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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 58 (Monday, March 26, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17562-17563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7254]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 7831]

Notification of the Next CAFTA-DR Environmental Affairs Council 
Meeting and Request for Comments on the Meeting Agenda

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice of the CAFTA-DR Environmental Affairs Council meeting 
and request for comments on the meeting agenda.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State and the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative are providing notice that the government parties 
to the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade 
Agreement (CAFTA-DR) intend to hold the sixth meeting of the 
Environmental Affairs Council (Council) established under Chapter 17 of 
that agreement in San Pedro Sula, Honduras on April 12, 2012 at the 
Hilton Princess Hotel, 10 Calle y Ave. Circunvalaci[oacute]n, S.O. Col. 
Trejo. All interested persons are invited to attend a public session 
beginning at 2:30 p.m. on April 12.
    During the meeting, each Council Member will present their 
country's progress in implementing Chapter 17 obligations and on the 
impacts of environmental cooperation in their countries. The Council 
will also receive a presentation from the CAFTA-DR Secretariat for 
Environmental Matters (SEM) and discuss the Organization of

[[Page 17563]]

American States Third Evaluation Report: Monitoring Progress of the 
Environmental Cooperation Agenda in the CAFTA-DR Countries. For the 
public session of the meeting, the Council will highlight issues from 
the above discussion elements with a particular focus on Chapter 17 
obligations and environmental cooperation successes.
    All interested persons are invited to attend a public session where 
they will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss 
implementation of Chapter 17 and environmental cooperation with Council 
Members. In addition, the SEM will present on the citizen submission 
process established under Chapter 17. More information on the Council 
is included below under

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. The Department of State and Office of the 
United States Trade Representative invite written comments or 
suggestions regarding the meeting agenda. In preparing comments, we 
encourage submitters to refer to Chapter 17 of the CAFTA-DR, the Final 
Environmental Review of the CAFTA-DR and the Agreement among the CAFTA-
DR countries on Environmental Cooperation (ECA) (all documents 
available at http://www.state.gov/e/oes/env/trade/caftadr/index.htm).

DATES: To be assured of timely consideration, all written comments or 
suggestions are requested no later than April 6, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be submitted to both: 
(1) Rebecca Slocum, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of 
Environmental Policy by email to SlocumRB@state.gov with the subject 
line ``CAFTA-DR EAC Meeting'' or by fax to (202) 647-5947; and (2) 
Kelly Milton, Director for International Environmental and Conservation 
Policy, Office of the United States Trade Representative by email to 
KMilton@ustr.eop.gov with the subject line ``CAFTA-DR EAC Meeting'' or 
by fax to (202) 395-9517. If you have access to the Internet you can 
view and comment on this notice by going to: http://www.regulations.gov/#!home and searching on docket number DOS-2012-
0023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Rebecca Slocum, (202) 647-4828 or 
Kelly Milton, (202) 395-9590.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Article 17.5 of the CAFTA-DR establishes an 
Environmental Affairs Council (the Council). Article 17.5 requires the 
Council to meet to oversee the implementation of, and review progress 
under, Chapter 17. Article 17.5 further requires, unless the 
governments otherwise agree, that each meeting of the Council include a 
session in which members of the Council have an opportunity to meet 
with the public to discuss matters relating to the implementation of 
Chapter 17.
    In Article 17.9 of the CAFTA-DR, the governments recognize the 
importance of strengthening capacity to protect the environment and to 
promote sustainable development in concert with strengthening trade and 
investment relations and state their commitment to expanding their 
cooperative relationship on environmental matters. Article 17.9 also 
references the ECA, which sets out certain priority areas of 
cooperation on environmental activities that are also reflected in 
Annex 17.9 of the CAFTA-DR. These priority areas include, among other 
things: Reinforcing institutional and legal frameworks and the capacity 
to develop, implement, administer, and enforce environmental laws, 
regulations, standards and policies; conserving and managing shared, 
migratory and endangered species in international trade and management 
of protected areas; promoting best practices leading to sustainable 
management of the environment; and facilitating technology development 
and transfer and training to promote clean production technologies. The 
public is advised to refer to the State Department Web site at http://www.state.gov/e/oes/env/ and the USTR Web site at www.ustr.gov for more 
information.
    Disclaimer: This Public Notice is a request for comments and 
suggestions, and is not a request for applications. No granting of 
money is directly associated with this request for suggestions on the 
Council meeting agenda. There is no expectation of resources or funding 
associated with any comments or suggestions for the agenda.

    Dated: March 20, 2012.
Sezaneh M. Seymour,
Acting Director, Office of Environmental Policy.
[FR Doc. 2012-7254 Filed 3-23-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P
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