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[Federal Register: March 9, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 47)] [Notices] [Page 12611] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr09mr00-168] [[Page 12611]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice No. 3240] Bureau of Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs; Public Meeting To Discuss Preparations for Negotiations on an International Agreement Through the United Nations Environment Program on Persistent Organic Pollutants SUMMARY: The United States government, through an interagency working group chaired by the U.S. Department of State, is preparing for the fourth in a series of negotiations through the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) on a global agreement to address certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that result in risks of a transboundary nature. The fourth negotiating session is scheduled to take place in Bonn, Germany, on March 20-25, 2000. The Department of State will host a public meeting in advance of this session to outline issues likely to arise in the context of the negotiations. The public meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 14, 2000, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Room 1408 of the U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW, Washington, D.C. To expedite their entrance into the building, attendees should provide to Eunice Mourning of the Office of Environmental Policy, U.S. Department of State (tel. 202-647-9266, fax 202-647-5947) their name, organization, date of birth and Social Security number by noon on Monday, February 13, 2000. Attendees should enter the C Street entrance and bring picture identification with them. For further information, please contact Ms. Cornelia Weierbach, U.S. Department of State, Office of Environmental Policy (OES/ENV), Room 4325, 2201 C Street NW, Washington DC 20520. Phone 202-647-4548, fax 202-647-5947, e-mail weierbachcm@state.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The UNEP POPs Negotiations The POPs treaty is the first global treaty to address in a comprehensive manner the risks to human health and the environment of chemicals and other pollutants. The treaty will in the first instance deal with twelve substances: Aldrin, Endrin, HCBs, Toxaphene, Chlordane, Dieldrin, Heptachlor, Mirex, DDT, PCBs, dioxins and furans. These substances fall into three categories: pesticides, industrial chemicals, and unintended by-products of combustion and industrial processes. These global negotiations are an ambitious undertaking, since they encompass a broad range of measures to address POPs of transboundary concern. These range from controls on production and use for commercial chemicals, controls on POPs wastes, and controls on by-products that come from combustion and industrial processes. For many countries, this will be the first time that these substances have been controlled, and the effects are likely to be far-reaching. Since the U.S. and other developed countries have already taken actions on these chemicals, major goals are broad participation in the agreement by developing countries and, consequently, meaningful reductions in the amount of pollutants that are released into the environment. A critical part of the agreement will be technical and financial assistance mechanisms to help developing countries effectively implement their obligations. Timetable and Point of Contact The POPs Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) expects to complete its work at its fifth session, which will take place in South Africa in fall 2000. In preparation for the fourth session of the INC, the Administration is preparing its position for the negotiation, and has scheduled a public meeting to be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2000 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Room 1408 of the U.S. Department of State. Members of the interagency working group who will participate in the proposed negotiation will provide an overview of U.S. preparations for the fourth session. The U.S. Department of State is issuing this notice to help ensure that interested and potentially affected parties are aware of and knowledgeable about these negotiations, and have an opportunity to offer comments. Those organizations/individuals which cannot attend the March 14, 2000 meeting, but wish to either submit a written comment or to remain informed, should provide Eunice Mourning of the Office of Environmental Policy, U.S. Department of State (phone 202-647-9266; fax 202-647-5947) with their statement and/or their name, organization, address, telephone and fax numbers, and their e-mail address. Dated: March 3, 2000. Daniel Fantozzi, Director, Office of Environmental Policy, Department of State. [FR Doc. 00-5647 Filed 3-8-00; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710-06-U [end of document]
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