[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 40 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10700-10701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04519]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9457]


Notice of Request for Expressions of Interest by Environmental 
Experts in Assisting the CAFTA-DR Secretariat for Environmental Matters 
With the Preparation of Factual Records

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Request for expressions of interest by environmental experts to 
assist the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade 
Agreement (CAFTA-DR) Secretariat for Environmental Matters 
(Secretariat) with the preparation of factual records.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of State (State Department) and the Office 
of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) are compiling recommendations 
for additional candidates to be included on the roster of environmental 
experts from which the CAFTA-DR Secretariat selects individuals to 
assist in the preparation of factual records. The State Department and 
USTR invite environmental experts, including representatives from non-
governmental organizations, educational institutions, private sector 
enterprises, and other interested persons, to submit their expression 
of interest in being included on the roster of experts. We encourage 
submitters to review the following prior to expressing interest: (1) 
Chapter 17: Environment of the CAFTA-DR, in particular Articles 17.7 
and 17.8; (2) paragraph 2(d) of the Understanding Regarding the 
Establishment of a Secretariat for Environmental Matters Under CAFTA-
DR; (3) paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 5 of the Agreement Establishing a 
Secretariat for Environmental Matters Under CAFTA-DR; and (4) Decision 
No. 10 of the CAFTA-DR Environmental Affairs Council (Council). 
Submitters also are encouraged to review the definition of 
``environmental law'' in Article 17.13 of Chapter 17 to get a sense of 
the range of environmental matters that could be at issue in a factual 
record. These documents are available at: http://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/caftadr/.

[[Page 10701]]


DATES: To be assured of timely consideration, expressions of interest 
are requested no later than March 31, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Expressions of interest should be emailed or faxed to Laura 
Buffo, Office of Environment and Natural Resources, Office of the 
United States Trade Representative ([email protected], Fax: 202-
395-9510), and Neal Morris, Office of Environmental Quality and 
Transboundary Issues, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental 
and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State ([email protected], 
Fax: 202-647-5947), with the subject line ``CAFTA-DR Roster of 
Environmental Experts to Assist in Development of Factual Records.'' 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-2016-0006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neal Morris_[email protected], (202) 
647-9312; or Laura Buffo_[email protected], (202) 395-9424.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to Article 17.7 and 17.8 of CAFTA-
DR, any person of a Party may file a submission with the CAFTA-DR 
Secretariat asserting that a Party is failing to effectively enforce 
its environmental laws. Where the Secretariat determines that a 
submission meets the criteria set out in paragraph 2 and 4 of Article 
17.7, and where the Secretariat considers that the submission, in light 
of any response provided by the Party, warrants developing a factual 
record, the Secretariat shall so inform the Council and provide its 
reasons. The Secretariat shall prepare a factual record if the Council, 
by vote of any Party, instructs it to do so. We recommend that 
submitters review completed factual records by visiting the CAFTA-DR 
Secretariat Web site at www.saa-sem.org.
    Pursuant to paragraph 2(d) of the Understanding Regarding the 
Establishment of a Secretariat for Environmental Matters Under CAFTA-DR 
(the Understanding), the Council shall establish a roster of 
environmental experts, comprising persons with a demonstrated record of 
good judgment, objectivity, and environmental expertise, including 
regional expertise, from which the Secretariat shall select, as 
appropriate, individuals to assist the Secretariat with the preparation 
of factual records pursuant to Article 17.8 of the CAFTA-DR.
    In accordance with paragraph 2(d) of the Understanding and 
paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 5 of the Agreement Establishing a 
Secretariat for Environmental Matters Under CAFTA-DR, on July 3, 2012, 
the Council set forth procedures for the Secretariat to follow 
regarding the engagement of such experts. See Decision No. 10, 
``Engagement of Environmental Experts to Assist the Secretariat for 
Environmental Matters with the Preparation of Factual Records.'' 
Pursuant to Decision No. 10, when the General Coordinator deems it 
necessary, such as when the existing roster does not contain any 
individuals with the relevant expertise that is necessary to assist the 
SEM in the preparation of a particular factual record, the General 
Coordinator shall seek input from the Council Members on additional 
candidates for the roster. The Council shall decide, by consensus, to 
accept the revisions to the roster as proposed or with modifications.
    Decision No. 10 provides that individuals selected for inclusion on 
the roster shall:
     Have demonstrated a record of good judgment, objectivity 
and environmental expertise;
     Carry out all duties fairly, thoroughly and diligently;
     Demonstrate national or regional expertise where possible;
     Avoid impropriety or the appearance of impropriety and 
shall observe high standards of conduct so that the integrity or 
impartiality of any work performed by the expert at the request of the 
SEM shall not be called into question;
     Not seek or receive instructions from any government or 
any other authority external to the SEM or Council. Accordingly, 
experts shall not have ex parte contacts with any of the Parties 
without the prior explicit consent of the Secretariat or Council;
     Safeguard from public disclosure any information received 
in their capacity as an environmental expert, where the information is 
designated by its source as confidential or proprietary;
     Ensure that his or her work complies with all applicable 
laws and regulations; and
     Promptly disclose any interest, relationship or matter 
that is likely to affect the expert's independence or impartiality or 
that might reasonably create an appearance of impropriety or an 
apprehension of bias in his work.
    The State Department and USTR are requesting expressions of 
interest from experts who wish to be included on the roster. To do so, 
please submit the following information:
    1. Full Name;
    2. Contact information (should include a business address, 
telephone number, and email address);
    3. Citizenship(s);
    4. A resume' or curriculum vitae;
    5. A letter of reference;
    6. Three individuals, in addition to the author of the letter of 
reference, who are willing to serve as a reference and provide 
information regarding the expert's professional experience (should 
include name, contact information, and relationship to expert);
    7. A summary of any current and past employment by, consulting 
experience, or other work for any of the Governments that are a Party 
to the CAFTA-DR;
    8. Proof of Spanish and English language proficiency, written and 
spoken.
    For additional information, please visit: http://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/caftadr/.
    Disclaimer: This Public Notice is a request for expressions of 
interest, and is not a request for applications. No granting of money 
is directly associated with this request. The State Department and USTR 
will select which environmental experts will be recommended by the 
United States for inclusion on the roster.

    Dated: February 24, 2016.
Deborah Klepp,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2016-04519 Filed 2-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-09-P