Department of State March 19, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 eighth meeting of the Environmental Affairs Council (Council) established under Chapter 17 of that agreement in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 2 and 3, 2014 at Tulane University Law School. The purpose of the Council meeting is to review implementation of Chapter 17 (Environment) of CAFTA-DR. All interested persons are invited to attend a public session beginning at 9:30 a.m. on April 3, 2014. During the Council meeting, Council Members will discuss progress in implementing Chapter 17 obligations and the results of environmental cooperation in their respective countries. The Council will also hear presentations from the CAFTA-DR Secretariat for Environmental Matters (SEM) and the Organization of American States (OAS). At the public session, the Council will highlight issues discussed during the Council meeting, with a particular focus on Chapter 17 obligations and environmental cooperation. All interested persons are invited to attend the public session where they will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss implementation of Chapter 17 and environmental cooperation. In addition, the SEM will present on the public submission process established under Chapter 17 and the OAS will present on environmental cooperation activities. More information on the Council is included below under Supplementary Information. The Department of State and Office of the United States Trade Representative invite written comments or suggestions regarding the meeting. We encourage those considering submitting comments to refer to Chapter 17 of CAFTA-DR, the Final Environmental Review of CAFTA-DR, and the Agreement among the CAFTA-DR countries on Environmental Cooperation Activities. (All documents are available at https://www.state.gov/e/oes/ eqt/trade/caftadr/index.htm.)