## C **HARGE** 

## Q**UESTIONS** 

## : **NAC/GAC M**  **EETING**



### ~ APRIL 25, 2013 ~ WASHIN G TON 

### , DC **4/9/2013** Dear NAC & GAC Members, D uring the 201 2 annual CEC Council Session in New Orleans the Ministers announced several focused areas for the CEC . One was a follow - up to the t rilateral SEM Modernization Process. The second is a commitment to greening the North American Economy and developing fewer but more strategic projects in the upcoming CEC Operational Plan and Budget. The EPA Administrator would like a dvice from the N AC & GAC on the following two topic s : **1) Advice**  **on the SEM Modernization Process :**  Background : Council instructed to establish new online tools to help with t he preparation of a submission, monitoring and assessing SEM process implementation, and increasing public outreach to build awareness of the process . Together these actions are expected to ensure that the public submission process remains a critical mech anism for facilitating public participation, supporting government transparency, and promoting the effective enforcement of environmental law in North America. In 2012, the Council directed Party officials to work wit h the Secretariat and JPAC to do the following:

 E stablish an online SEM portal, by the 2013 Council Session, to assist members of the public in understanding the SEM process and preparing a SEM submission.  Immediately track compliance with mandatory and target SEM deadlines and provide a report - out on compliance at the July 2013 Council Session (tracking was initiated immediately following the 2012 Council Session).  Present longer-term monitoring and assessment ( M&A ) options for Council consideration at the 2013 Council Session .  Develop and implement a long -term SEM public outreach strategy ( note that although no deadline for action was specified work in this area is currently underway ). In suppo rt of the above Council directives, the U. S. would like advice from the NAC and GAC on the following three areas : a. R eview and comment on attached draft version of the SEM portal. Note the JPAC’s preliminary input on the portal is also attached . b. Provide input on possible options for longer -term SEM process M onitoring & Assessment . One ide a being considered involves convening semi - an nual, agenda - driven meetings of representatives of the Parties, the Secretariat and JPAC to identify and consider SEM issues . c. Provide input on the development and implementation of a long -term SEM public outr each strategy. **2) Advice**  **on the Draft CEC Operational Plan** : Please review closely the Draft CEC Operational Plan. a. Provide advice on how well all the projects meet the attached “project selection criteria” and “guidance from the Alt Reps to the working groups” who created the projects. b. In particular provide advice on how successful the Operational Plan is in pursuing projects related t o greening the North American Economy (i.e. projects focused on electronic waste, advancing on trilateral clean energy initiatives, and other specific economic inte grated sectors in North America ) , this was a focus of the Environmental Minister’s in New Orleans. **Attachments** : 1) SEM Portal daft 2) JPAC SEM Portal Comments 3) Draft Guidance from Alt. Reps to Working Groups 4 ) N ew Proposed Project Guidance 5) Project Selection Criteria.