[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 24, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23973-23974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10659]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 10003]


Notification of the Next Cafta-Dr Environmental Affairs Council 
Meeting

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 Trade Agreement 
(CAFTA-DR) intend to hold the eleventh meeting of the Environmental 
Affairs Council (the Council) established under Chapter 17 
(Environment) of that agreement in San Jos[eacute], Costa Rica, on June 
21 and 22, 2017.

DATES: The public session of the Council will be held on June 22, 2017, 
from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Costa Rica Marriott Hotel in San 
Jos[eacute], Costa Rica. We request comments and suggestions in writing 
no later than June 8, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be submitted to both:
    (1) Neal Morris, 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) Laura Buffo, 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.

[[Page 23974]]

    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 for 
docket number DOS-2017-0025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neal Morris, (202) 647-9312, or Laura 
Buffo, (202) 395-9424

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Article 17.5 of the CAFTA-DR establishes an 
Environmental Affairs Council (the Council) and, unless the CAFTA-DR 
parties otherwise agree, requires it to meet annually to oversee the 
implementation of, and review progress under, Chapter 17. Article 17.5 
further requires, unless the parties otherwise agree, that each meeting 
of the Council includes 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.
    On June 21, the Council will meet in a government-to-government 
session to (1) review any challenges parties are facing in meeting 
their environment chapter obligations, (2) highlight environmental 
achievements in the past year and share related lessons learned and 
best practices; (3) review ongoing work under the environmental 
cooperation program; and (4) hear a report from the CAFTA-DR 
Secretariat for Environmental Matters on the status of the public 
submissions process.
    On June 22, the Council invites all interested persons to attend a 
public session about Chapter 17 implementation, beginning at 10:00 a.m. 
at the Costa Rica Marriott Hotel. At the session, the Council will 
welcome questions, input, and information about challenges and 
achievements in implementation of the Chapter and the related 
Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA). Environmental Cooperation 
Program implementers also will be on site to answer questions and 
provide more information about their particular projects and programs. 
If you would like to attend the public session, please notify Neal 
Morris and Laura Buffo at the email addresses listed under the heading 
ADDRESSES. Please include your full name and identify any organization 
or group you represent. The Department of State and Office of the 
United States Trade Representative also invite written comments or 
suggestions to be submitted before June 8, 2017, regarding topics to be 
discussed at the Council meeting. In preparing comments, we encourage 
submitters to refer to Chapter 17 of the CAFTA-DR and the CAFTA-DR 
Environmental Cooperation Agreement (documents available at http://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/caftadr/index.htm and https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/environment/bilateral-and-regional-trade-agreements). 
Instructions on how to submit comments are under the heading ADDRESSES.
    In preparing comments, we encourage submitters to refer to:

 Chapter 17 of the CAFTA-DR and
 The ECA

These documents are available at: http://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/caftadr/index.htm and https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/environment/bilateral-and-regional-trade-agreements. Visit http://www.state.gov and 
the USTR Web site at www.ustr.gov for more information.

    Dated: May 18, 2017.
Barton Putney,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2017-10659 Filed 5-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-09-P