80 FR 79130 - Request for Comments Concerning an Environmental Review of the Proposed Environmental Goods Agreement
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 243 (December 18, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 243 (December 18, 2015)
| Page Range | 79130-79131 | |
| FR Document | 2015-31781 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 243 (Friday, December 18, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 79130-79131] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-31781] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Request for Comments Concerning an Environmental Review of the Proposed Environmental Goods Agreement AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative. ACTION: Notice of intent to conduct an environmental review of the proposed Environmental Goods Agreement and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), through the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), is initiating an environmental review of the Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA), a plurilateral trade agreement currently being negotiated among 17 members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), including the United States. The TPSC invites written comments from the public on the topics that should be included in the scope of the EGA environmental review, including potential positive or negative environmental effects that might result from the trade agreement. The TPSC also welcomes public views on appropriate methodologies and sources of data for conducting the review. DATES: Comments should be submitted on or before February 1, 2016, to be assured of timely consideration by the TPSC. ADDRESSES: Public comments should be submitted electronically to www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2015-0021. If you are unable to provide submissions at www.regulations.gov, please contact Ms. Yvonne Jamison (202-395-3475) to arrange for an alternative method of transmission. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the submission of comments in response to this notice should be directed to Ms. Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395-3475. Questions concerning the environmental review should be addressed to Mr. Seth Patch at (202) 395-7320. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Background Information On March 21, 2014, USTR notified Congress of the President's intent to enter into negotiations for a WTO Environmental Goods Agreement with an initial group of 13 trading partners. Seventeen WTO members are presently participating in the EGA negotiations: Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, the European Union, Hong Kong, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, Turkey, and the United States. Through notices in the Federal Register and a public hearing (held June 5, 2014, in Washington, DC), the TPSC invited the public to provide written comments and/or oral testimony regarding U.S. interests and priorities with respect to the proposed agreement (see 79 FR 17637, 79 FR 74803, and 80 FR 4332), including products to be included for tariff elimination. Additional information about the proposed EGA can be found at https://ustr.gov/trade-agreements/other-initiatives/environmental-goods-agreement and https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/fact-sheets/2014/July/WTO-EGA-Promoting-Made-in-America-Clean-Technology-Exports-Green-Growth-Jobs. Public comments on environmental issues submitted in response to prior notices (80 FR 17637, 79 FR 74803, and 80 FR 4332) requesting comments from the public regarding the EGA will be taken into account in preparing the environmental review and do not need to be resubmitted. 2. Environmental Review USTR, through the TPSC, will conduct an environmental review of the agreement consistent with Executive Order 13141 (64 FR 63169) and its implementing guidelines (65 FR 79442). The purpose of environmental reviews is to ensure that policymakers and the public are informed about reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts of trade agreements (both positive and negative), to identify complementarities between trade and environmental objectives, and to help shape appropriate responses if environmental impacts are identified. Reviews are intended to be one tool, among others, for integrating environmental information and analysis into the fluid, dynamic process of trade negotiations. USTR and the Council on Environmental Quality jointly oversee implementation of the Executive Order and its implementing guidelines. USTR, through the TPSC, is responsible for conducting the individual reviews. Additional background information and examples of prior environmental reviews are available at: https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/environment/environmental-reviews. 3. Requirements for Submissions Persons submitting comments must do so in English and must identify (on the first page of the submission) ``Comments Regarding the EGA Environmental Review.'' In order to be [[Page 79131]] assured of consideration, comments should be submitted by February 1, 2016. In order to ensure the timely receipt and consideration of comments, USTR strongly encourages commenters to make on-line submissions, using the www.regulations.gov Web site. To submit comments via www.regulations.gov, enter docket number USTR-2015-0021 on the home page and click ``search.'' The site will provide a search-results page listing all documents associated with this docket. Find a reference to this notice and click on the link entitled ``Comment Now!'' (For further information on using the www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult the resources provided on the Web site by clicking on ``How to Use This Site'' on the left side of the home page). The www.regulations.gov Web site allows users to provide comments by filling in a ``Type Comment'' field, or by attaching a document using