80 FR 34952 - Notification of the Next CAFTA-DR Environmental Affairs Council Meeting

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 117 (June 18, 2015)

Page Range		34952-34953
FR Document		2015-15003

The Department of State and the Office of the United States Trade Representative are providing notice that the parties to the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) intend to hold the ninth meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council (Council) established under Chapter 17 (Environment) of that agreement in Guatemala City, Guatemala on July 9-10. The Council will meet on July 9 to review implementation of Chapter 17 of CAFTA-DR and the CAFTA-DR Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA). All interested persons are invited to attend the Council's public session beginning at 9:30 a.m. on July 10 at Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. During the Council meeting, Council Members will present the progress made and challenges in implementing Chapter 17 obligations and the impacts of environmental cooperation in their respective countries. The Council will also receive a presentation from the CAFTA-DR Secretariat for Environmental Matters (SEM). More information on the Council is included below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. All interested persons are invited to attend a public session where they will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss implementation of Chapter 17 and the Environmental Cooperation Agreement with Council Members. At the public session, the Council hopes to receive input from the public on current environmental challenges and ideas for future cooperation. The Department of State and Office of the United States Trade Representative also invite written comments or suggestions regarding topics to be discussed at the meeting. 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/eqt/trade/caftadr/index.htm).

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 117 (Thursday, June 18, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 117 (Thursday, June 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34952-34953]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15003]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9171]


Notification of the Next CAFTA-DR Environmental Affairs Council 
Meeting

AGENCY: Department of State.

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of State and the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative are providing notice that the parties to the 
Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement 
(CAFTA-DR) intend to hold the ninth meeting of the Environmental 
Affairs Council (Council) established under Chapter 17 (Environment) of 
that agreement in Guatemala City, Guatemala on July 9-10. The Council 
will meet on July 9 to review implementation of Chapter 17 of CAFTA-DR 
and the CAFTA-DR Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA). All 
interested persons are invited to attend the Council's public session 
beginning at 9:30 a.m. on July 10 at Universidad del Valle de 
Guatemala. During the Council meeting, Council Members will present the 
progress made and challenges in implementing Chapter 17 obligations and 
the impacts of environmental cooperation in their respective countries. 
The Council will also receive a presentation from the CAFTA-DR 
Secretariat for Environmental Matters (SEM). More information on the 
Council is included below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. All 
interested persons are invited to attend a public session where they 
will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss implementation of 
Chapter 17 and the Environmental Cooperation Agreement with Council 
Members. At the public session, the Council hopes to receive input from 
the public on current environmental challenges and ideas for future 
cooperation. The Department of State and Office of the United States 
Trade Representative also invite written comments or suggestions 
regarding topics to be discussed at the meeting. 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/eqt/trade/caftadr/index.htm).

DATES: The public session of the Council will be held on July 10, 2015, 
from 9:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. We 
request comments and suggestions in writing no later than June 26, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be submitted to both:
    (1) Eloise Canfield, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Office of 
Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues by email to 
[email protected] with the subject

[[Page 34953]]

line ``CAFTA-DR EAC Meeting'' or by fax to (202) 647-5947; and
    (2) Laura Buffo, Director for Environment and Natural Resources, 
Office of the United States Trade Representative by email to 
[email protected] 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-XXXX-
XXXX.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eloise Canfield, (202) 647-4750 or 
Laura Buffo, 202-395-9424

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Article 17.5 of the CAFTA-DR establishes an 
Environmental Affairs Council (the Council) and requires it to meet 
annually unless the CAFTA-DR parties otherwise agree to oversee the 
implementation of, and review progress under, Chapter 17. Article 17.5 
further requires, unless the parties 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, the parties 
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.
    If you would like to attend the public session, please notify 
Eloise Canfield at the email addresses listed above under the heading 
ADDRESSES. Please include your full name and identify any organization 
or group you represent. In preparing comments, we encourage submitters 
to refer to:
     Chapter 17 of the CAFTA-DR,
     The Final Environmental Review of CAFTA-DR, and
     The ECA.
    These documents are available at: http://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/caftadr/index.htm. Visit http://www.state.gov and the USTR Web 
site at www.ustr.gov for more information.

