U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

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69–118

" ! SENATE 106TH Congress

1st Session

TREATY DOC.

1999

106–10

1997 AMENDMENT TO MONTREAL PROTOCOL

MESSAGE

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

TRANSMITTING

AMENDMENT TO THE MONTREAL PROTOCOL ON SUBSTANCES

THAT DEPLETE THE OZONE LAYER (THE ‘‘MONTREAL PROTOCOL’’), ADOPTED AT MONTREAL ON SEPTEMBER 15–17, 1997,

BY THE NINTH MEETING TO THE PARTIES TO THE MONTREAL

PROTOCOL

SEPTEMBER 16, 1999.—Treaty was read the first time, and together with

the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate

(III)

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

THE WHITE HOUSE, September 16, 1999.

To the Senate of the United States:

I transmit herewith, for the advice and consent of the Senate to

ratification, the Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (the ‘‘Montreal Protocol’’),

adopted at Montreal on September 15–17, 1997, by the Ninth

Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. The report of the

Department of State is also enclosed for the information of the Senate.

The principal features of the 1997 Amendment, which was negotiated under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), are the addition of methyl bromide to the substances that are subject to trade control with non-Parties; and the

addition of a licensing requirement for import and export of controlled substances. The 1997 Amendment will constitute a major

step forward in protecting public health and the environment from

potential adverse effects of stratospheric ozone depletion.

By its terms, the 1997 Amendment was to have entered into

force on January 1, 1999, provided that at least 20 states had deposited their instruments of ratification, acceptance, or approval.

However, because this condition was not met until August 12,

1999, the 1997 Amendment will enter into force on November 10,

1999.

I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to the 1997 Amendment to the Montreal Protocol and give its

advice and consent to ratification.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON.

(V)

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, September 10, 1999.

The PRESIDENT,

The White House.

THE PRESIDENT: I have the honor to submit to you the Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the

Ozone Layer (‘‘Montreal Protocol’’), adopted at Montreal September

15–17, 1997, by the Ninth Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal

Protocol. I recommend that the Amendment be transmitted to the

Senate for its advice and consent to ratification.

The Montreal Protocol on substances that Deplete the Ozone

Layer is part of the United Nations Environment Program. The

Montreal Protocol, which the United States ratified in 1988, is the

most important international instrument for the protection of an

essential component of the global environment, the stratospheric

ozone layer. United States leadership in protecting the ozone layer,

besides being critical to the success of this global environmental endeavor, works to safeguard our public health.

The gradual loss of the stratospheric ozone layer, which the Montreal Protocol seeks to reverse, has been causally linked to, for instance, a higher incidence of skin cancers and cataracts and abnormalities in the animal kingdom.

A multilateral regime such as that provided by the Montreal Protocol is necessary to control emissions of ozone-depleting substances because such emissions anywhere could affect the ozone

layer globally. The Amendment to the Montreal Protocol adopted in

1997 will, when implemented, institute another major step forward

in protecting public health and the environment from potential adverse effects of stratospheric ozone depletion.

This is the third Amendment to the Montreal Protocol; the first

Amendment (the London Amendment), to which the United States

is a party, entered into force on August 10, 1992. The second

Amendment (the Copenhagen Amendment), to which the United

States is also a party, entered into force on June 14, 1994.

The 1997 Amendment is the product of several months of negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations Environment

Program. During the negotiations, the Department of State coordinated with all relevant federal agencies and consulted closely with

Congress, industry, and environmental groups.

The principal features of the 1997 Amendment are the expansion

of trade controls to include methyl bromide and the addition of a

licensing requirement for trade in certain controlled substances.
VI

The trade provisions of the Montreal Protocol (Article 4) would

be amended to treat methyl bromide in the same manner as other

substances already controlled, that is, there would be a ban on

trade in methyl bromide between a Party and a non-Party.

The licensing provision will require each Party to have in place

a system for licensing the import and export of all new, used, recycled, and reclaimed controlled substances under the Montreal Protocol.

The main intent of the trade ban with non-Parties is to minimize, if not thwart, the possibility that States which are not bound

by compliance obligations regarding methyl bromide could gain a

competitive advantage over Montreal Protocol Parties who are

bound. The licensing provision will support world law enforcement

efforts to diminish any illegal trade in controlled substances.

The United States has the legal authority to implement its obligations under the 1997 Amendment under Title 6 of the Clean Air

Act, as amended (including, e.g., sections 604, 605, 606, 614 and

615).

By its terms, the 1997 Amendment was to have entered into

force on January 1, 1999, provided that at least twenty States,

party to the Montreal Protocol, had deposited their instruments of

ratification, acceptance or approval. However, because twenty

States had not indicated their consent to be bound until August 12,

1999, the Amendment will enter into force for those States on November 10, 1999. In accordance with Article 2 of the 1997 Amendment, no State or regional economic organization may deposit an

instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession to the

Amendment unless it has previously or simultaneously become

party to the Copenhagen Amendment.

Ratification by the United States is important to demonstrate to

the rest of the world our commitment to protection and preservation of the stratospheric ozone layer. Our ratification will also encourage the wide participation necessary for the full realization of

the 1997 Amendment’s goals. Ratification of the 1997 Amendment

is consistent with the U.S. foreign policy and our environmental

and economic interests.

The Department of State recommends that the 1997 Amendment

to the Montreal Protocol be submitted to the Senate for advice and

consent to ratification at an early date.

Respectfully submitted,

THOMAS R. PICKERING.
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