an ``Upload File'' field. USTR prefers that comments be provided in an attached document. USTR prefers submissions in Microsoft Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If the submission is in an application other than those two, please indicate the name of the application in the ``Type Comment'' field. For any comments submitted electronically containing business confidential information, the file name of the business confidential version should begin with the characters ``BC''. Any page containing business confidential information must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL'' on the top of that page. Filers of submissions containing business confidential information must also submit a public version of their comments. The file name of the public version should begin with the character ``P''. The ``BC'' and ``P'' should be followed by the name of the person or entity submitting the comments. Filers submitting comments containing no business confidential information should name their file using the name of the person or entity submitting the comments. Please do not attach separate cover letters to electronic submissions; rather, include any information that might appear in a cover letter in the submission itself. Similarly, to the extent possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other attachments in the same file as the submission itself, not as separate files. As noted, USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through the www.regulations.gov Web site if at all possible. Any alternative arrangements must be made with Ms. Jamison in advance of transmitting a comment. Ms. Jamison may be contacted at (202) 395-3475. General information concerning USTR is available at www.ustr.gov. Comments will be placed in the docket and open to public inspection, except business confidential information. Comments may be viewed on the www.regulations.gov Web site by entering the relevant docket number in the search field on the home page. Edward Gresser, Acting Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee. [FR Doc. 2015-31781 Filed 12-17-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3290-F6-P
![79130 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 243 / Friday, December 18, 2015 / Notices
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES Zealand, Norway, Singapore,
Jason E. Oyler, General Counsel, TRADE REPRESENTATIVE Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, Turkey,
telephone: (717) 238–0423, ext. 1312; and the United States. Through notices
fax: (717) 238–2436; email: joyler@ Request for Comments Concerning an in the Federal Register and a public
srbc.net. Regular mail inquiries may be Environmental Review of the Proposed hearing (held June 5, 2014, in
sent to the above address. Environmental Goods Agreement Washington, DC), the TPSC invited the
public to provide written comments
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This AGENCY: Office of the United States
and/or oral testimony regarding U.S.
notice lists the projects, described Trade Representative.
interests and priorities with respect to
below, being rescinded for the ACTION: Notice of intent to conduct an the proposed agreement (see 79 FR
consumptive use of water pursuant to environmental review of the proposed 17637, 79 FR 74803, and 80 FR 4332),
the Commission’s approval by rule Environmental Goods Agreement and including products to be included for
process set forth in 18 CFR 806.22(e) request for comments. tariff elimination. Additional
and § 806.22(f) for the time period information about the proposed EGA
specified above: SUMMARY: The Office of the United
States Trade Representative (USTR), can be found at https://ustr.gov/trade-
Rescinded ABR Issued agreements/other-initiatives/
through the Trade Policy Staff
environmental-goods-agreement and
Committee (TPSC), is initiating an
1. Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC, Pad https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/
environmental review of the
ID: Carter, ABR–201205015, North press-office/fact-sheets/2014/July/WTO–
Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA),
Towanda Township, Bradford County, EGA-Promoting-Made-in-America-
a plurilateral trade agreement currently
Pa.; Rescind Date: November 19, 2015. Clean-Technology-Exports-Green-
being negotiated among 17 members of
Growth-Jobs. Public comments on
2. Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC, Pad the World Trade Organization (WTO),
environmental issues submitted in
ID: Gene, ABR–201209011, Overton including the United States. The TPSC
response to prior notices (80 FR 17637,
Township, Bradford County, Pa.; invites written comments from the
79 FR 74803, and 80 FR 4332)
Rescind Date: November 19, 2015. public on the topics that should be
requesting comments from the public
3. Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC, Pad included in the scope of the EGA regarding the EGA will be taken into
ID: Outback, ABR–201301015, Elkland environmental review, including account in preparing the environmental
Township, Sullivan County, Pa.; potential positive or negative review and do not need to be
Rescind Date: November 19, 2015. environmental effects that might result resubmitted.
from the trade agreement. The TPSC
4. Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC, Pad also welcomes public views on 2. Environmental Review
ID: Rock Ridge, ABR–201108015, appropriate methodologies and sources USTR, through the TPSC, will
Towanda Township, Bradford County, of data for conducting the review. conduct an environmental review of the
Pa.; Rescind Date: November 19, 2015. DATES: Comments should be submitted agreement consistent with Executive
5. Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC, Pad on or before February 1, 2016, to be Order 13141 (64 FR 63169) and its
ID: Walters, ABR–201305007, assured of timely consideration by the implementing guidelines (65 FR 79442).
