[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 31, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 53537]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18824]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE


Notice of the Second United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement 
Environment Committee Meeting

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice of meeting and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Parties to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement 
(USMCA) intend to hold the second meeting of the Environment Committee 
(Committee) on September 23, 2022. Following the government-to-
government Committee meeting, the Committee will hold a virtual public 
session. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) 
will accept comments on suggestions for topics to be discussed during 
the Committee meeting, and questions for the public session.

DATES: September 9, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. ET: Deadline for written 
comments on suggestions for the Committee meeting topics and questions 
for the public session. September 23, 2022, 5:30-7:00 p.m. ET: The 
Parties will host a virtual public session of the Committee.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments to Judith Webster, Director for 
Environment and Natural Resources, by email at 
[email protected] with the subject line `USMCA Environment 
Committee Meeting'.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Judith Webster, Director for 
Environment and Natural Resources, at [email protected], or 
202-881-7318.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Article 24.26 of the USMCA establishes an Environment Committee 
composed of senior government representatives. The Committee oversees 
implementation of Chapter 24, the Environment Chapter, and provides a 
forum to discuss and review the implementation of the Chapter. The 
USMCA requires the Committee to meet within one year of the date of 
entry into force of the USMCA and every two years thereafter unless the 
Committee agrees otherwise. The Committee met on June 17, 2021, and 
agreed to hold a second meeting in 2022. All decisions and reports of 
the Committee will be made publicly available, unless the Committee 
decides otherwise. The Committee will provide for public input on 
matters relevant to the Committee's work, as appropriate, and hold a 
public session at each meeting.

II. Committee Meeting

    On September 23, 2022, the Committee will meet in a government-to-
government session to (1) review implementation of the Environment 
Chapter, and discuss how the Parties are meeting their Chapter 
obligations; and (2) receive a presentation from the Commission on 
Environmental Cooperation (CEC) Secretariat on cooperation and public 
Submissions for Enforcement Matters (SEMs). This session will not be 
open to the public.

III. Public Session on Environment Chapter Implementation

    Following the government-to-government session, the Committee 
invites all interested persons to attend a virtual public session on 
USMCA Environment Chapter implementation. At the session, the Committee 
will welcome questions, input, and information concerning 
implementation of the Chapter obligations. The Committee will cover 
questions raised in comments submitted to USTR, and through a live chat 
function overseen by a moderator. Prior to the meeting, details on how 
to access the public session will be made available on USTR's website 
at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/environment.

IV. Comments

    USTR invites all interested persons to submit comments on topics 
and issues for the United States government to consider as it prepares 
for the Committee meeting, and specific questions for the public 
session. Participation in the public session is not limited to 
questions submitted through comments in advance of the session. As 
noted, during the public session, you will be able to ask questions 
through a chat function overseen by a moderator. When preparing 
comments, we encourage submitters to refer to USMCA Chapter 24, which 
is available at https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/IssueAreas/Environment/USMCA_Environment_Chapter_24.pdf).

Amanda Mayhew,
Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Environment and Natural 
Resources, Office of the United States Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2022-18824 Filed 8-30-22; 8:45 am]
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