00-11550. International Whaling Commission; Meetings

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice of public meetings.

SUMMARY:

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

DATES:

The May 17, 2000, Interagency Meeting will be held at 2:00 p.m. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for tentative 2000 meeting schedules.

ADDRESSES:

The May 17, 2000, meeting will be held in Room B841-B, Herbert C. Hoover Building, Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C. 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Cathy Campbell, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

The purpose of the May 17, 2000, Interagency Committee meeting is to review recent events relating to the IWC and to discuss the draft agenda and U.S. positions for the 2000 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. The U.S. Commissioner to the IWC 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 2000 follows. Specific locations and times will be published in the Federal Register.

May 17, 2000 (Rm B841-B, Herbert C. Hoover Building, Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.): Interagency Committee meeting to review recent events relating to the IWC and to discuss the draft agenda and U.S. positions for the 2000 IWC annual meeting.

June 5, 2000 (Rm B841-A, Herbert C. Hoover Building, Department of Commerce, 14th Street and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C.): Interagency Committee meeting to review recent events relating to the IWC and to review U.S. positions for the 2000 IWC annual meeting.

June 12-13, 2000 (Adelaide, Australia): IWC Scientific Committee Working Groups and Sub-committees.

June 14-26, 2000 (Adelaide, Australia): IWC Scientific Committee.

June 28-July 1, 2000 (Adelaide, Australia): IWC Commission Committees, Sub-committees and Working Groups.

July 3-6, 2000 (Adelaide, Australia): IWC 52^nd 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 Cathy Campbell (see FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT) at least 5 days prior to the meeting date.

Dated: April 27, 2000.

Don Knowles,

Director, Office Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service.