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[Federal Register: April 14, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 71)]
[Notices]               
[Page 19453]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14ap10-117]                         


[[Page 19453]]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6927]

 
Suggestions for Environmental Cooperation Pursuant to the United 
States-Peru Environmental Cooperation Agreement

ACTION: Notice of preparation of the 2011-2012 U.S.-Peru Environmental 
Cooperation Work Program and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department invites the public, including NGOs, educational 
institutions, private sector enterprises and other interested persons, 
to submit written comments or suggestions regarding items for inclusion 
in a new Work Program for implementing the United States-Peru 
Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA), which entered into force in 
August 2009. The ECA Work Program will focus in particular on the 
implementation of the Annex on Forest Sector Governance of the U.S.-
Peru Trade Promotion agreement (PTPA). Please review the Annex 
carefully when preparing your ideas and suggestions. We also encourage 
submitters to refer to: (1) The Environment Chapter of the PTPA, (2) 
the U.S.-Peru ECA, (3) the U.S.-Peru 2009-2010 Environmental 
Cooperation Work Program, and (4) the Environmental Review of the PTPA. 
(Documents are available at: http://www.state.gov/g/oes/env/trade/peru/index.htm).

DATES: To be assured of timely consideration, all written comments or 
suggestions are requested no later than May 25, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be e-mailed 
(trontjm@state.gov) or faxed to Jacqueline Tront ((202) 647-5947), 
Office of Environmental Policy, Bureau of Oceans and International 
Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, with 
the subject line ``U.S.-Peru Environmental Cooperation Work Program.''
    If you have access to the Internet and wish to make comment on this 
Public Notice, you may do so by going to http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#home.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacqueline Tront, telephone (202) 647-
4750, Office of Environmental Policy, Bureau of Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of 
State.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the U.S.-Peru Environmental Cooperation 
Agreement, the Parties (1) recognize that cooperation is a principal 
means to contribute to ``efforts * * * to ensure that trade and 
environmental policies are mutually supportive and to promote the 
optimal use of resources in accordance with the objective of 
sustainable development'' and (2) ``establish a framework for enhancing 
bilateral and/or regional environmental cooperation between the 
Parties.'' In the Environment Chapter of the PTPA (Chapter 18), the 
Parties likewise ``recognize the importance of strengthening their 
capacity to protect the environment and of promoting sustainable 
development in concert with strengthening their trade and investment 
relations.'' The Parties commit to ``undertaking cooperative 
environmental activities pursuant to the ECA, including activities 
related to implementation of the [Environment] Chapter.'' In 
particular, in the Environment Chapter's Annex on Forest Sector 
Governance, the Parties commit to work cooperatively to implement 
certain actions required under the Annex, including through capacity-
building and other joint initiatives to promote sustainable management 
of Peru's forest resources, in accordance with the ECA.
    Article III of the ECA establishes the Environmental Cooperation 
Commission (ECC) to coordinate and review environmental cooperation 
activities. The responsibilities of the ECC include developing and 
periodically reviewing the work program. The work program is a tool to 
identify and establish goals, objectives and areas for cooperation, 
including short-, medium- and long-term bilateral and/or regional 
projects and activities. The Parties also agree to take into account 
public comments and recommendations regarding cooperative environmental 
activities.
    In August 2009, the Parties agreed to the 2009-2010 U.S.-Peru 
Environmental Cooperation Work Program. The main areas of cooperation 
under the 2009-2010 Work Program are: (1) Institutional and policy 
strengthening for effective implementation and enforcement of 
environmental laws, including natural resource-related laws; (2) 
biodiversity conservation and improved management of forests, protected 
areas and other ecologically important ecosystems; (3) transparency and 
public participation in environmental decision-making and enforcement; 
(4) community and market-based activities; and (5) improved 
environmental performance in the productive sector. The Parties agreed 
to focus cooperation on the capacity building activities identified in 
the Annex on Forest Sector Governance to ensure effective and timely 
implementation of those obligations. The capacity building activities 
listed in the Annex include: (a) Strengthening the legal, policy, and 
institutional framework governing the forest estate and the 
international trade in forest products; (b) building institutional 
capacity for forest law enforcement and the international trade in 
forest products; (c) improving the performance of the forest concession 
system in meeting economic, social, and ecological objectives; and (d) 
increasing public participation and improving transparency in forest 
resource planning and management decision-making.
    The United States anticipates building upon the cooperative work 
initiated in the 2009-2010 Work Program with a primary focus on 
activities related to the Annex on Forest Sector Governance. We are 
requesting ideas and suggestions that may be considered for inclusion 
in the next Work Program.
    For additional information: http://www.state.gov/g/oes/env/trade/peru/index.htm.
    Disclaimer: This Public Notice is a request for comments and 
suggestions, and is not a request for applications. No granting or 
money is directly associated with this request for suggestions for the 
Work Program. There is no expectation of resources or funding 
associated with any comments or suggestions provided for the work 
program.

    Dated: April 6, 2010.
Willem H. Brakel,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-8556 Filed 4-13-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P
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