### 12353 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 40 / Wednesday, February 29, 2012 / Notices

national interest. I have ordered that
Public Notice of these Determinations be published in the Federal Register

. **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  For further information, including a list of the exhibit objects, contact Julie Simpson, Attorney-Adviser, Office of the Legal Adviser, U.S. Department of State (telephone: 202–632–6467). The mailing address is U.S. Department of State, SA–5, L/PD, Fifth Floor (Suite 5H03), Washington, DC 20522–0505.

Dated: February 22, 2012.
J. Adam Ereli, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Department of State.

[FR Doc. 2012–4849 Filed 2–28–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4710–05–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF STATE**

**[Public Notice 7764]**

**Shipping Coordinating Committee; Notice of Committee Meeting** 

The Shipping Coordinating Committee (SHC) will conduct an open meeting at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 9, 2012, in Room 1422 of the United States Coast Guard Headquarters Building, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593–7121. The primary purpose ofthe meeting is to prepare for the ninetyninth Session of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Legal
Committee to be held at the IMO Headquarters, London, England, United Kingdom, April 16–20, 2012.

The primary matters to be considered
include:

Adoption of the agenda; report on credentials;

Monitoring the implementation of the
2010 Protocol to the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea;

Consideration of a proposal to amend the limits of liability of the 1996
Protocol to the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976 (LLMC 96);

Provision of financial security in cases of abandonment, personal injury to, or death of seafarers related to entry
into force of the International Labour Organization Maritime Labour Convention, 2006;

Fair treatment of seafarers in the event of a maritime accident;

Piracy; Matters arising from the 106th and 107th regular sessions of the Council; the twenty-sixth extraordinary session of the Council; and the twenty-seventh regular session of the Assembly;

Technical co-operation activities related to maritime legislation;

Review of the status of conventions and other treaty instruments;

Application of the Committee’s Guidelines;

Election of officers;
Any other business, including
reconsideration of the Committee’s recommendation related to liability and compensation issues connected to transboundary oil pollution damage from offshore exploration and exploitation activities;

Consideration of the report of the Committee on its ninety-ninth session.

The public should be aware that Assembly, at its twenty-seventh session in resolution A.1058(27) (20 December 2011), invited Member States and other concerned parties to submit proposals to
the Committee to enable consideration of developing guidance to assist (1) in the collation and preservation of evidence following the allegation of a serious crime onboard, or following a report of a missing person from, a ship and (2) in the pastoral and medical care of alleged victims of serious crimes onboard ships. Although no such formal proposal has been received at this time, the U.S. delegation anticipates that this
issue will be raised at this session.

Members of the public may attend this meeting up to the seating capacity of the room. To facilitate the building security process, and to request reasonable accommodation, those who plan to attend should contact the meeting coordinator, Ms. Bronwyn G. Douglass, by email at bronwyn. douglass@uscg.mil , by phone at (202) 372–3792, by fax at (202) 372–3975, or in writing at Commandant (CG–0941), U.S. Coast Guard, 2100 2nd Street SW., Stop 7121, Washington, DC 20593–7121 not later than April 2, 2012, 7 days prior to the meeting. Requests made after April 2, 2012 might not be able to be
accommodated. Please note that due to security considerations, two valid, government issued photo identifications must be presented to gain entrance to the Headquarters building. The Headquarters building is accessible by taxi and privately owned conveyance (public transportation is not generally available). However, parking in the vicinity of the building is extremely
limited. Additional information regarding this and other IMO SHC public meetings may be found at: www.uscg.mil/imo

. Dated: February 22, 2012

. Brian Robinson, Executive Secretary, Shipping Coordinating Committee, Department of State.

[FR Doc. 2012–4851 Filed 2–28–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4710–09–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF STATE**

**[Public Notice 7763]**

**U.S. Department of State Advisory**
**Committee on Private International Law (ACPIL): Notice of Public Meeting**  **on (1) Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments, and**  **(2) Choice of Law in International**
**Commercial Contracts**

The Office of the Assistant Legal Adviser for Private International Law, Department of State, hereby gives notice of a public meeting to discuss two topics on the agenda of the upcoming General Affairs and Policy Council of the Hague Conference on Private International Law. The public meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the main State Department building (Harry S Truman Building). This is not a meeting of the full Advisory Committee.

Jurisdiction and the Recognition and Enforcement of Judgments: An ACPIL meeting on this topic was held on March 23, 2011. At the subsequent General Affairs and Policy Council held in April 2011, it was agreed to establish a small experts’ group ‘‘to explore the background of the Judgments Project and recent developments with the aim to assess the possible merits of resuming the Judgments Project.’’ That experts’ group will hold its initial meeting on April 12–14, 2012 in The Hague, and the results of that meeting will be reported to the General Affairs and Policy Council, which meets April 17–

20.

Choice of law in international commercial contracts: A working group composed of experts from various countries has been meeting over the past couple of years to develop non-binding principles relevant to the choice of law
in international commercial contracts. The draft principles prepared by that working group will be considered at the General Affairs and Policy Council.

The purpose of the public meeting is
to obtain the views of concerned stakeholders on these topics in advance of the upcoming Hague Conference meetings.

Prior to the Study Group meeting, we
will send out—to all those who indicate that they intend to attend the meeting or participate by telephone, or who
otherwise wish to comment—the


### 12354 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 40 / Wednesday, February 29, 2012 / Notices

documents prepared by the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on each of these topics, which will include the draft principles on choice of law. Those
who cannot attend but wish to comment are welcome to do so by email to Keith
Loken at lokenk@state.gov

.