Mehoopany Township, Wyoming TPSC. The purpose of environmental reviews
County, Pa.; Rescind Date: November ADDRESSES: Public comments should be is to ensure that policymakers and the
19, 2015. submitted electronically to public are informed about reasonably
6. Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC, Pad www.regulations.gov, docket number foreseeable environmental impacts of
ID: Beaver Dam, ABR–201104009, USTR–2015–0021. If you are unable to trade agreements (both positive and
Cherry and Colley Townships, Sullivan provide submissions at negative), to identify complementarities
County, Pa.; Rescind Date: November www.regulations.gov, please contact Ms. between trade and environmental
24, 2015. Yvonne Jamison (202–395–3475) to objectives, and to help shape
arrange for an alternative method of appropriate responses if environmental
7. WPX Energy Appalachia, LLC, Pad impacts are identified. Reviews are
ID: Nayavich Well Pad, ABR– transmission.
intended to be one tool, among others,
201105010, Sugarloaf Township, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: for integrating environmental
Columbia County, Pa.; Rescind Date: Questions regarding the submission of information and analysis into the fluid,
November 24, 2015. comments in response to this notice dynamic process of trade negotiations.
8. Talisman Energy USA, Inc., Pad ID: should be directed to Ms. Yvonne USTR and the Council on
05 092 Upham, ABR–201009078.R1, Jamison at (202) 395–3475. Questions Environmental Quality jointly oversee
Pike Township, Bradford County, Pa.; concerning the environmental review implementation of the Executive Order
Rescind Date: November 27, 2015. should be addressed to Mr. Seth Patch and its implementing guidelines. USTR,
at (202) 395–7320. through the TPSC, is responsible for
9. Range Resources-Appalachia, LLC,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: conducting the individual reviews.
Pad ID: Carmen III Unit #1H Drilling
Pad, ABR–201104005, Rush Township, 1. Background Information Additional background information and
Centre County, Pa.; Rescind Date: examples of prior environmental
On March 21, 2014, USTR notified reviews are available at: https://ustr.gov/
November 27, 2015. Congress of the President’s intent to issue-areas/environment/
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Authority: Pub. L. 91–575, 84 Stat. 1509 et enter into negotiations for a WTO environmental-reviews.
seq., 18 CFR Parts 806, 807, and 808. Environmental Goods Agreement with
an initial group of 13 trading partners. 3. Requirements for Submissions
Dated: December 14, 2015.
Seventeen WTO members are presently Persons submitting comments must
Stephanie L. Richardson,
participating in the EGA negotiations: do so in English and must identify (on
Secretary to the Commission. Australia, Canada, China, Costa Rica, the first page of the submission)
[FR Doc. 2015–31829 Filed 12–17–15; 8:45 am] the European Union, Hong Kong, ‘‘Comments Regarding the EGA
BILLING CODE 7040–01–P Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea, New Environmental Review.’’ In order to be
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 243 / Friday, December 18, 2015 / Notices 79131
assured of consideration, comments advance of transmitting a comment. Ms. business hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
should be submitted by February 1, Jamison may be contacted at (202) 395– (Mountain time).
2016. In order to ensure the timely 3475. General information concerning SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is
receipt and consideration of comments, USTR is available at www.ustr.gov. hereby given that the FHWA and other
USTR strongly encourages commenters Comments will be placed in the Federal agencies have taken final agency
to make on-line submissions, using the docket and open to public inspection, actions by issuing approvals for the
www.regulations.gov Web site. To except business confidential following highway project in the State
submit comments via information. Comments may be viewed of Colorado: C–470, Kipling Parkway to
www.regulations.gov, enter docket on the www.regulations.gov Web site by I–25 project, also known as the C–470
number USTR–2015–0021 on the home entering the relevant docket number in Express Lanes project. Project Overview:
page and click ‘‘search.’’ The site will the search field on the home page. The project involves adding one
provide a search-results page listing all managed, tolled express lane in each
Edward Gresser,
documents associated with this docket. direction between I–25 and Kipling
Find a reference to this notice and click Acting Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
Parkway, and a second managed lane as
on the link entitled ‘‘Comment Now!’’ [FR Doc. 2015–31781 Filed 12–17–15; 8:45 am]
follows: westbound, I–25 to Lucent
(For further information on using the BILLING CODE 3290–F6–P
Boulevard, and eastbound, Broadway to
www.regulations.gov Web site, please I–25. The purpose of the project is to
consult the resources provided on the provide congestion relief, decrease
Web site by clicking on ‘‘How to Use DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION travel delay, and improve corridor
This Site’’ on the left side of the home reliability between Kipling Parkway and
page). Federal Highway Administration
I–25 on the C–470 corridor. The actions
The www.regulations.gov Web site
allows users to provide comments by Notice of Final Federal Agency Actions by the Federal agencies on the project,
on Proposed Highways in Colorado and the laws under which such actions
filling in a ‘‘Type Comment’’ field, or by
were taken, are described in the Revised
attaching a document using an ‘‘Upload AGENCY: Federal Highway Environmental Assessment (EA) signed
File’’ field. USTR prefers that comments Administration (FHWA), Department of on July 24, 2015, in the Finding of No
be provided in an attached document. Transportation (DOT). Significant Impact (FONSI) signed
USTR prefers submissions in Microsoft
ACTION: Notice of Limitation on Claims November 20, 2015 and in other key
Word (.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If
for Judicial Review of Actions by FHWA project documents. The Revised EA,
the submission is in an application
and Other Federal Agencies. FONSI, and other key documents for the
other than those two, please indicate the
name of the application in the ‘‘Type project are available by contacting the
SUMMARY: This notice announces actions FHWA or the Colorado Department of
Comment’’ field. taken by the FHWA and other Federal
For any comments submitted Transportation at the addresses
agencies that are final within the provided above. The Revised EA and
electronically containing business meaning of 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). The
confidential information, the file name FONSI documents can be viewed and
actions relate to the Colorado State downloaded from the project Web site at
of the business confidential version Highway 470 (C–470) Corridor, Kipling
should begin with the characters ‘‘BC’’. https://www.codot.gov/projects/c470.
