[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6731-6732]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1834]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice No. 3553]
Bureau of Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific
Affairs; Public Meeting To Discuss Recently Completed Negotiations on
an International Agreement Through the United Nations Environment
Program (UNEP) on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
SUMMARY: The United States Government, through an interagency working
group chaired by the U.S. Department of State, participated in the
successful fifth negotiating session on a global agreement to address
the release of certain POPs. The Department of State will host a public
meeting for interested parties, including
[[Page 6732]]
environmental non-governmental organizations and industry
representatives on Tuesday, January 30, 2001, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00
a.m. in Room 1408 of the U.S. Department of State, 2201 C Street NW,
Washington, DC. To arrange for 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, January 29, 2000. Attendees should
enter the C Street entrance and bring picture identification with them.
For further information, please contact Dr. Marie Ricciardone, U.S.
Department of State, Office of Environmental Policy (OES/ENV), Room
4325, 2201 C Street NW, Washington DC 20520, phone 202-736-4660, fax
202-647-5947, e-mail RicciardoneMD@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
POPs chemicals. The treaty will in the first instance deal with twelve
substances: aldrin, endrin, hexachlorobenzene, 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.
The global agreement is an ambitious undertaking, since it
encompasses a broad range of measures to address POPs of transboundary
concern. These range from controls on production and use for commercial
chemicals, restrictions 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 manufacture and use of these
substances have been restricted, and the effects are likely to be far-
reaching.
Since the U.S. and other developed countries have already taken
actions on these chemicals, a major goal for the agreement is broad
participation by developing countries and, consequently, meaningful
reductions in the amount of pollutants that are released into the
environment. A critical part of the agreement is the technical and
financial assistance mechanisms to help developing countries
effectively implement their obligations.
Timetable and Point of Contact
The public meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 20, 2001 from
10 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Room 1408 of the U.S. Department of State. Some
members of the interagency working group who participated in the
negotiation will provide an overview of the fifth 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 the conclusion of these negotiations, and have an
opportunity to offer comments. Those organizations or individuals which
cannot attend the 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: January 16, 2001.
Daniel T. Fantozzi,
Director, Office of Environmental Policy, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 01-1834 Filed 1-19-01; 8:45 am]
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