    Dated: June 15, 2015.
Deborah Klepp,
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and Transboundary Issues, 
U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2015-15003 Filed 6-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P

34952 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 117 / Thursday, June 18, 2015 / Notices

necessary or appropriate in furtherance Paper Comments Representative are providing notice that
of the purposes of the Act. The • Send paper comments in triplicate the parties to the Dominican Republic-
proposed amendment simply to Brent J. Fields, Secretary, Securities Central America-United States Free
harmonizes the Exchange’s immediate and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street Trade Agreement (CAFTA–DR) intend
release policy with the Commission’s NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090. to hold the ninth meeting of the
requirements in Regulation FD and the All submissions should refer to File Environmental Affairs Council (Council)
immediate release policies of the NYSE Number SR–NYSEMKT–2015–40.This established under Chapter 17
and Nasdaq, harmonizes the method of file number should be included on the (Environment) of that agreement in
compliance with the Exchange’s subject line if email is used. To help the Guatemala City, Guatemala on July 9–
immediate release policy with the Commission process and review your 10. The Council will meet on July 9 to
methods of compliance for the NYSE comments more efficiently, please use review implementation of Chapter 17 of
and Nasdaq immediate release policies only one method. The Commission will CAFTA–DR and the CAFTA–DR
and makes other non-substantive post all comments on the Commission’s Environmental Cooperation Agreement
changes to the Company Guide. Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/ (ECA). All interested persons are invited
Accordingly, there will be no burden on rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the to attend the Council’s public session
competition as a result of the submission, all subsequent beginning at 9:30 a.m. on July 10 at
amendment. amendments, all written statements Universidad del Valle de Guatemala.
with respect to the proposed rule During the Council meeting, Council
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s Members will present the progress made
Statement on Comments on the change that are filed with the
Commission, and all written and challenges in implementing Chapter
Proposed Rule Change Received From 17 obligations and the impacts of
communications relating to the
Members, Participants, or Others environmental cooperation in their
proposed rule change between the
Commission and any person, other than respective countries. The Council will
No written comments were solicited
those that may be withheld from the also receive a presentation from the
or received with respect to the proposed
public in accordance with the CAFTA–DR Secretariat for
rule change.
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be Environmental Matters (SEM). More
III. Date of Effectiveness of the available for Web site viewing and information on the Council is included
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for printing in the Commission’s Public below under SUPPLEMENTARY
Commission Action Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., INFORMATION. All interested persons are
Washington, DC 20549, on official invited to attend a public session where
Because the proposed rule change they will have an opportunity to ask
business days between the hours of
does not: (i) Significantly affect the questions and discuss implementation
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the
protection of investors or the public of Chapter 17 and the Environmental
filing also will be available for
interest; (ii) impose any significant inspection and copying at the principal Cooperation Agreement with Council
burden on competition; and (iii) become office of the Exchange. All comments Members. At the public session, the
operative for 30 days from the date on received will be posted without change; Council hopes to receive input from the
which it was filed, or such shorter time the Commission does not edit personal public on current environmental
as the Commission may designate, it has identifying information from challenges and ideas for future
become effective pursuant to Section submissions. You should submit only cooperation. The Department of State
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act and Rule 19b– information that you wish to make and Office of the United States Trade
4(f)(6) thereunder. available publicly. All submissions Representative also invite written
At any time within 60 days of the should refer to File Number SR– comments or suggestions regarding
filing of the proposed rule change, the NYSEMKT–2015–40 and should be topics to be discussed at the meeting. In
Commission summarily may submitted on or before July 9, 2015. preparing comments, we encourage
temporarily suspend such rule change if submitters to refer to Chapter 17 of the
For the Commission, by the Division of
it appears to the Commission that such CAFTA–DR, the Final Environmental
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated
action is necessary or appropriate in the authority.12 Review of the CAFTA–DR, and the
public interest, for the protection of Robert W. Errett,
Agreement among the CAFTA–DR
investors, or otherwise in furtherance of countries on Environmental
Deputy Secretary.
the purposes of the Act. Cooperation (ECA) (all documents
[FR Doc. 2015–14970 Filed 6–17–15; 8:45 am]
available at http://www.state.gov/e/oes/
IV. Solicitation of Comments BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
eqt/trade/caftadr/index.htm).
DATES: The public session of the
Interested persons are invited to
submit written data, views, and Council will be held on July 10, 2015,
DEPARTMENT OF STATE from 9:30 a.m.–12:15 p.m. at
arguments concerning the foregoing,
including whether the proposed rule [Public Notice: 9171] Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. We
change is consistent with the Act. request comments and suggestions in
Notification of the Next CAFTA–DR writing no later than June 26, 2015.
Comments may be submitted by any of Environmental Affairs Council Meeting
the following methods: ADDRESSES: Written comments or
AGENCY: Department of State. suggestions should be submitted to
Electronic Comments both:
ACTION:Notice of the CAFTA–DR
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Environmental Affairs Council Meeting (1) Eloise Canfield, U.S. Department
• Use the Commission’s Internet of State, Bureau of Oceans and
comment form (http://www.sec.gov/ and request for comments.
International Environmental and
rules/sro.shtml); or SUMMARY: The Department of State and Scientific Affairs, Office of
• Send an email to rule-comments@ the Office of the United States Trade Environmental Quality and
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR– Transboundary Issues by email to
NYSEMKT–2015–40 on the subject line. 12 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). CanfieldM2@state.gov with the subject

