[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 204 (Monday, October 24, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 64302]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-23031]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 11895]


Notification of the Meetings of the United States-Panama 
Environmental Affairs Council and Environmental Cooperation Commission

ACTION: Notice of meetings and request for comments; invitation to 
public session.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of State and the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative (USTR) are providing notice that the United States 
and Panama plan to hold meetings of the United States-Panama 
Environmental Affairs Council (the ``Council'') and Environmental 
Cooperation Commission (the ``Commission'') on December 5, 2022, in 
Panama City, Panama. The purpose of the meetings of these two bodies, 
respectively, is to review implementation of the Environment Chapter 
(Chapter 17) of the United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement 
(TPA) and the United States-Panama Environmental Cooperation Agreement 
(ECA). The Department of State and USTR also invite written comments or 
questions to be submitted no later than November 25, 2022, regarding 
implementation of Chapter 17 and the ECA, and any topics that should be 
discussed at the Council and Commission meetings consistent with their 
respective purposes. When preparing comments, submitters are encouraged 
to refer to Chapter 17 of the TPA and/or the ECA, as relevant 
(available at https://www.state.gov/key-topics-office-of-environmental-quality-and-transboundary-issues/current-trade-agreements-with-environmental-chapters/#panama and https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/panama-tpa/final-text). Instructions on how to 
submit comments are under the heading ADDRESSES.

DATES: The public sessions of the Council and Commission will be held 
on December 5, 2022, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. EST in Panama City, Panama, 
with an option to join virtually. Please contact Anel Gonzalez-Ruiz and 
Sigrid Simpson for the location of this meeting in Panama City, Panama, 
or to request a link to join virtually. Confirmations of attendance and 
comments or suggestions are requested in writing no later than November 
25, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be submitted to both:
    (1) Anel Gonzalez-Ruiz, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans 
and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of 
Environmental Quality, by email to [email protected] with the 
subject line ``United States-Panama TPA EAC/ECC Meetings''; and
    (2) Sigrid Simpson, Director for Environment and Natural Resources, 
Office of the United States Trade Representative, by email to 
[email protected] with the subject line ``United States-
Panama TPA EAC/ECC Meetings''.
    In your email, please include your full name and organization. If 
you have access to the internet, you can view and comment on this 
notice by going to: https://www.regulations.gov/#!home and searching 
for docket number DOS-2022-0039.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anel Gonzalez-Ruiz, (202) 705-5282, or 
Sigrid Simpson, (202) 881-6592.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Article 17.6 of the TPA establishes an 
Environmental Affairs Council and provides that, unless the Parties 
otherwise agree, the Council shall 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 17.6 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.
    Article III of the ECA establishes an Environmental Cooperation 
Commission responsible for, among other things, establishing, 
examining, and evaluating cooperative activities under the ECA. The ECC 
shall meet once a year, unless otherwise decided.
    On December 5, 2022, the Council will meet in a closed government-
to-government session to (1) review implementation of Chapter 17; (2) 
receive a report from the United States-Panama Secretariat for 
Environmental Enforcement Matters on the status of public submissions; 
and (3) review activities under the United States-Panama 2018-2022 
Environmental Cooperation Work Program and possible cooperation for the 
future under the ECA.
    The Council and Commission invites all interested persons to attend 
a public session on Chapter 17 implementation and environmental 
cooperation under the ECA, beginning at 5 p.m. EST on December 5, 2022. 
At the session, the Council will welcome questions, input, and 
information about challenges and achievements in implementation of 
Chapter 17 and the ECA. If you would like to attend the public session 
either in-person, in Panama City, Panama, or virtually, please notify 
Anel Gonzalez-Ruiz and Sigrid Simpson at the email addresses listed 
under the heading ADDRESSES.
    Visit the Department of State website at www.state.gov and the USTR 
website at www.ustr.gov for more information.

Sherry Zalika Sykes,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2022-23031 Filed 10-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P