Parkway to I–25 project located in the This notice applies to all Federal
Any page containing business southern portion of the Denver
confidential information must be clearly agency decisions, actions, approvals,
metropolitan area in Colorado. Those licenses, and permits on the project as
marked ‘‘BUSINESS CONFIDENTIAL’’ actions grant approvals for the project.
on the top of that page. Filers of of the issuance date of this notice,
DATES: By this notice, the FHWA is including but not limited to those
submissions containing business
confidential information must also advising the public of final agency arising under the following laws, as
submit a public version of their actions subject to 23 U.S.C. 139(l)(1). A amended:
comments. The file name of the public claim seeking judicial review of the 1. General: National Environmental
version should begin with the character Federal agency actions on the highway Policy Act [42 U.S.C. 4321–4370h];
‘‘P’’. The ‘‘BC’’ and ‘‘P’’ should be project will be barred unless the claim Federal-Aid Highway Act [23 U.S.C.
followed by the name of the person or is filed on or before May 16, 2016. If the 109].
entity submitting the comments. Filers Federal law that authorizes judicial 2. Air: Clean Air Act, as amended [42
submitting comments containing no review of a claim provides a time period U.S.C. 7401–7671(q)] (transportation
business confidential information of less than 150 days for filing such conformity).
should name their file using the name claim, then that shorter time period still 3. Land: Section 4(f) of the
of the person or entity submitting the applies. Department of Transportation Act of
comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 1966 [49 U.S.C. 303]. Landscaping and
Please do not attach separate cover Stephanie Gibson, Environmental Scenic Enhancement (Wildflowers) [23
letters to electronic submissions; rather, Program Manager, Federal Highway U.S.C. 319].
include any information that might Administration Colorado Division, 4. Wildlife: Endangered Species Act
appear in a cover letter in the 12300 W. Dakota Avenue, Lakewood, [16 U.S.C. 1531–1544]; Fish and
submission itself. Similarly, to the Colorado 80228, 720–963–3013, Wildlife Coordination Act [16 U.S.C.
extent possible, please include any Stephanie.gibson@dot.gov normal 661–667(e)]; Migratory Bird Treaty Act
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
exhibits, annexes, or other attachments business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. [16 U.S.C. 703–712].
in the same file as the submission itself, (Mountain time); or Jon Chesser, 5. Historic and Cultural Resources:
not as separate files. Environmental Program Manager, Office Section 106 of the National Historic
As noted, USTR strongly urges of Major Projects, Colorado Department Preservation Act of 1966 [54 U.S.C.
submitters to file comments through the of Transportation, 4201 E. Arkansas 306108] Archaeological Resources
www.regulations.gov Web site if at all Avenue, Shumate Building, Denver, Protection Act of 1977 [16 U.S.C. 470aa–
possible. Any alternative arrangements Colorado 80222, 303–757–9936, 470mm]; Archaeological and Historic
must be made with Ms. Jamison in Jonathon.chesser@state.co.us, normal Preservation Act [16 U.S.C. 469–469c–
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Document Created: 2015-12-18 01:38:25
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 01:38:25
| 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 intent to conduct an environmental review of the proposed Environmental Goods Agreement and request for comments. | |
| Dates | Comments should be submitted on or before February 1, 2016, to be assured of timely consideration by the TPSC. | |
| Contact | Questions regarding the submission of comments in response to this notice should be directed to Ms. Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395-3475. Questions concerning the environmental | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 79130 |
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