[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 28, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 56321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-25681]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 10215]


Notice of Preparation and Request for Input for the United 
States-Chile Environmental Cooperation Agreement Work Program

ACTION: Notice of preparation of the 2018-2020 United States-Chile 
Environmental Cooperation Agreement Work Program and request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of State is providing notice that the 
United States and Chile intend to establish a 2018-2020 Work Program 
pursuant to the United States-Chile Environmental Cooperation Agreement 
(ECA). The Department of State invites the public, including 
nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions, private sector 
enterprises, and other interested persons to submit written comments or 
suggestions regarding items for inclusion in a new Work Program for 
implementing the United States-Chile ECA, which entered into force in 
2004.

DATES: To be assured of timely consideration, all comments or questions 
are requested by December 6, 2017.

ADDRESSES: If you have access to the Internet, you can view and comment 
on this notice by going to http://www.regulations.gov and entering 
[DOS-2017-0043] or the title of this Notice into the search field and 
following the prompts.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: All comments or inputs should be 
directed to Keri Holland, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans 
and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of 
Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues by email at 
[email protected] with the subject line ``UNITED STATES-CHILE Work 
Program'' or by fax to (202) 647-5947 or by phone at (202) 647-6777.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States and Chile negotiated the 
United States-Chile FTA and United States-Chile ECA in concert, signing 
the FTA on June 6, 2003 in Miami, U.S.A. and the ECA on June 17, 2003 
in Santiago, Chile. Article 19.3 of the FTA establishes an Environment 
Affairs Council (Council). The Joint Commission on Environmental 
Cooperation (Commission) was established in Article II of the ECA. The 
Council and Commission last met in August 2015 in Washington, DC. The 
Council reviewed the implementation of the Environment Chapter of the 
FTA. The Commission signed the 2015-2017 Work Program, which built on 
previous successes and identified activities to achieve the long-term 
goals of: (1) Strengthening effective implementation and enforcement of 
environmental laws and regulations; (2) encouraging development and 
adoption of sound environmental practices and technologies, 
particularly in business enterprises; (3) promoting sustainable 
development and management of environmental resources, including wild 
fauna and flora, protected wild areas, and other ecologically important 
ecosystems; and (4) encouraging civil society participation in the 
environmental decision-making process and environmental education.
    We encourage submitters to refer to: (1) The United States-Chile 
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Environment Chapter; (2) the United States-
Chile ECA; and (3) the United States-Chile 2015-2017 ECA Work Program. 
Documents are available at:
     Chapter 19 of the United States-Chile FTA, https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/agreements/fta/chile/asset_upload_file482_4013.pdf.
     United States-Chile ECA and the 2015-2017 Work Program, 
https://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/chile/index.htm.
    These and other useful documents are available at: https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/chile-fta and at 
https://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/chile/index.htm.

 Carol Volk,
Acting Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary 
Issues, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2017-25681 Filed 11-27-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-09-P