Meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council (EAC) of the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), 9867-9868 [E9-4805]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 43 / Friday, March 6, 2009 / Notices Electronic Comments DEPARTMENT OF STATE • Use the Commission’s Internet comment form (https://www.sec.gov/ rules/sro.shtml); or • Send an e-mail to rulecomments@sec.gov. Please include File Number SR–NYSE–2006–92 on the subject line. [Public Notice 6538] Paper Comments Department of State. Notice and request for comments. AGENCY: ACTION: • Send paper comments in triplicate to Elizabeth M. Murphy, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, DC 20549–1090. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council (EAC) of the Dominican Republic—Central America—United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA– DR) SUMMARY: The Department of State and the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) are providing notice that, as set forth in Chapter 17 (Environment) of the Dominican All submissions should refer to File Republic-Central America-United States Number SR–NYSE–2006–92. This file Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA–DR), the number should be included on the CAFTA–DR governments intend to hold subject line if e-mail is used. To help the the fourth meeting of the Environmental Commission process and review your Affairs Council (the ‘‘Council’’) in San comments more efficiently, please use Jose, Costa Rica on March 10, 2009. The only one method. The Commission will Council will hold an information post all comments on the Commission’s session for members of the public on Internet Web site (https://www.sec.gov/ March 10, 2009, from 2–4 p.m. in the rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the Ramada Herradura Hotel, facing the submission, all subsequent ˜ General Canas Highway, five kilometers amendments, all written statements south of the Juan Santamaria with respect to the proposed rule International Airport. The purpose of change that are filed with the the Council meetings is detailed below Commission, and all written under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. communications relating to the The meeting agenda will include a review of issues concerning proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other than implementation of the Environment Chapter, review and formal adoption of those that may be withheld from the Working Procedures and a Public public in accordance with the Outreach Plan for the Secretariat for provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be Environmental Matters Under the available for inspection and copying in CAFTA–DR (‘‘Secretariat’’), the Commission’s Public Reference appointment of a new General Room, 100 F Street, NE., Washington, Coordinator for the Secretariat, and DC 20549, on official business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. presentations of various accomplishments under the CAFTA–DR Copies of such filing also will be Environmental Cooperation Program. available for inspection and copying at The Department of State and USTR the principal office of the Exchange. All invite interested agencies, organizations, comments received will be posted and members of the public to submit without change; the Commission does written comments or suggestions not edit personal identifying regarding agenda items and to attend the information from submissions. You public session. In preparing comments, should submit only information that we encourage submitters to refer to the you wish to make available publicly. All CAFTA–DR Environment Chapter and submissions should refer to File the Final Environment Review of the Number SR–NYSE–2006–92 and should CAFTA–DR (available at https:// be submitted on or before March 27, www.ustr.gov) and the Environmental 2009. Cooperation Agreement (ECA) (available at https://www.state.gov/g/oes/env/ For the Commission, by the Division of trade/). Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated DATES: To be assured of timely authority.14 consideration, submit comments on or Florence E. Harmon, before March 9, 2009. Deputy Secretary. ADDRESSES: Written comments or [FR Doc. E9–4754 Filed 3–5–09; 8:45 am] suggestions should be submitted to BILLING CODE 8011–01–P both: (1) Rachel Kastenberg, Department of State, Bureau of Oceans, 14 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). Environment, and Science, Office of VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:20 Mar 05, 2009 Jkt 217001 PO 00000 Frm 00089 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 9867 Environmental Policy by electronic mail at kastenbergRL@state.gov with the subject line ‘‘CAFTA–DR EAC Meeting’’ or by fax to (202) 647–5947; and (2) Mara M. Burr, Deputy Assistant United States Trade Representative for Environment and Natural Resources, Office of the United States Trade Representative by electronic mail at mburr@ustr.eop.gov with the subject line ‘‘CAFTA–DR EAC Meeting’’ or by fax to (202) 395–9517. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Kastenberg, Telephone (202) 647–9266 or Mara M. Burr, Telephone (202) 395–7320. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Article 17.5 of Chapter 17 of CAFTA–DR establishes an Environmental Affairs Council (the ‘‘Council’’). Article 17.5 requires the Council to meet at least once a year, unless the Parties otherwise agree, to discuss the implementation of, and 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 of the Chapter, 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 notes that the Parties have negotiated an Environmental Cooperation Agreement (ECA) that sets out certain priority areas of cooperation on environmental activities. These priority areas are reflected in Annex 17.9 and include, among other things, conserving and managing shared, migratory, and endangered species in international trade; exchanging information on domestic implementation of multilateral environmental agreements that all the Parties have ratified; and strengthening each Party’s environmental management systems, including reinforcing institutional and legal frameworks and the capacity to develop, implement, administer, and enforce environmental laws, regulations, standards, and polices. At its fourth meeting, the Council will, among other things, (1) Review of issues concerning implementation of Chapter 17; (2) appoint a new General Coordinator for the Secretariat; (3) review and adopt the Secretariat’s Working Procedures and Public E:\FR\FM\06MRN1.SGM 06MRN1 9868 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 43 / Friday, March 6, 2009 / Notices Outreach Plan; and (4) review the status of cooperative environmental activities the Parties are implementing consistent with the CAFTA–DR ECA. The public is advised to refer to the State Department Web site at https:// www.state.gov/g/oes/env/ and the USTR Web site at https://www.ustr.gov for further information. Dated: February 27, 2009. Daniel T. Fantozzi, Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Department of State. [FR Doc. E9–4805 Filed 3–5–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710–09–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [Docket No. NHTSA–2008–0144; Notice 2] Decision That Nonconforming 1997 and 1998 Left-Hand Drive and 1997 through 2001 Right-Hand Drive Jeep Cherokee Multipurpose Passenger Vehicles Are Eligible for Importation AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, DOT. ACTION: Notice of decision by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that nonconforming 1997 and 1998 left-hand drive and 1997 through 2001 right-hand drive Jeep Cherokee multipurpose passenger vehicles are eligible for importation. