| Montreal, 31/07/2000 – The Joint Public Advisory Committee (JPAC) of the North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is seeking public comment on two subjects relating to the CEC's Citizen Submissions on Enforcement Matters mechanism. One subject for public comment is a proposed process for public review of issues concerning the implementation and further elaboration of Articles 14 and 15 of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC). The other involves a public review of the history of the submission process with a view to identifying lessons learned.
JPAC was tasked to pursue these matters by CEC Council Resolution 00-09 adopted at the seventh regular session of Council, held in Dallas, Texas, in June.
Under Article 14 of the NAAEC, the CEC may consider a submission from any person or nongovernmental organization asserting that a Party to NAAEC is failing to enforce its environmental law effectively. With Council approval, this can launch a process that leads to further investigation of the matter and the publication of findings in a factual record, as provided under NAAEC Article 15.
Comments on Process for Public Review of Issues
A document entitled "Draft JPAC Public Review of Issues Concerning the Implementation and Further Elaboration of Articles 14 and 15" can be found on the JPAC page. It outlines the process and steps that JPAC proposes to follow in its review of issues referred to it by Council. JPAC seeks to ensure that the process be transparent, fair and expeditious, and invites public comment on the draft document to that end. JPAC members will finalize this document based on the public comments received during their regular session on 13–14 October, in Washington, DC. The public is invited to attend the regular session and exchange views with JPAC members on this draft document. The agenda of this JPAC regular session is now available.
Comments on Submissions History Leading to Lessons Learned
The public is also invited to provide comments on the Citizen Submissions process in general, as it has been implemented over its five-year history, or on the experience with any submission that has moved through the process. Through this call for comments, a second one planned for early in 2001, and two public workshops, JPAC will gather public input which it will analyze as it develops a report identifying lessons learned throughout the history of the submissions process.
Public Workshops on Submissions History-Lessons Learned
A first public workshop on Submissions History-Lessons Learned will take place on 7 December 2000 in conjunction with JPAC's Regular Session of 7-8 December 2000, in Montreal, Quebec. Financial assistance will be provided for the participation in this workshop of five individuals from each country representing various groups and interests. These participants will be selected by a JPAC working group in October from among those who have contributed comments during this first call for public comments. Participants selected will be so advised by the end of October.
A second public workshop on Submissions History-Lessons Learned is planned in conjunction with the Council session in June 2001 in Mexico.
Deadline for Comments
Please assure that your comments on the Draft JPAC Public Review of Issues Concerning the Implementation and Further Elaboration of Articles 14 and 15 and the Submissions History-Lessons Learned are submitted by 22 September 2000. Please include your name, firm or organization, address, telephone and fax numbers as well as e-mail address. Comments may be sent to Manon Pepin, JPAC Liaison Officer, by e-mail at mpepin@ccemtl.org, or by fax or mail to either Montreal or Mexico City at the addresses below:
|
Joint Public Advisory Committee
Commission for Environmental Cooperation
393 St. Jacques West
Suite 200
Montreal, Quebec H2Y 1N9
Fax: (514) 350-4314 |
Comité Consultivo Público Conjunto
Comisión para la Cooperación Ambiental
Progreso No. 3
Viveros de Coyoacán
México, D.F. 04110
Fax: (525) 659-5023 |
The CEC was established by Canada, Mexico and the United States to build cooperation among the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners in implementing the NAAEC, the environmental side accord to NAFTA. The CEC addresses environmental issues of continental concern, with particular attention to the environmental challenges and opportunities presented by continent-wide free trade.
The Council, the CEC's governing body, is composed of the federal environment ministers (or the equivalent) of the three countries, and meets once a year. Attending the seventh session of Council were Canadian Environment Minister David Anderson, Mexican Secretary for the Environment, Natural Resources and Fisheries Julia Carabias Lillo, and US Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Carol M. Browner.
JPAC is a 15-member, independent, volunteer body that provides advice and public input to Council on any matter within the scope of NAAEC. | 
