[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 26 (Wednesday, February 7, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 5505]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-02420]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 10305]


Meeting on United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Environment 
Chapter Implementation, Joint Forum on Environmental Cooperation, and 
Public Session

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Announcement of meetings; solicitation of suggestions; 
invitation to public session.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State and the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative (USTR) are providing notice that the governments 
of the United States and Oman intend to hold a meeting to review 
implementation of the Environment Chapter of the United States-Oman 
Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the United States-Oman Joint Forum on 
Environmental Cooperation (Joint Forum), and a public session in 
Muscat, Oman, on March 4 and 5, 2018, at a venue to be announced.

DATES: The public session will be held on March 5, 2018, in Muscat, 
Oman at a venue to be announced. Suggestions on the Joint Forum meeting 
agenda and/or the 2018-2021 Plan of Action should be provided no later 
than March 1, 2018, to facilitate consideration.

ADDRESSES: Those interested in attending the public session should 
email Tiffany Prather at [email protected] to find out the time and 
place of the session. Suggestions on the Joint Forum meeting agenda 
and/or the 2018-2021 Plan of Action should be emailed to 
[email protected] or faxed to Tiffany Prather at (202) 647-5947, with 
the subject line ``United States-Oman Environmental Cooperation.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tiffany Prather, (202) 647-4548.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The governments of the United States and 
Oman (the governments) created the Joint Forum pursuant to the United 
States-Oman Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation 
(MOU), signed on February 20, 2006. During the Joint Forum, the 
governments will discuss how the United States and Oman can work 
together to protect and conserve the environment, highlight past 
bilateral environmental cooperation, review activities under the 2014-
2017 Plan of Action, and commit to a 2018-2021 Plan of Action. The 
Department of State and USTR invite the members of the public to submit 
written suggestions on items to include on the meeting agenda or in the 
2018-2021 Plan of Action.
    The Department of State and USTR also invite interested persons to 
attend a public session where the public will have the opportunity to 
ask about implementation of both the MOU and the Environment Chapter of 
the United States-Oman FTA. In the Environment Chapter of the United 
States-Oman FTA, the governments ``recognize the importance of 
strengthening capacity to protect the environment and to promote 
sustainable development in concert with strengthening bilateral trade 
and investment relations'' and committed to undertaking cooperative 
environmental activities pursuant to the MOU. In Section 2 of the MOU, 
the governments established the Joint Forum to coordinate and review 
environmental cooperation activities. As envisioned in the MOU, the 
Joint Forum develops Plans of Action; reviews and assesses cooperative 
environmental activities undertaken pursuant to the Plan of Action; 
recommends ways to improve cooperation; and undertakes such other 
activities as the Governments may deem to be appropriate. Through this 
notice, the United States is soliciting the views of the public with 
respect to the 2018-2021 Plan of Action.
    Members of the public, including NGOs, educational institutions, 
private sector enterprises, and all other interested persons, are 
invited to submit written suggestions regarding items for inclusion in 
the meeting agendas or in the new Plan of Action. Please include your 
full name and identify any organization or group you represent. We 
encourage submitters to refer to:
     United States-Oman Memorandum of Understanding on 
Environmental Cooperation;
     2011-2014 Plan of Action Pursuant to the United States-
Oman Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation;
     2014-2017 Plan of Action Pursuant to the United States-
Oman Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation;
     Chapter 17 of the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement;
     Final Environmental Review of the United States-Oman Free 
Trade Agreement.
    These documents are available at: http://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/oman/index.htm.

Rob Wing,
Acting Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary 
Issues, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2018-02420 Filed 2-6-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-09-P