[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 123 (Thursday, June 26, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34441-34442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-16773]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 061297A]


International Whaling Commission: Meetings

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: NOAA makes use of a public Interagency Committee to assist in 
preparing for meetings of the International Whaling Commission (IWC). 
This notice sets forth guidelines for participating on the Committee 
and a tentative schedule of meetings and other important dates.

DATES: See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for dates of scheduled meetings.

ADDRESSES: Recommendations to the U.S. Commissioner to the IWC and 
nominations to the U.S. delegation to the IWC should be sent to: Dr. D. 
James Baker, Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, Department of 
Commerce, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 14th and Constitution Avenue, 
NW., Washington, D.C. 20230, with a copy sent to Angela Somma, NMFS, 
1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angela Somma, Office of Protected 
Resources, NMFS, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, (301) 
713-2319.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Secretary of Commerce is charged with 
the responsibility of discharging the obligations of the United States 
under the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, 1946. 
This authority has been delegated to the Under Secretary for Oceans and 
Atmosphere, who is also the U.S. Commissioner to the IWC. The U.S. 
Commissioner has primary responsibility for the preparation and 
negotiation of U.S. positions on international issues concerning 
whaling and for all matters involving the IWC. He is staffed by the 
Department of Commerce and assisted by the Department of State, the 
Department of the Interior, the Marine Mammal Commission, and other 
interested agencies.
    Each year, NOAA conducts meetings and other actions to prepare for 
the annual meeting of the IWC. The major purpose of the preparatory 
meetings is to provide for input in the development of policy by 
members of the public and non-governmental organizations interested in 
whale conservation. NOAA believes that this participation is important 
for the effective development and implementation of U.S. policy 
concerning whaling. Any person with an identifiable interest in United 
States whale conservation policy may participate in the meetings, but 
NOAA reserves the authority to inquire about the interest of any person 
who appears at a meeting and to determine the appropriateness of that 
person's participation. Foreign nationals and persons who represent 
foreign governments may not attend. These stringent measures are 
necessary to promote the candid exchange of information. Such measures 
are a necessary basis for the relatively open process of preparing for 
IWC meetings that characterizes current practice.
    The tentative schedule of meetings and deadlines, including those 
of the IWC and deadlines for the preparation of position papers during 
1994 is as follows:
    August 1, 1997--Nominations for the U.S. Delegation to the May IWC 
meetings are due to the U.S. Commissioner, with a copy to Angela Somma 
at the address above. All persons wishing to be considered pursuant to 
the U.S. Commissioner's recommendation to the Department of State 
concerning the composition of the delegation should ensure that 
nominations are received by this date. Prospective Congressional 
advisors to the Delegation should contact the Department of State 
directly.
    September 9, 1997 (2:00 PM, Room 6009, Herbert C. Hoover Building, 
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution, Washington, D.C.)--
Tentative Interagency Committee meeting date to review recent events

[[Page 34442]]

relating to the IWC and to review U.S. positions for the 1997 IWC 
meetings.
    September 26 - October 11, 1997--Scientific Committee of the IWC 
meets in Bournemouth, UK.
    October 17 - 24, 1997, Monaco--49th Annual Meeting of the 
International Whaling Commission.

    Dated: June 23, 1997.
Joe Blum,
Acting Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 97-16773 Filed 6-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F