Federal Register: March 25, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 57)
DOCID: fr25mr10-106 FR Doc 2010-6653
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Trade Representative, Office of United States
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr25mr10-106
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of intent to conduct an environmental review of the proposed TransPacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement and request for comments.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Request for Comments Concerning an Environmental Review of the Proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement
DATES: Written comments are due by June 1, 2010.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
This publication gives notice that the Office of the United
States Trade Representative (USTR), through the Trade Policy Staff
Committee (TPSC), is initiating an environmental review of the proposed
TransPacific Partnership Trade Agreement (TPP) between the United
States and the other countries currently involved in TPP negotiations.
The TPSC is requesting written comments from the public on what should
be included in the scope of the environmental review, including the
potential environmental effects that might flow from the trade
agreement and the potential implications for U.S. environmental laws
and regulations. The TPSC is also requesting identification of potential
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complementarities between trade and environmental objectives such as
the promotion of sustainable development. The TPSC also welcomes public
views on appropriate methodologies and sources of data for conducting
the review. The review will be conducted consistent with the relevant
procedures of Executive Order 13141 (64 FR 63169) (Nov. 18, 1999) and
its implementing guidelines (65 FR 79442). Persons submitting written
comments should provide as much detail as possible on the degree to
which the subject matter they propose for inclusion in the review may
raise significant environmental issues in the context of the
negotiation. Public comments on environmental issues submitted in
response to a previous notice (74 FR 66720) requesting comments from
the public to assist USTR in formulating positions and proposals with
respect to all aspects of the negotiation of a TransPacific
Partnership Trade Agreement will be taken into account in preparing the
environmental review and do not need to be resubmitted.
SUMMARY:
Request for Comments Concerning an Environmental Review of the Proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade Agreement
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
1. Background Information
On December 14, 2009, USTR notified Congress of the President's intent to enter into negotiations of the TransPacific Partnership, a regional, AsiaPacific trade agreement. The United States is entering into negotiations with the TransPacific Partnership countries (Singapore, Chile, New Zealand, Brunei Darussalam, Australia, Peru and Vietnam) with the goal of shaping a highstandard, 21st century, regional agreement that will have broadbased membership. Through notices in the Federal Register and a public hearing (held March 4, 2009 in Washington, DC), the TPSC invited the public to provide written comments and/or oral testimony to assist USTR in amplifying and clarifying negotiating objectives for the proposed TPP and to provide advice on how specific goods and services and other matters should be treated under the proposed agreement (see 74 FR 4480; 74 FR 66720). Additional information about the proposed TransPacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement can be found at http://www.ustr.gov/tpp. 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). Environmental reviews are used to identify potentially significant, reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts (both positive and negative), and information from the review can help facilitate consideration of appropriate responses where impacts are identified. Reviews address potential environmental impacts of the proposed agreement and potential implications for environmental laws and regulations. The focus of the review is on impacts in the United States, although global and trans boundary impacts may be considered, where appropriate and prudent.
Environmental reviews were conducted for bilateral free trade agreements concluded with a number of TPP negotiating partners. Environmental reviews for the U.S.Singapore FTA, the U.S.Chile FTA, the U.S.Australia FTA and the U.S.Peru Trade Promotion Agreement are available on the USTR Web site: http://www.ustr.gov/tradetopics/ environment/environmentalreviews. These reviews provide background information on the FTA partner, information on traderelated environmental issues in the context of the bilateral free trade agreement, as well as information on the approach to conducting environmental reviews.
3. Requirements for Submissions
Persons submitting comments must do so in English and must identify (on the first page of the submission) the ``United StatesTransPacific Partnership Trade Agreement.'' In order to be assured of consideration, comments should be submitted by June 1, 2010.
In order to ensure the timely receipt and consideration of comments, USTR strongly encourages commenters to make online submissions, using the http://www.regulations.gov Web site. Comments should be submitted under the following docket: USTR20100010. To find the docket, enter the docket number in the ``Enter Keyword or ID'' window at the http://www.regulations.gov home page and click ``Search.'' The site will provide a searchresults page listing all documents associated with this docket. Find a reference to this notice by selecting ``Notices'' under ``Document Type'' on the searchresults page, and click on the link entitled ``Submit a Comment.'' (For further information on using the http://www.regulations.gov Web site, please consult the resources provided on the website by clicking on the ``Help'' tab.)
The http://www.regulations.gov Web site provides the option of making submissions by filling in a comments field, or by attaching a document. USTR prefers submissions to be provided in an attached document. If a document is attached, it is sufficient to type ``See attached'' in the ``Type comment & Upload File'' 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 ``Comments'' 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 or reply comments. Filers submitting comments containing no business confidential information should name their file using the character ``P'', followed by 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.
USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through http://
www.regulations.gov, if at all possible. Any alternative arrangements
must be made with Ms. Blue in advance of transmitting a comment. Ms. Blue should be contacted at (202) 3953475.
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General information concerning USTR is available at http:// www.ustr.gov.
Carmen SuroBredie,
Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 20106653 Filed 32410; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190W0P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
For procedural questions concerning written comments, please contact Gloria Blue at the above number. All other questions regarding the environmental review of the TPP trade agreement should be directed to David Brooks, Environment and Natural Resources Section, USTR, at (202) 3957320.