[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6161-6162]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01876]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 12312]


Notification of Meetings of the United States-Oman Subcommittee 
on Environmental Affairs and Joint Forum on Environmental Cooperation

AGENCY: U.S. Department of State.

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

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of State and the Office of the United 
States Trade Representative (USTR) are providing notice that the 
Government of the United States and the Government of Oman plan to hold 
the inaugural meeting of the Subcommittee on Environmental Affairs 
(Subcommittee), established under the United States-Oman Free Trade 
Agreement (FTA), and the fourth meeting of the Joint Forum on 
Environmental Cooperation (Joint Forum), established under the United 
States-Oman Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation 
(MOU), on February 19, 2024, in Muscat, Oman. The purposes of the 
meetings of these two bodies, respectively, are to review 
implementation of the Environment Chapter (chapter 17) of the FTA and 
to review and assess cooperative environmental activities undertaken 
under the MOU.

DATES: The joint public sessions of the Subcommittee and Joint Forum 
will be held on February 20, 2024, from 12 a.m. to 1:40 a.m. EST (9 
a.m. to 10:40 a.m. GST) in Muscat, Oman, with an option to join 
virtually or in-person. Please contact Anel Gonzalez-Ruiz and Tia 
Potskhverashvili for the location of this meeting in Muscat, Oman, or 
to request a link to join virtually. Confirmations of attendance and 
comments or questions are requested in writing no later than February 
14, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or questions 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-Oman FTA Subcommittee/MOU Joint Forum 
Meetings''; and
    (2) Tia Potskhverashvili, Office of the United States Trade 
Representative, by email to [email protected] with the subject line 
``United States-Oman FTA Subcommittee/MOU Joint Forum 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: http://www.regulations.gov/#!home and 
searching for docket number DOS-2024-0003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anel Gonzalez-Ruiz, (202) 705-5282, 
[email protected] or Tia

[[Page 6162]]

Potskhverashvili, (202) 395-5414, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Department of State and USTR invite 
written comments or questions from the public to be submitted no later 
than February 14, 2024, regarding implementation of chapter 17 and the 
MOU, and any topics that should be considered for discussion at the 
Subcommittee and Joint Forum meetings consistent with their respective 
purposes. When preparing comments, submitters are encouraged to refer 
to chapter 17 of the FTA and/or the MOU, as relevant (available at 
https://www.state.gov/key-topics-office-of-environmental-quality-and-transboundary-issues/current-trade-agreements-with-environmental-chapters/#oman and https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/free-trade-agreements/oman-fta). Instructions on how to submit comments are under 
the heading ADDRESSES.
    Article 17.5 of the FTA provides for the establishment of a 
Subcommittee on Environmental Affairs to discuss matters related to the 
operation of chapter 17. Article 17.5 further provides that, unless the 
Parties otherwise agree, meetings of the Subcommittee shall include a 
session in which members of the Subcommittee have an opportunity to 
meet with the public to discuss matters relating to the implementation 
of chapter 17.
    Section II of the MOU establishes a Joint Forum on Environmental 
Cooperation responsible for, among other things, establishing, 
reviewing, and assessing cooperative environmental activities under the 
MOU.
    On February 19, 2024, the Subcommittee and Joint Forum will meet in 
a closed government-to-government session to (1) review implementation 
of chapter 17 and (2) review activities under the United States-Oman 
2018-2021 Environmental Cooperation Plan of Action and future 
activities under the 2024-2027 Environmental Cooperation Plan of 
Action, respectively.
    All interested persons are invited to attend a joint public session 
on chapter 17 implementation and environmental cooperation under the 
MOU, beginning at 12 a.m. EST (9 a.m. GST) on February 20, 2024. At the 
session, the Subcommittee and Joint Forum will welcome questions, 
input, and information about challenges and achievements in 
implementation of chapter 17 and environmental cooperation under the 
MOU. If you would like to attend the public session either in-person, 
in Muscat, Oman, or virtually, please notify Anel Gonzalez-Ruiz and Tia 
Potskhverashvili 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.

Robert D. Wing,
Acting Director, Office of Environmental Quality, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2024-01876 Filed 1-30-24; 8:45 am]
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