[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 15 (Thursday, January 23, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 3914]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01313]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 8603]


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

ACTION: Notice of meetings of the United States-Panama Environmental 
Affairs Council and Environmental Cooperation Commission, and request 
for 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 Panama 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 January 
29, 2014 in Panama City, Panama. The purpose of the Council meeting is 
to review implementation of Chapter 17 (Environment) of the United 
States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA) and the purpose of the 
Commission meeting is to review implementation of the United States-
Panama Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA) and approve a Work 
Program for implementing the ECA. The Department of State and USTR 
invite interested organizations and members of the public to attend the 
public session of the meetings and comment on any items that should be 
included on the meeting agendas. The Department of State also invites 
suggestions for items to be included in the Work Program.
    During the Council meeting, the United States and Panama 
(collectively the ``Parties'') will discuss their respective 
implementation of and progress under Chapter 17. During the Commission 
meeting, the Parties will provide an overview of environmental 
cooperation, and present and approve the inaugural 2014-2017 
Environmental Cooperation Work Program.

DATES: The public session of the Council and Commission meetings will 
be held on January 29, 2014, from 3:00-5:30 p.m. We request comments 
and suggestions in writing no later than January 22, 2014.

ADDRESSES: The public session of the Council and Commission meetings 
will be held at the Holiday Inn Clayton, Panama City, Panama. Please 
submit written comments and suggestions to both:
    (1) Lauren C. Stowe, Office of Environmental Quality and 
Transboundary Issues, U.S. Department of State, by electronic mail at 
[email protected] with the subject line ``U.S.-Panama 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.-Panama EAC/ECC 
Meeting.''
    You can view and comment on this notice by going to: http://www.regulations.gov/#!home and searching on docket number: DOS-2014-
0001

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lauren C. Stowe, Telephone (202) 647- 
4833 or Sarah Stewart, Telephone (202) 395-3858.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States-Panama TPA entered into 
force on October 31, 2012. Article 17.6 of the TPA establishes an 
Environmental Affairs Council to oversee the implementation of, and 
review progress under, Chapter 17. The United States-Panama ECA entered 
into force on December 5, 2013. Article III of the ECA establishes an 
Environmental Cooperation Commission and makes the Commission 
responsible for developing a Work Program. Article 17.6 of the TPA and 
Article V of the ECA require that meetings of the Council and 
Commission respectively include a public session, unless the Parties 
otherwise agree.
    The Department of State is requesting suggestions for cooperative 
environmental activities to consider for inclusion in the first 
Environmental Cooperation Work Program. For additional information, 
please visit: http://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/index.htm
    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 
Work Program. There is no expectation of resources or funding 
associated with any comments or suggestions for the Work Program.
    If you would like to attend the public session or provide comments, 
please notify Lauren Stowe at the email address listed above under the 
heading ADDRESSES. Please include your full name and identify any 
organization or group you represent. As you consider preparing 
comments, we encourage you to refer to:
     Chapter 17 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/panama-tpa and http://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/c51527.htm.

    Dated: January 14, 2014.
Deborah Klepp,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2014-01313 Filed 1-22-14; 8:45 am]
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