[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 9920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03423]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 11037]


Notice of Public Meeting Concerning the Use of Digital Sequence 
Information of Genetic Resources

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: In order to inform U.S. Government policy and international 
engagement, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) invites submission of 
comments from the public, academia, industry, and other stakeholders 
for an ongoing process under the Convention on Biological Diversity 
concerning the use of ``digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic 
resources,'' also known as genetic sequence data (GSD). The Department 
will hold a public meeting and information session to discuss these 
issues, on March 12, 2020.

DATES: A meeting is planned on Thursday, March 12, 2020. The meeting 
will begin at 10:00 p.m. EST and last for up to two hours. Electronic 
comments are due on or before April 30, 2020.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the U.S. State Department's 
Harry S. Truman Building, 2201 C Street NW, Room 1498, Washington, DC 
20520. Please use the 21st Street entrance, and plan to arrive at least 
twenty minutes prior to the start of the meeting to allow for ID 
verification and escorting requirements. One electronic submission per 
person by the April 30 deadline is welcome, with no more than 10 pages 
of single-spaced text including relevant examples, with no more than 
one page per example. Submissions should be made via the internet at 
www.regulations.gov and entering docket number [DOS-2020-0005]. Note 
that relevant comments submitted to regulations.gov will be posted 
without editing and will be available to the public; therefore, 
business-confidential information should be clearly identified as such 
and submitted by email. The public is required to file submissions 
electronically rather than by facsimile or mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the submission of 
comments should be directed to Patrick Reilly (202) 647-4827, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretariat of the Convention on 
Biological Diversity (CBD) released three studies on ``Digital Sequence 
Information on Genetic Resources'' (https://www.cbd.int/dsi-gr/2019-2020/studies/) that examine scope, present use, traceability, access, 
and current benefit-sharing schemes. These studies were commissioned to 
inform decisions by the Parties to the CBD and the Nagoya Protocol at 
the 2020 Conference of Parties to the CBD and the Conference of Parties 
serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol.
    During the public meeting and information session, the State 
Department will provide a brief overview of the ongoing discussions 
regarding DSI on genetic resources in the context of the CBD and the 
Nagoya Protocol and will listen to your comments, concerns, and 
questions about this issue. The information obtained from these 
meetings will help the U.S. Government prepare for U.S. participation 
in international meetings U.S. participation in upcoming CBD and Nagoya 
Protocol meetings. Documents and other information related to the CBD 
and Nagoya Protocol can be found at this website: www.cbd.int.
    We seek comments on the CBD studies cited above, and also request 
information on practices regarding the collection, management and use 
of DSI or GSD; and regarding experiences with access and benefit-
sharing approaches or requirements related to DSI/GSD. We welcome 
specific examples of the actual, and potential, impacts that could 
occur if tracking and benefit sharing for the utilization of DSI were 
required by domestic legislation, and encouraged under the Nagoya 
Protocol or other international ABS instruments, such as the 
International Treaty for Plant Genetic Resources for Food and 
Agriculture and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework. We are, 
likewise, interested in effects on research collaborations, 
international sample sharing, academic and commercial research, 
pandemic and epidemic preparedness and response, food security, and 
other aspects. We would also welcome views on what organizations can do 
to effectively protect the scientific process in the context of 
national-level ABS approaches potentially requiring tracking and 
benefit sharing for the utilization of DSI/GSD.
    We also welcome examples of:
    (1) Issues and/or examples related to the items described above or 
other items that could affect the scientific process;
    (2) Monetary or non-monetary benefits that are facilitated by 
international sharing of DSI or GSD;
    (3) Non-ABS challenges and barriers to sharing DSI or GSD that have 
significant implications for global research efforts that might merit 
additional attention or analysis.
    Representatives from the Department of State will review written 
submissions and share them, as appropriate, with other Federal Agencies 
to inform U.S. Government policy and our international engagements on 
these issues. U.S. officials may contact individuals making submissions 
for further information or clarification.
    Status: The meeting will be open to the public. Persons wishing to 
attend in person should submit their full name and organization to 
Patrick Reilly at [email protected] and copy [email protected] at 
least three days prior to the meeting. Persons who need special 
accommodations should also contact Mr. Reilly at [email protected] or 
(202) 647-4827 and copy [email protected] at least seven days before 
the meeting. Requests made after that time will be considered but might 
not be possible to accommodate. Personal data is requested pursuant to 
Public Law 99-399 (Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 
1986), as amended; Public Law 107-56 (USA PATRIOT Act); and E.O. 13356. 
The purpose of the collection is to validate the identity of 
individuals who enter Department facilities. The data will be entered 
into the Visitor Access Control System (VACS-D) database. Please see 
the Security Records System of Records Notice (State-36) at https://www.state.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Security-Records-STATE-36.pdf 
for additional information.

Catherine J. Karr-Colque,
Acting Director, Office of Conservation and Water, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2020-03423 Filed 2-19-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-09-P