[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
