[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 34 (Friday, February 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8611-8612]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4364]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[I.D. 010698C]
International Whaling Commission; Meetings
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of public meetings.
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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: March 6, 1998, 2:00 p.m. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for
additional information and tentative dates of additional interagency
meetings in 1998.
ADDRESSES: The March 6, 1998, meeting will be held in Room 1863,
Herbert C. Hoover Building, Department of Commerce, 14th and
Constitution, Washington, DC. Copies of nominations for the U.S.
Delegation to the May IWC meetings should be sent to Catherine Corson,
Office of Protected Resources, NMFS, 13th floor, SSMC3, 1315 East West
Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Corson, telephone: (301)
713-2322.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The March 6, 1998, Interagency Committee
meeting will review recent events relating to the IWC and will review
the agenda for the 1998 IWC annual meeting.
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 by other
interested agencies.
Each year, NOAA conducts meetings and other activities to prepare
for the annual meeting of the IWC. The major purpose of the preparatory
meetings is to provide input in the development of policy by
individuals 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 and to
establish the necessary basis for the relatively open process of
preparing for IWC meetings that characterizes current practices.
Tentative Meeting Schedule
The tentative schedule of additional meetings and deadlines,
including those of the IWC, during 1998 follows. Confirmation of
Interagency Committee meeting times, dates and locations will be
provided in future Federal Register notices.
March 1, 1998: Nominations for the U.S. Delegation to the May IWC
meetings are due to the U.S.
[[Page 8612]]
Commissioner, with a copy to Catherine Corson (see ADDRESSES). All
persons wishing to be considered for 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 advisers to the Delegation should
contact the Department of State directly.
April 23, 1998: 2:00 p.m., Room 1863, Herbert C. Hoover Building,
Department of Commerce, 14th and Constitution, Washington, DC:
Tentative Interagency Committee meeting to review recent events
relating to the IWC and to review U.S. positions for the 1998 IWC
annual meeting.
April 27 to May 9, 1998 (Oman): IWC Scientific Committee Meeting.
May 11 to 20, 1998 (Oman): IWC 50th Annual Meeting.
Special Accommodations
Department of Commerce meetings are physically accessible to people
with disabilities. Requests for sign language interpretation or other
auxiliary aids should be directed to Catherine Corson at least 5 days
prior to the meeting date.
Dated: February 17, 1998.
Patricia Montanio,
Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 98-4364 Filed 2-17-98; 3:44 pm]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-F
