[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 233 (Wednesday, December 4, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 72972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-29014]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 8541]


Meeting of the United States-Colombia Environmental Affairs 
Council and Environmental Cooperation Commission and Request for 
Comments on the Meeting Agendas

ACTION: Announcement of meetings; solicitation of comments.

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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 Colombia intend to hold the first meeting of the Environmental 
Affairs Council (the ``Council'') and the first meeting of the 
Environmental Cooperation Commission (the ``Commission'') on December 
18 and 19, 2013. The purpose of the meetings is to review 
implementation of Chapter 18 (Environment) of the United States-
Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) and the United States-Colombia 
Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA). The Department of State and 
USTR invite interested organizations and members of the public to 
attend the public session and comment on any items that should be 
included on the meeting agendas.

DATES: The public session of the Council and Commission meetings will 
be held on December 19, 2013, from 9:30-11:30 a.m. We request comments 
and suggestions in writing no later than December 12, 2013.

ADDRESSES: The public session of the Council and Commission meetings 
will be held in the Loy Henderson Conference Room, U.S. Department of 
State, 2201 C Street NW., Washington, DC. Please submit written 
comments and suggestions to both:
    (1) Rachel Kastenberg, Office of Environmental Quality and 
Transboundary Issues, U.S. Department of State, by electronic mail at 
[email protected] with the subject line ``U.S.-Colombia EAC/ECC 
Meeting''; and
    (2) Sarah Stewart, Office of Environment and Natural Resources, 
Office of the United States Trade Representative, by electronic mail at 
[email protected] with the subject line ``U.S.-Colombia EAC/
ECC Meeting.'' 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-2013-0022.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Kastenberg, Telephone (202) 
736-7111 or Sarah Stewart, Telephone (202) 395-3858.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States-Colombia TPA entered into 
force on May 15, 2012. Article 18.6 of the TPA establishes an 
Environmental Affairs Council to discuss the implementation of, and 
progress under, Chapter 18. The ECA entered into force on June 28, 
2013. Article III of the ECA establishes an Environmental Cooperation 
Commission and makes the Commission responsible for developing a Work 
Program. Article 18.6 of the TPA and Article VI of the ECA require that 
meetings of the Council and Commission respectively include a public 
session, unless the Parties otherwise agree.
    If you would like to attend the public session, please notify 
Rachel Kastenberg at the email addresses listed above under the heading 
ADDRESSES. Please include your full name and identify any organization 
or group you represent. In preparing comments, we encourage submitters 
to refer to:
     Chapter 18 of the TPA,
     The Final Environmental Review of the TPA, and
     The ECA.
    These documents are available at: http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/colombia-fta/final-text and http://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/c51527.htm

    Dated: November 27, 2013.
Deborah Klepp,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2013-29014 Filed 12-3-13; 8:45 am]
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