[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 26, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 74486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25895]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9771]


Meetings of the United States-Peru Environmental Affairs Council, 
Environmental Cooperation Commission, and Sub-Committee on Forest 
Sector Governance

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of State and the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative (USTR) are providing notice that on November 3-4, 
2016, the United States and Peru will hold the eighth meeting of the 
Sub-Committee on Forest Sector Governance (the ``Sub-Committee''), the 
sixth meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council (the ``Council''), 
and the fourth meeting of the Environmental Cooperation Commission (the 
``Commission''). The public sessions for the Council, Commission and 
Sub-Committee will be held on November 4, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. All 
meetings will take place in Lima, Peru at the Ministry of International 
Trade and Tourism.
    The purpose of the meetings is to review implementation of: Chapter 
18 (Environment) of the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement 
(PTPA); the PTPA Annex on Forest Sector Governance (Annex 18.3.4); and 
the United States-Peru Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA).
    The Department of State and USTR invite interested organizations 
and members of the public to attend the public session, and to submit 
written comments or suggestions regarding implementation of Chapter 18, 
Annex 18.3.4, and the ECA, and any issues that should be discussed at 
the meetings. If you would like to attend the public sessions, please 
notify Rachel Kastenberg and Laura Buffo at the email addresses listed 
below under the heading ADDRESSES. Please include your full name and 
any organization or group you represent.
    In preparing comments, submitters are encouraged to refer to:
     Chapter 18 of the PTPA, including Annex 18.3.4, https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/peru-tpa/final-text,
     the Final Environmental Review of the PTPA, https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/factsheets/Trade%20Topics/environment/Environmental%20Review%20FINAL%2020071101.pdf, and
     the ECA, http://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/peru/81638.htm.
    These and other useful documents are available at: http://www.ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/peru-tpa and at 
http://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/peru/index.htm.

DATES: The public sessions of the Council, Sub-Committee and Commission 
meetings will be held on November 4, 2016 at 3:00 p.m. Comments and 
suggestions are requested in writing no later than November 1, 2016. 
Comments submitted via regulations.gov will be accepted until 11:59 
p.m. eastern time on November 1.

ADDRESSES: 
    All meetings will be held at Peru's Ministry of International Trade 
and Tourism (Mincetur), Calle Uno Oeste N 050 Urb. Corpac, San Isidro.
    Written comments and suggestions should be submitted 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.-Peru EAC/ECC/Sub-
Committee Meetings''; and
    (2) Laura Buffo, 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.-Peru EAC/ECC/Sub-
Committee Meetings.''
    If you have access to the Internet, you can view and comment on 
this notice by visiting http://www.regulations.gov and searching by its 
docket number, DOS-2016-0072.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Kastenberg, Telephone (202) 
736-7111 or Laura Buffo, Telephone (202) 395-9424.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PTPA entered into force on February 1, 
2009. Article 18.6 of the PTPA establishes an Environmental Affairs 
Council, which is required to meet at least once a year or as otherwise 
agreed by the Parties to discuss the implementation of Chapter 18. 
Annex 18.3.4 of the PTPA establishes a Sub-Committee on Forest Sector 
Governance. The Sub-Committee is a specific forum for the Parties to 
exchange views and share information on any matter arising under the 
PTPA Annex on Forest Sector Governance. The ECA entered into force on 
August 23, 2009. 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 PTPA and Article VI of 
the ECA require that meetings of the Council and Commission 
respectively include a public session, unless the Parties otherwise 
agree. At its first meeting, the Sub-Committee on Forest Sector 
Governance committed to hold a public session after each Sub-Committee 
meeting.

    Dated: October 21, 2016.
Barton J. Putney,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2016-25895 Filed 10-25-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P