[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 194 (Monday, October 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53553-53554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-21836]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 10918]


Notification of the Thirteenth CAFTA-DR Environmental Affairs 
Council Meeting

AGENCY: Department of State

ACTION: Notice of the thirteenth 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 thirteenth meeting of the Environmental 
Affairs Council (the Council) established under Chapter 17 
(Environment) of that agreement in Miami, Florida, United States on 
November 13 and 14, 2019.

DATES: The public session of the Council will be held on November 14, 
2019, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Please contact Sarah Flores and Katy 
Sater for the location of this meeting. We request comments and 
suggestions in writing no later than October 18, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be submitted to both: 
(1) Sarah Flores, 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''; and
    (2) Katy Sater, 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''.
    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- DOS-2019-0032.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Sarah Flores, (202) 647-0156, or Katy 
Sater, (202) 395-9522

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 13, the Council will meet in a 
closed government-to-government session to (1) review implementation of 
the environment chapter and discuss how parties are meeting their 
environment chapter obligations; (2) highlight environmental 
enforcement and achievements in the past year and share related lessons 
learned and best practices; (3) review ongoing work under the 
environmental cooperation program; and (4) receive a report from the 
CAFTA-DR Secretariat for Environmental Matters on the status of the 
public submissions process.
    On November 14, the Council invites all interested persons to 
attend a public session on Chapter 17 implementation, beginning at 
10:00 a.m. in Miami, Florida. At the session, the Council will welcome 
questions, input, and information about challenges and achievements in 
implementation of the Chapter obligations and the related Environmental 
Cooperation Agreement (ECA). If you would like to attend the public 
session, please notify Sarah Flores and Katy Sater 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 regarding 
topics to be discussed at the Council meeting to be submitted no later 
than October 18, 2019. When preparing comments, we encourage submitters 
to refer to Chapter 17 (Environment) 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.
    Article 17.5 of the CAFTA-DR establishes an Environmental Affairs

[[Page 53554]]

Council (the Council) and provides that, unless the CAFTA-DR parties 
otherwise agree, the Council will meet annually to oversee the 
implementation of, and review progress under, Chapter 17, and to 
consider the status of cooperation activities developed under the ECA. 
Article 17.5 further requires that, unless the parties otherwise agree, 
each meeting of the Council include 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.
    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 the State website at 
http://www.state.gov and the USTR website at www.ustr.gov for more 
information.

Robert D. Wing,
Acting Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary 
Issues, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2019-21836 Filed 10-4-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-09-P