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES SUMMARY: This document announces a decision by NHTSA that nonconforming 1997 and 1998 left-hand drive (LHD) and 1997 through 2001 right-hand drive (RHD) Jeep Cherokee multipurpose passenger vehicles (MPVs) that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable Federal motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) are eligible for importation into the United States because (1) they are substantially similar to vehicles that were originally manufactured for sale in the United States and that were certified by their manufacturer as complying with the safety standards (the U.S.-certified version of the 1997 and 1998 LHD and 1997 through 2001 RHD Jeep Cherokee MPVs), and (2) they are capable of being readily altered to conform to the standards. DATES: This decision is effective on Friday, February 27, 2009. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Coleman Sachs, Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance, NHTSA (202–366–3151). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:20 Mar 05, 2009 Jkt 217001 Background Under 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(A), a motor vehicle that was not originally manufactured to conform to all applicable FMVSS shall be refused admission into the United States unless NHTSA has decided that the motor vehicle is substantially similar to a motor vehicle originally manufactured for sale in the United States, certified under 49 U.S.C. 30115, and of the same model year as the model of the motor vehicle to be compared, and is capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable FMVSS. Where there is no substantially similar U.S.-certified motor vehicle, 49 U.S.C. 30141(a)(1)(B) permits a nonconforming motor vehicle to be admitted into the United States if its safety features comply with, or are capable of being altered to comply with, all applicable FMVSS based on destructive test data or such other evidence as NHTSA decides to be adequate. Petitions for eligibility decisions may be submitted by either manufacturers or importers who have registered with NHTSA pursuant to 49 CFR Part 592. As specified in 49 CFR 593.7, NHTSA publishes notice in the Federal Register of each petition that it receives, and affords interested persons an opportunity to comment on the petition. At the close of the comment period, NHTSA decides, on the basis of the petition and any comments that it has received, whether the vehicle is eligible for importation. The agency then publishes this decision in the Federal Register. Auto Boutique, Ltd., of Costa Mesa, California (ABL) (Registered Importer 08–356), petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 1997–2001 RHD Jeep Cherokee MPVs are eligible for importation into the United States. Shortly after ABL’s petition was filed, U.S. Drive Right (USDR), of Spring Arbor, Michigan (Registered Importer 08–355) separately petitioned NHTSA to decide whether nonconforming 1997 and 1998 RHD and LHD Jeep Cherokee MPVs are eligible for importation into the United States. NHTSA published a combined notice of the petitions on September 17, 2008 (73 FR 53927) to afford an opportunity for public comment. The reader is referred to that notice for a thorough description of the petitions. No comments were received in response to the notice of the petitions. The ABL and USDR petitions differed in scope: USRD included LHD versions of the subject vehicles for model years 1997 and 1998 but did not address LHD PO 00000 Frm 00090 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 or RHD 1999–2001 vehicles, while ABL only addressed RHD 1999–2001 vehicles. The following discussion applies equally to both LHD and RHD vehicles. That is because in this unique case, the original manufacturer of the vehicles certified as conforming to all applicable FMVSS both LHD and RHD versions of the substantially similar U.S.-certified models in model years 1997–2001. Moreover, the description of the modifications required to convert these vehicles do not differ with respect to the driver’s seating position. The agency notes that the petitions differed significantly with respect to the need for alterations to conform the vehicles to applicable FMVSS. ABL did not indicate the need for any alterations other than adding labeling to meet the requirements of 49 CFR part 565, while USDR contended that the vehicles must be altered in order to meet Standards No. 101, 108, 120 and 208 and 49 CFR part 565. A complete description of the alterations described by the two petitioners can be found in the notice of petition. To reconcile these differences, the agency has decided that all vehicles covered by this decision must be examined for compliance with Standards No. 101, 108, 120 and 208 as well as 49 CFR Part 565 and that RIs must demonstrate, in the conformity statements submitted for any vehicle imported under this eligibility decision, that each vehicle either conformed to the standard as originally manufactured or has been altered to conform by the RI. Final Decision Accordingly, on the basis of the foregoing, NHTSA has decided that nonconforming 1997 and 1998 LHD and 1997 through 2001 RHD Jeep Cherokee MPVs that were not originally manufactured to comply with all applicable FMVSS are substantially similar to nonconforming 1997 and 1998 LHD and 1997 through 2001 RHD Jeep Cherokee MPVs originally manufactured for sale in the United States and certified under 49 U.S.C. 30115, and are capable of being readily altered to conform to all applicable FMVSS. Vehicle Eligibility Number for Subject Vehicles The importer of a vehicle admissible under any final decision must indicate on the form HS–7 accompanying entry the appropriate vehicle eligibility number indicating that the vehicle is eligible for entry. VSP–516 is the vehicle eligibility number assigned to 1997 and 1998 LHD Jeep Cherokee E:\FR\FM\06MRN1.SGM 06MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 43 (Friday, March 6, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9867-9868]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4805]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 6538]


Meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council (EAC) of the 
Dominican Republic--Central America--United States Free Trade Agreement 
(CAFTA-DR)

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Department of State and the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative (USTR) are providing notice that, as set forth in 
Chapter 17 (Environment) of the Dominican Republic-Central America-
United States Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR), the CAFTA-DR governments 
intend to hold the fourth meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council 
(the ``Council'') in San Jose, Costa Rica on March 10, 2009. The 
Council will hold an information session for members of the public on 
March 10, 2009, from 2-4 p.m. in the Ramada Herradura Hotel, facing the 
General Ca[ntilde]as Highway, five kilometers south of the Juan 
Santamaria International Airport. The purpose of the Council meetings 
is detailed below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    The meeting agenda will include a review of issues concerning 
implementation of the Environment Chapter, review and formal adoption 
of Working Procedures and a Public Outreach Plan for the Secretariat 
for Environmental Matters Under the CAFTA-DR (``Secretariat''), 
appointment of a new General Coordinator for the Secretariat, and 
presentations of various accomplishments under the CAFTA-DR 
Environmental Cooperation Program.
    The Department of State and USTR invite interested agencies, 
organizations, and members of the public to submit written comments or 
suggestions regarding agenda items and to attend the public session. In 
preparing comments, we encourage submitters to refer to the CAFTA-DR 
Environment Chapter and the Final Environment Review of the CAFTA-DR 
(available at https://www.ustr.gov) and the Environmental Cooperation 
Agreement (ECA) (available at https://www.state.gov/g/oes/env/ trade/).

DATES: To be assured of timely consideration, submit comments on or 
before March 9, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions should be submitted to both: 
(1) Rachel Kastenberg, Department of State, Bureau of Oceans, 
Environment, and Science, Office of Environmental Policy by electronic 
mail at kastenbergRL@state.gov with the subject line ``CAFTA-DR EAC 
Meeting'' or by fax to (202) 647-5947; and (2) Mara M. Burr, Deputy 
Assistant United States Trade Representative for Environment and 
Natural Resources, Office of the United States Trade Representative by 
electronic mail at mburr@ustr.eop.gov with the subject line ``CAFTA-DR 
EAC Meeting'' or by fax to (202) 395-9517.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Kastenberg, Telephone (202) 
647-9266 or Mara M. Burr, Telephone (202) 395-7320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Article 17.5 of Chapter 17 of CAFTA-DR 
establishes an Environmental Affairs Council (the ``Council''). Article 
17.5 requires the Council to meet at least once a year, unless the 
Parties otherwise agree, to discuss the implementation of, and 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 of the Chapter, 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 
notes that the Parties have negotiated an Environmental Cooperation 
Agreement (ECA) that sets out certain priority areas of cooperation on 
environmental activities. These priority areas are reflected in Annex 
17.9 and include, among other things, conserving and managing shared, 
migratory, and endangered species in international trade; exchanging 
information on domestic implementation of multilateral environmental 
agreements that all the Parties have ratified; and strengthening each 
Party's environmental management systems, including reinforcing 
institutional and legal frameworks and the capacity to develop, 
implement, administer, and enforce environmental laws, regulations, 
standards, and polices.
    At its fourth meeting, the Council will, among other things, (1) 
Review of issues concerning implementation of Chapter 17; (2) appoint a 
new General Coordinator for the Secretariat; (3) review and adopt the 
Secretariat's Working Procedures and Public

[[Page 9868]]

Outreach Plan; and (4) review the status of cooperative environmental 
activities the Parties are implementing consistent with the CAFTA-DR 
ECA.
    The public is advised to refer to the State Department Web site at 
https://www.state.gov/g/oes/env/ and the USTR Web site at https://
www.ustr.gov for further information.

    Dated: February 27, 2009.
Daniel T. Fantozzi,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Department of State.
[FR Doc. E9-4805 Filed 3-5-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-09-P
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