[Federal Register: August 14, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 157)]
[Notices]
[Page 53035]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14au02-145]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Trade Policy Staff Committee; Notice of Availability and Request
for Public Comment on Draft Environmental Review of United States-
Singapore Free Trade Agreement
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment.
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SUMMARY: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), on behalf
of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), seeks comment on the draft
environmental review of the proposed U.S.-Singapore Free Trade
Agreement (FTA). The draft environmental review is available at http://
www.ustr.gov/environment/environmental.shtml. Copies of the review will
also be sent to interested members of the public by mail upon request.
DATES: Comments on the draft environmental review are requested by
September 20, 2002.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For procedural questions concerning
public comments, contact Gloria Blue, Executive Secretary, TPSC, Office
of the USTR, 1724 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20508, telephone (202)
395-3475. Questions concerning the environmental review, or requests
for copies, should be addressed to Alice Mattice or David Brooks,
Environment and Natural Resources Section, Office of the USTR,
telephone 202-395-7320.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive Order 13121--Environmental Review
of Trade Agreements (64 FR 63,169, Nov. 18, 1999) and its implementing
guidelines (65 FR 79,442, Dec. 19, 2000) require environmental reviews
of certain major trade agreements. The Trade Act of 2002, signed by the
President on August 6, 2002, provides that the President shall conduct
environmental reviews consistent with the Order and its relevant
guidelines, and report on such reviews to the Committee on Ways and
Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of
the Senate. The Order and guidelines are available at http://
www.ustr.gov/environment/environmental.shtml.
On November 29, 2000, at the outset of the negotiations, the TPSC
initiated the environmental review of the Singapore FTA and requested
public comments on the scope of the review, including the potential
environmental effects that might flow from the FTA and the potential
implications for environmental laws and regulations. See 65 FR 71,197
(Nov. 29, 2000); 65 FR 80,982 (Dec. 22, 2000) (extending public comment
period). Because the negotiating schedule proved to be more extended
than originally anticipated, the TPSC provided a supplemental
opportunity for public comments. See 67 FR 8833 (Feb. 26, 2002). The
TPSC also held a public hearing to discuss issues raised in connection
with the Singapore FTA, including environmental issues. See 67 FR 9349
(Feb. 28, 2002).
Written Comments
In order to facilitate prompt processing of submissions of
comments, the Office of the Unites States Trade Representative strongly
urges and prefers e-mail submissions in response to this notice.
Persons submitting comments by e-mail should use the following e-mail
address: FR0029@ustr.gov with the subject line: ``Singapore Draft
Environmental Review.'' Documents should be submitted as either
WordPerfect, MSWord, or text (.TXT) files. Persons who make submissions
by e-mail should not provide separate cover letters; information that
might appear in a cover letter should be included in the submission
itself. To the extent possible, any attachments to the submission
should be included in the same file as the submission itself, and not
as separate files. If submission by e-mail is impossible, comments
should be made by facsimile to (202) 395-6143, attention: Gloria Blue.
Written comments will be placed in a file open to public inspection
in the USTR Reading Room at 1724 F Street, NW., Washington DC. An
appointment to review the file may be made by calling (202) 395-6186.
The Reading Room is open to the public from 10-12 a.m. and from 1-4
p.m., Monday through Friday.
Carmen Suro-Bredie,
Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 02-20505 Filed 8-13-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3190-01-P