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[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 15, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78338-78339]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31504]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 7261]

Meeting of the United States-Oman Joint Forum on Environmental 
Cooperation Pursuant to the United States-Oman Memorandum of 
Understanding on Environmental Cooperation

ACTION: Notice of the meeting of the U.S.-Oman Joint Forum on 
Environmental Cooperation and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State is providing notice that the United 
States and Oman intend to hold a meeting of the U.S.-Oman Joint Forum 
on Environmental Cooperation (``Joint Forum'') in Muscat, Oman, on 
January 9, 2011, at a venue to be announced. The Governments created 
the Joint Forum in connection with the U.S.-Oman Memorandum of 
Understanding on Environmental Cooperation (``MOU''). If you are 
interested in attending, please email Abby Lindsay at 
LindsayA@state.gov for the specific time and place. See below under 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional details on the background and 
purpose of the meeting.
    During the meeting, the U.S. and Oman will present a brief history 
of U.S.-Oman environmental cooperation, a review of activities under 
the 2006-2008 Work Program, presentations on selected activities, and 
presentation and signature of the 2011-2014 Plan of Action. The entire 
meeting will be open to the public and include public question and 
answer sessions. 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 the 
following documents:
     U.S.-Oman Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental 
Cooperation,
     2006-2008 Work Program Pursuant to the U.S.-Oman 
Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation,
     Chapter 17 of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement,
     Final Environmental Review of the U.S.-Oman Free Trade 
Agreement.
    These documents are available at: http://www.state.gov/g/oes/env/trade/oman/index.htm.

DATES: The U.S. and Oman will hold the Joint Forum meeting on January 
9, 2011, in Muscat, Oman. If you are interested

[[Page 78339]]

in attending, please email Abby Lindsay at LindsayA@state.gov for the 
specific time and place. To ensure timely consideration, please submit 
comments and suggestions in writing no later than January 3, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments or suggestions via e-mail 
(LindsayA@state.gov) or fax ((202) 647-5947) to Abby Lindsay, Office of 
Environmental Policy, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental 
and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, with the subject line 
``U.S.-Oman Joint Forum Meeting.''
    For those with access to the Internet, comments may be submitted at 
the following address: http://www.regulations.gov/search/Regs/home.html#home.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Abby Lindsay, Telephone (202) 647-
8772.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In Section 2 of the U.S.-Oman Memorandum of 
Understanding on Environmental Cooperation, the United States and Oman 
announced the establishment of a Joint Forum on Environmental 
Cooperation. The mandate of the Joint Forum is to broaden and deepen 
effective cooperation on environmental issues between Oman and the 
United States. It was intended provide a venue for the two Governments 
to discuss ways in which they could work together to strengthen the 
capacity of Oman to protect and conserve the environment. The Joint 
Forum is expected to develop a Plan of Action towards meeting this 
goal.
    The 2006-2008 Work Program identified priorities for environmental 
cooperation between the United States and Oman, with the goal of 
building human and institutional capacity in the management and 
conservation of natural resources. The priorities were: (a) 
Environmental laws and regulations, (b) Environmental impact 
assessments, (c) Environmental incentives, (d) Public participation in 
environmental protection, (e) Integrated water resources management and 
protection, (f) Coastal protection and preservation of marine 
resources, (g) Protected area management and conservation of flora and 
fauna, (h) Cleaner production and environmental technology, (i) 
Chemical hazardous waste management and disposal, and (j) Environmental 
disaster preparedness. Some indicative actions the U.S. and Oman have 
undertaken in these areas include workshops on environmental impact 
assessment, a regional workshop for CITES Management Authorities, and a 
course on public participation in environmental law. Ongoing work 
includes technical assistance to Oman on marine turtle conservation and 
cooperation on sustainable tourism in protected areas. The Department 
of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States 
Coast Guard, and others have been involved in implementing these 
activities. Officials from U.S. and Omani agencies will present and 
discuss their activities at the Joint Forum meeting.
    In the 2011-2014 Plan of Action, we seek to build upon the progress 
made in the previous Work Program and anticipate defining four main 
priority areas for cooperation activities: Institutional and policy 
strengthening for effective implementation and enforcement of 
environmental laws, including natural resource-related laws; 
Biodiversity conservation and improved management of protected areas, 
and other ecologically important ecosystems; Improved private sector 
environmental performance; and Environmental education, transparency 
and public participation in environmental decision-making and 
enforcement. At the meeting, the Joint Forum will review cooperation 
activities and the two Governments are expected to sign the new Plan of 
Action.

    Dated: December 9, 2010.
Willem H. Brakel,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2010-31504 Filed 12-14-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P
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