Time and Place: The meeting will take place in Room 1205, Harry S Truman Building, 2201 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20520. Participants should plan to arrive by 9:30 p.m. for visitor screening. If you are unable to attend the public meeting and would like to participate from a remote location, teleconferencing will be
available.

Public Participation: This meeting is open to the public, subject to the capacity of the meeting room. Access to the building is strictly controlled. For pre-clearance purposes, those planning to attend should phone Tricia Smeltzer (202–776–8423) or Niesha Toms (202– 776–8420) and provide your full name, address, date of birth, citizenship, driver’s license or passport number, and email address. This will greatly facilitate entry into the building. Participants will be met inside the diplomatic entrance at C Street and, once badges are obtained, escorted to the meeting room. A member of the public needing reasonable
accommodation should advise Ms.
Smeltzer or Ms. Toms not later than March 27. Requests made after that date will be considered, but might not be able to be fulfilled. If you would like to participate by telephone, please contact
Ms. Smeltzer or Ms. Toms to obtain the
call-in number and other information.

Data from the public is requested pursuant to Public Law 99–399 (Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of 1986), as amended; Public Law 107–56 (USA PATRIOT Act); and Executive Order 13356. The purpose of the collection is to validate the identity of individuals who enter Department facilities. The data will be
entered into the Visitor Access Control System (VACS–D) database. Please see the Privacy Impact Assessment for

VACS–D at http://www.state.gov/ documents/organization/100305.pdf for
additional information.

Dated: February 22, 2012.

Keith Loken,
Assistant Legal Adviser, Private International Law, Department of State.

[FR Doc. 2012–4854 Filed 2–28–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4710–08–P DEPARTMENT OF STATE** 

**[Public Notice 7809]**

**Meeting of the Joint Forum on Environmental Technical Cooperation** 
**Pursuant to the United States-Jordan**
**Joint Statement on Environmental Technical Cooperation** 

**ACTION :**  Notice of the meeting of the Joint Forum on Environmental Technical Cooperation and request for

comments.

**SUMMARY :**  The Department of State is providing notice that, as set forth inparagraph three of the United StatesJordan Joint Statement on Environmental Technical Cooperation (‘‘Joint Statement’’), the United States and Jordan will hold a meeting of the Joint Forum on Environmental Technical Cooperation (‘‘Joint Forum’’) at 9 a.m. on March 4, 2012, at the Hashemite Auditorium, Royal Scientific Society, in Amman, Jordan. If you are interested in attending, please email Rob Wing at WingRD@state.gov. See below under **SUPPLEMENTARY**

**INFORMATION** for additional details on the background and purpose of the meeting.

During the meeting, the United States and Jordan intend to present a brief history of U.S.-Jordan environmental cooperation, review activities under the 2008–2011 Work Program, and approve a 2012–2013 Work Program. The entire meeting will be open to the public and include public question and answer sessions. The meeting will be conducted in English and Arabic. The Department of State invites interested organizations and members of the public to submit written comments or suggestions regarding items to include on the agenda and to attend the meeting. In preparing comments, we encourage submitters to refer to: (1) The United States-Jordan Joint Statement on Environmental Technical Cooperation; (2) the United States-Jordan 2008–2011 Work Program on Environmental Cooperation; (3) Article 5 (Environment) of the Agreement Between the United
States of America and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area (U.S.-Jordan Free Trade Agreement (FTA)); and (4) the environmental review of the U.S.-Jordan
FTA. These documents are available at: http://www.state.gov/e/oes/env/trade/ jordan/index.htm

. **DATES :**  The United States and Jordan will hold the Joint Forum meeting at 9 a.m. on March 4, 2012, at the Hashemite Auditorium, Royal Scientific Society, in Amman, Jordan. If you are interested in attending, please email Rob Wing by March 2, 2012 at WingRD@state.gov . To ensure timely consideration, please submit comments and suggestions in writing no later than March 2, 2012.

**ADDRESSES :**  Please submit written comments or suggestions via email ( WingRD@state.gov ) or fax ((202) 647– 5947) to Rob Wing, Office of Environmental Policy, Bureau of Oceans
and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, with the subject line ‘‘United States-Jordan Joint Forum Meeting.’’ If you have access to the Internet, you may make comments electronically by going

to http://contact-us.state.gov/app/ask

. **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Rob Wing, telephone (202) 647–6780 or email ( WingRD@state.gov ).

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  The United States and Jordan announced the
establishment of the United StatesJordan Joint Forum on Environmental Technical Cooperation (Joint Forum)when they signed the United StatesJordan Joint Statement on Environmental Technical Cooperation (Joint Statement), on October 24, 2000, along with the U.S.-Jordan FTA. The Joint Forum is to meet regularly and advance environmental protection in Jordan by developing environmental technical cooperation initiatives, which
take into account environmental priorities, and which are agreed to by the two governments. In paragraph 4 of the Joint Statement, the countries identify an initial focus of technical cooperation on Jordanian environmental quality issues and the development and effective implementation of Jordanian environmental laws, as defined in Articles 5.4 and 18.2(a) of the U.S.- Jordan FTA. The Joint Forum has met twice since 2000—in September 2004 and March 2009—and issued two plans for implementing the Joint Statement.
The first—a Plan of Action—focused on implementing a strategic vision for Jordan’s Ministry of Environment, established in 2002, to promote sustainable economic growth and development. The plan outlined activities to, among other things, strengthen the Ministry’s capacity for setting, implementing, and ensuring compliance with environmental standards; harness market forces to protect the environment while bringing economic benefits; undertake industrial
wastewater treatment and hazardous waste management for a target region;
seek out economic benefits of ecotourism; and promote the development of a regional network of
environmental lawmakers and enforcement officials. The second, a