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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 102 (Wednesday, May 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 30684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12347]

[[Page 30684]]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 8746]

Meeting on United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Environment 
Chapter Implementation, Joint Forum on Environmental Cooperation, and 
Public Session

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Announcement of meetings; solicitation of suggestions; 
invitation to public session.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State and the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative (USTR) are providing notice that the governments 
of the United States and Oman intend to hold a meeting to review 
implementation of the Environment Chapter of the United States-Oman 
Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the United States-Oman Joint Forum on 
Environmental Cooperation (Joint Forum), and a public session in 
Muscat, Oman, on June 4 and 5, 2014, at a venue to be announced.
    The governments of the United States and Oman (the governments) 
created the Joint Forum pursuant to the United States-Oman Memorandum 
of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation (MOU), signed on February 
20, 2006. During the Joint Forum meeting, the governments will discuss 
how the United States and Oman can strengthen Oman's capacity to 
protect and conserve its environment, highlight past bilateral 
environmental cooperation, review activities under the 2011-2014 Plan 
of Action, and commit to a 2014-2017 Plan of Action. The Department of 
State and USTR invite the members of the public to submit written 
suggestions on items to include on the meeting agenda or in the 2014-
2017 Plan of Action.
    The Department of State and USTR also invite interested persons to 
attend a public session where the public will have the opportunity to 
ask about implementation of both the MOU and the Environment Chapter of 
the United States-Oman FTA.

DATES: The public session will be held on June 5, 2014, in Muscat, Oman 
at a venue to be announced. Suggestions on the Joint Forum meeting 
agenda and/or the 2014-2017 Plan of Action should be provided no later 
than June 2, 2014, to facilitate consideration.

ADDRESSES: Those interested in attending the public session should 
email Geoff Finger at FingerGT@state.gov to find out the time and place 
of the session. Suggestions on the Joint Forum meeting agenda and/or 
the 2014-2017 Plan of Action should be emailed to FingerGT@state.gov or 
faxed to Geoff Finger at (202) 647-5947, with the subject line ``United 
States-Oman Environmental Cooperation.'' Those with access to the 
internet can view and comment on this notice by going to: http://www.regulations.gov/#!home and searching on docket number DOS-2014-
0011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Geoff Finger, (202) 647-4828.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the MOU, the governments (1) recognize 
``the importance of strengthening capacity to protect the environment 
while promoting sustainable development in concert with the expanded 
bilateral trade relationship that will accompany the United States-Oman 
Free Trade Agreement (FTA)'' and (2) indicate their intent ``to 
cooperate in the field of environmental and natural resource protection 
and sustainable development.'' In the Environment Chapter of the United 
States-Oman FTA, the governments likewise ``recognize the importance of 
strengthening capacity to protect the environment and to promote 
sustainable development in concert with strengthening bilateral trade 
and investment relations.'' The governments express their commitment to 
undertaking cooperative environmental activities pursuant to the MOU. 
In Section 2 of the MOU, the governments establish the Joint Forum to 
coordinate and review environmental cooperation activities. As 
envisioned in the MOU, the Joint Forum will ``develop a Plan of Action; 
review and assess cooperative environmental activities undertaken 
pursuant to the Plan of Action; recommend ways to improve cooperation; 
and undertake such other activities as the Governments may deem to be 
appropriate.'' The Plan of Action is a tool to establish goals, 
objectives, and areas for cooperation, including short-, medium-, and 
long-term bilateral and/or regional projects and activities. Through 
this notice, the United States is soliciting the views of the public 
with respect to the Plan of Action.
    In January 2012, the governments established the 2011-2014 Plan of 
Action for environmental cooperation with the following primary areas 
of cooperation: (1) Strengthening Environmental Laws, Including Natural 
Resource-Related Laws; (2) Disaster Preparedness; (3) Biodiversity 
Conservation and Improved Management of Protected Areas, and Other 
Ecologically Important Ecosystems; (4) Cleaner Production and 
Environmental Technology; and (5) Environmental Education and Public 
Participation in Environmental Issues. The United States anticipates 
the 2014-2017 Plan of Action will build upon the cooperative work 
initiated in the 2011-2014 Plan of Action.
    Members of the public, including NGOs, educational institutions, 
private sector enterprises, and all other interested persons, are 
invited to submit written suggestions regarding items for inclusion in 
the meeting agendas or in the new Plan of Action. Please include your 
full name and identify any organization or group you represent. We 
encourage submitters to refer to:
     United States-Oman Memorandum of Understanding on 
Environmental Cooperation,
     2011-2014 Plan of Action Pursuant to the United States-
Oman Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Cooperation,
     Chapter 17 of the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement,
     Final Environmental Review of the United States-Oman Free 
Trade Agreement.
    These documents are available at: http://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/oman/index.htm.

    Dated: May 21, 2014.
Deborah Klepp,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and, Transboundary Issues, 
U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2014-12347 Filed 5-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P
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