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 117 / Thursday, June 18, 2015 / Notices 34953

line ‘‘CAFTA–DR EAC Meeting’’ or by • Chapter 17 of the CAFTA–DR, Heather L. Montgomery, Program
fax to (202) 647–5947; and • The Final Environmental Review of Manager, Tennessee Valley Authority,
(2) Laura Buffo, Director for CAFTA–DR, and Post Office Box 1010, MPB 1C–M,
Environment and Natural Resources, • The ECA. Muscle Shoals, Alabama 35662–1010;
Office of the United States Trade These documents are available at: telephone (256) 386–3803 or email
Representative by email to Laura_ http://www.state.gov/e/oes/eqt/trade/ hlmcgee@tva.gov.
Buffo@ustr.eop.gov with the subject line caftadr/index.htm. Visit http:// SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: TVA
‘‘CAFTA–DR EAC Meeting’’ or by fax to www.state.gov and the USTR Web site at manages public lands to protect the
(202) 395–9517. If you have access to www.ustr.gov for more information. integrated operation of TVA reservoir
the Internet you can view and comment Dated: June 15, 2015. and power systems, to provide for
on this notice by going to: http:// appropriate public use and enjoyment of
Deborah Klepp,
www.regulations.gov/#!home and the reservoir system, and to provide for
Director, Office of Environmental Quality and
searching on docket number DOS– continuing economic growth in the
Transboundary Issues, U.S. Department of
XXXX–XXXX. State. Tennessee Valley. TVA assumed
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [FR Doc. 2015–15003 Filed 6–17–15; 8:45 am]
custody and control of the 3,036-acre
Eloise Canfield, (202) 647–4750 or Laura Muscle Shoals/Wilson Dam Reservation
BILLING CODE 4710–09–P
Buffo, 202–395–9424 in Colbert County, Alabama in 1933
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Article when Congress directed its transfer to
17.5 of the CAFTA–DR establishes an TVA from the U.S. War Department.
TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY TVA has since managed 2,600 acres of
Environmental Affairs Council (the
Council) and requires it to meet this nonreservoir property as the MSR.
Muscle Shoals Reservation Since acquisition of the land, TVA’s
annually unless the CAFTA–DR parties Redevelopment, Colbert County,
otherwise agree to oversee the need for this amount of MSR property
Alabama has changed. TVA’s programs have
implementation of, and review progress
under, Chapter 17. Article 17.5 further AGENCY: Tennessee Valley Authority changed over time and TVA has greatly
requires, unless the parties otherwise (TVA). reduced its operations and employment
agree, that each meeting of the Council at Muscle Shoals. Therefore, TVA has
ACTION: Issuance of Record of Decision
determined that a portion of its MSR is
include a session in which members of (ROD).
no longer essential to its needs. Local
the Council have an opportunity to meet
SUMMARY: This notice is provided in public and private sector developers
with the public to discuss matters
accordance with the Council on have been requesting use of this land for
relating to the implementation of
Environmental Quality’s regulations (40 many years. In accordance with its
Chapter 17. In Article 17.9, the parties
CFR 1500 to 1508) and TVA’s economic development mission, TVA
recognize the importance of
procedures for implementing the concluded that sale and redevelopment
strengthening capacity to protect the
National Environmental Policy Act of approximately 1,000 acres of the MSR
environment and to promote sustainable
(NEPA). On November 15, 2012, the (surplus property) would help stimulate
development in concert with
TVA Board of Directors declared 1,000 the local and regional economy. The
strengthening trade and investment sale of this land would also help TVA
relations and state their commitment to acres of the Muscle Shoals Reservation
