[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 106 (Thursday, June 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35434-35435]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13056]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9595]


Request for Comments and Suggestions for Environmental 
Cooperation Pursuant to the United States-Bahrain Memorandum of 
Understanding on Environmental Cooperation

ACTION: Notice of preparation of the 2016-2019 United States-Bahrain 
Environmental Cooperation Plan of Action (the ``Second POA'') and 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State invites the members of the public, 
including non-governmental organizations (NGOs), educational 
institutions, private sector enterprises, and other interested persons, 
to submit written comments or suggestions regarding items for inclusion 
in a new Plan of Action for implementing the United States-Bahrain 
Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation (MOU), signed 
on September 14, 2004. In preparing such comments or suggestions, we 
encourage submitters to refer to: (1) The United States-Bahrain MOU, 
(2) the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Environment 
Chapter, (3) the Environmental Review of the FTA, and (4) 2006-2008 
Plan of Action, dated October 1, 2006 (the ``First POA''). These 
documents are available at: http://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/bahrain/.

DATES: To be assured of timely consideration, all written comments or 
suggestions are requested no later than July 5, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions may be submitted in any of 
the following three ways:
--You may view and comment on this notice by going to http://www.regulations.gov/#!home and searching on docket number: DOS-2016-
0039. Please note that comments you submit are not private and will not 
be edited to remove identifying or contact information. The State 
Department cautions against including any information that you would 
not want publicly disclosed.
--You may also send your comment by electronic mail at 
[email protected] with the subject line ``U.S.-Bahrain Plan of 
Action.''
--You may mail your comment to Edward T. Canuel, Office of 
Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues (OES/EQT), 2201 C Street 
NW., Suite 2726, U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC 20520.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Edward T. Canuel, telephone (202) 647-
4828

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: United States-Bahrain MOU
    The United States and Bahrain negotiated the MOU in parallel with 
the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement. In Paragraph 3 of the 
MOU, the Governments state that they will develop and update, as 
appropriate, a POA. Priority projects for environmental cooperation in 
POAs are guided by the following subject areas set forth in the Annex 
to the MOU: (i) Environmental law and regulations; (ii) environmental 
impact assessments; (iii) environmental incentives/voluntary programs; 
(iv) air

[[Page 35435]]

quality; (v) public participation in environmental protection; (vi) 
protection of water resources; (vii) coastal protection and 
preservation of marine resources; (viii) protection of endangered 
species; and (ix) environmental technology and business.
    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 
Second POA. There is no expectation of resources or funding associated 
with any comments or suggestions for the Second POA.

    Dated: May 26, 2016.
Deborah Klepp,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2016-13056 Filed 6-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-09-P