[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 130 (Monday, July 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 55995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-14866]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 12444]


Meeting of the United States-Republic of Korea Environmental 
Affairs Council and Environmental Cooperation Commission

ACTION: Notice of meetings and request for comments or questions.

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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 United 
States and the Republic of Korea (ROK) intend to hold the fourth 
meetings of the Environmental Affairs Council (EAC) and Environmental 
Cooperation Commission (ECC) in Seoul, ROK on July 11 and 12, 2024. The 
purposes of the meetings, respectively, are to review implementation of 
the Environment Chapter (Chapter 20) of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade 
Agreement (FTA) and to review cooperative environmental activities 
undertaken under the United States--Republic of Korea Environmental 
Cooperation Agreement (ECA).

DATES: The EAC and ECC meetings will be held on July 11, 2024, in 
Seoul, ROK. A joint public session will also be held in Seoul on July 
12, 2024. Written comments or questions related to these meetings 
should be submitted no later than July 10, 2024, for consideration. 
Instructions on submitting questions or comments are under the heading 
ADDRESSES.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or questions should use ``United States-
Republic of Korea EAC/ECC Meetings'' as the subject line and be 
submitted to both:
    (1) Merideth Manella, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans 
and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of 
Environmental Quality, by email to [email protected] and (2) Timothy 
Wedding, Office of Environment and Natural Resources, Office of the 
United States Trade Representative, by email to [email protected].
    When preparing comments, submitters are encouraged to refer to 
Chapter 20 (Environment) of the FTA and/or the ECA, as relevant 
(available at https://ustr.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/agreements/fta/korus/asset_upload_file852_12719.pdf and https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/182922.pdf).
    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-2024-0020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Merideth Manella, (202) 286-5271, 
[email protected] or Timothy Wedding, (202) 395-6072, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Article 20.6.1 of the United States-Korea 
FTA establishes an Environmental Affairs Council (EAC), which oversees 
implementation of the Environment Chapter (Chapter 20). The United 
States and the Republic of Korea, collectively the Parties, established 
the Environmental Cooperation Commission (ECC) on January 23, 2012, 
when they signed the Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA), which 
was negotiated in concert with the FTA. In Articles 3 and 4 of the ECA, 
the Parties state they plan to meet to develop and update, as 
appropriate, a Work Program of Environmental Cooperation to identify 
environmental cooperation priorities and possibilities for future 
cooperation.
    During the closed government-to-government EAC and ECC meetings on 
July 11, 2024, in Seoul, ROK, the Parties will discuss their respective 
implementation of the Environment Chapter (Chapter 20) of the United 
States-Korea FTA and review activity under the 2019-2022 and 2023-2026 
Work Programs under the ECA.
    On July 12, 2024, the Parties will host a joint public session on 
Environment Chapter (Chapter 20) implementation and environmental 
cooperation under the ECA in Seoul. Interested persons are invited to 
submit questions, input, and information for consideration for both the 
closed and public sessions. Instructions on submitting questions or 
comments are 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.

Andrew D. Clark,
Acting Director, Office of Environmental Quality, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2024-14866 Filed 7-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P