if environmental impacts are 
identified. Reviews are intended to be one tool, among others, for 
integrating environmental information and analysis into the fluid, 
dynamic process of trade negotiations. USTR and the Council on 
Environmental Quality jointly oversee implementation of the Order and 
Guidelines. USTR, through the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), is 
responsible for conducting the individual reviews.
    Requirements for Submissions: Persons submitting comments must do 
so in English and must indicate (on the first page of the submission) 
``Comments Regarding the TPP Interim Environmental Review.'' In order 
to be assured of consideration, comments should be submitted by 11:59 
p.m., September 25, 2013. In order to ensure the timely receipt and 
consideration of comments, USTR strongly encourages commenters to make 
on-line submissions, using the www.regulations.gov Web site. To submit 
comments via www.regulations.gov, enter docket number USTR-2013-0028 on 
the home page and click ``search.'' The site will provide a search-
results page listing all documents associated with this docket. Find a 
reference to this notice and click on the link entitled ``Comment 
Now!'' (For further information on using the www.regulations.gov Web 
site, please consult the resources provided on the Web site by clicking 
on ``How to Use This Site'' on the left side of the home page).
    The www.regulations.gov Web site allows users to provide comments 
by filling in a ``Type Comment'' field, or by attaching a document 
using an ``Upload File'' field. USTR prefers that comments be provided 
in an attached document. USTR prefers submissions in Microsoft Word 
(.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If the submission is in an application 
other than those two, please indicate the name of the application in 
the ``Type Comment'' field.
    For any comments submitted electronically containing business 
confidential information, the file name of the business confidential 
version should begin with the characters ``BC''. Any page containing 
business confidential information must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS 
CONFIDENTIAL'' on the top of that page. Filers of submissions 
containing business confidential information must also submit a public 
version of their comments. The file name of the public version should 
begin with the character ``P''. The ``BC'' and ``P'' should be followed 
by the name of the person or entity submitting the comments. Filers 
submitting comments containing no business confidential information 
should name their file using the name of the person or entity 
submitting the comments.
    Please do not attach separate cover letters to electronic 
submissions; rather, include any information that might appear in a 
cover letter in the comments themselves. Similarly, to the extent 
possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other attachments in 
the same file as the submission itself, not as separate files.
    As noted, USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through 
the www.regulations.gov Web site if at all possible. Any alternative 
arrangements must be made with Ms. Jamison in advance of transmitting a 
comment. Ms. Jamison may be contacted at (202) 395-3475. General 
information concerning USTR is available at www.ustr.gov.
    Comments will be placed in the docket and open to public 
inspection, except business confidential information. Comments may be 
viewed on the www.regulations.gov Web site by entering the relevant 
docket number in the search field on the home page.

William Shpiece,
Acting Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 2013-20930 Filed 8-27-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F3-P