[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 53 (Wednesday, March 19, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15381-15382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06060]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 8661]


Notification of the Eighth Meeting of the Environmental Affairs 
Council of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free 
Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR)

AGENCY: Department of State.

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

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SUMMARY: The Department of State and the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative are providing notice that the parties to the 
Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free

[[Page 15382]]

Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) intend to hold the eighth meeting of the 
Environmental Affairs Council (Council) established under Chapter 17 of 
that agreement in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 2 and 3, 2014 at 
Tulane University Law School. The purpose of the Council meeting is to 
review implementation of Chapter 17 (Environment) of CAFTA-DR. All 
interested persons are invited to attend a public session beginning at 
9:30 a.m. on April 3, 2014.
    During the Council meeting, Council Members will discuss progress 
in implementing Chapter 17 obligations and the results of environmental 
cooperation in their respective countries. The Council will also hear 
presentations from the CAFTA-DR Secretariat for Environmental Matters 
(SEM) and the Organization of American States (OAS). At the public 
session, the Council will highlight issues discussed during the Council 
meeting, with a particular focus on Chapter 17 obligations and 
environmental cooperation.
    All interested persons are invited to attend the public session 
where they will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss 
implementation of Chapter 17 and environmental cooperation. In 
addition, the SEM will present on the public submission process 
established under Chapter 17 and the OAS will present on environmental 
cooperation activities. 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. We encourage those considering submitting comments to refer to 
Chapter 17 of CAFTA-DR, the Final Environmental Review of CAFTA-DR, and 
the Agreement among the CAFTA-DR countries on Environmental Cooperation 
Activities. (All documents are available at http://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/caftadr/index.htm.)

DATES: The public session of the Council will be held on April 3, 2014, 
from 9:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. We request comments and suggestions in writing 
no later than March 28, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be submitted to both:

(1) Eloise Canfield, 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-2014-
0005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eloise Canfield, (202) 647-4750 or 
Sarah Stewart, (202) 395-3858.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Article 17.5 of 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 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 Environmental Cooperation Agreement, which sets out 
certain priority areas of cooperation on environmental activities that 
are also reflected in Annex 17.9 of 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.
    If you would like to attend the public session, please notify 
Eloise Canfield at the email address 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 17 of CAFTA-DR,
     The Final Environmental Review of CAFTA-DR, and
     The Environmental Cooperation Agreement.
    These documents are available at: http://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/caftadr/index.htm. Visit http://www.state.gov and the USTR Web 
site at www.ustr.gov for more information.

    Dated: March 12, 2014.
Deborah Klepp,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2014-06060 Filed 3-18-14; 8:45 am]
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