(MSR) in Colbert County, Alabama, to reduce its operations and maintenance
expanding their cooperative costs and help TVA reduce its
relationship on environmental matters. be surplus to TVA’s needs and
authorized the sale of such acreage at environmental footprint.
Article 17.9 also references the ECA, The September 2013 MSR ROD
which sets out certain priority areas of public auction, thereby adopting the
preferred alternative in TVA’s final provides information about the decision
cooperation on environmental activities to sell this 1,000-acre portion of the
that are also reflected in Annex 17.9 of environmental impact statement (EIS)
for the redevelopment of a portion of the MSR and should be referenced for more
the CAFTA–DR. These priority areas details, including information about
include, among other things: MSR. The ROD documenting this
need for property disposal, alternatives
Reinforcing institutional and legal decision was published on September
considered by TVA, environmentally
frameworks and the capacity to develop, 16, 2013 (78 FR 56980). The notice of
preferred alternative, environmental
implement, administer, and enforce availability (NOA) of the Final
consequences, and other background
environmental laws, regulations, Environmental Impact Statement for the
information.
standards and policies; conserving and Muscle Shoals Reservation
managing shared, migratory and Redevelopment was published in the Comprehensive Master Plan
endangered species in international Federal Register on November 18, 2011. All of the Action Alternatives in the
trade and management of protected A component of the preferred MSR EIS, including the preferred
areas; promoting best practices leading alternative was the publication of a alternative selected for implementation
to sustainable management of the Comprehensive Master Plan (CMP) to by the TVA Board, included the
environment; and facilitating guide development of the surplus MSR publication of a CMP to encourage
technology development and transfer property. On March 26, 2015, TVA’s proper and responsible development of
and training to promote clean Senior Vice President of Economic the approximate 1,000 acres of the MSR
production technologies. Development approved the CMP authorized for sale. To support this
If you would like to attend the public contemplated in TVA’s final EIS. effort, TVA and the Northwest Alabama
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

session, please notify Eloise Canfield at FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cooperative District (NACD) conducted
the email addresses listed above under Amy B. Henry, NEPA Program and studies; evaluated environmental,
the heading ADDRESSES. Please include Valley Projects Manager, Tennessee historical, and architectural impacts and
your full name and identify any Valley Authority, 400 West Summit Hill alternatives; participated in public
organization or group you represent. In Drive, WT 11D, Knoxville, Tennessee forums; collected public input; and
preparing comments, we encourage 37902–1499; telephone (865) 632–4045 evaluated the market potential for the
submitters to refer to: or email abhenry@tva.gov. MSR site. Using the results of these

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Document Created: 2018-02-22 11:12:01
Document Modified: 2018-02-22 11:12:01

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of the CAFTA-DR Environmental Affairs Council Meeting and request for comments.
Dates		The public session of the Council will be held on July 10, 2015, from 9:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. at Universidad del Valle de Guatemala. We request comments and suggestions in writing no later than June 26, 2015.
Contact		Eloise Canfield, (202) 647-4750 or Laura Buffo, 202-395-9424
FR Citation		80 FR 34952