Request for Public Comments Regarding the Interim Environmental Review of the WTO Environmental Goods Agreement, 73191 [2016-25636]

Agencies

• Office of the United States Trade Representative

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 205 (Monday, October 24, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 73191]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25636]


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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

[Docket Number USTR-2016-0022]


Request for Public Comments Regarding the Interim Environmental 
Review of the WTO Environmental Goods Agreement

AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), 
on behalf of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), invites written 
comments from the public on the interim environmental review of the 
proposed WTO Environmental Goods Agreement (EGA). The interim 
environmental review will be available at https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/environment/environmental-reviews.

DATES: Written comments are due by 11:59 p.m. on November 21, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You should submit written comments through the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal (https://www.regulations.gov) using docket number 
USTR-2016-0022. Follow the instructions for submitting comments in 
section II below. USTR strongly encourages filing submissions 
electronically. For alternatives to on-line submissions, please contact 
Yvonne Jamison (202-395-3475) before transmitting a comment and in 
advance of the relevant deadline.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct questions regarding the 
submission of comments to Yvonne Jamison at (202) 395-3475. Direct 
questions concerning the interim environmental review to William 
McElnea at (202) 395-7320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Background

    Executive Order 13141, Environmental Review of Trade Agreements, 
and its implementing guidelines, 64 FR 63169, Nov. 18, 1999, and 65 FR 
79442, Dec. 19, 2000, respectively, provide for the conduct of 
environmental reviews of certain international trade agreements. The 
Executive Order and guidelines are available at: https://ustr.gov/issue-areas/environment/environmental-reviews. 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 Order and Guidelines. USTR, 
through the TPSC, is responsible for conducting the individual reviews.

II. 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 
Interim Environmental Review.'' In order to be assured of 
consideration, comments should be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on November 
21, 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-2016-0022 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 
Regulations.gov'' on the bottom 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. If a document is attached, it is sufficient to 
type ``See attached'' in the ``Type Comment'' field. 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 also must 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 comments themselves. 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 
www.regulations.gov. Any alternative arrangements must be made with 
Yvonne Jamison in advance of transmitting a comment. You can contact 
Ms. Jamison 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,
Chair of the Trade Policy Staff Committee, Office of the United States 
Trade Representative.
[FR Doc. 2016-25636 Filed 10-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3290-F7-P