This diary is extremely short because I presently do not have any working knowledge of the issue of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. I'm too busy with other environmental issues and a roof reconstruction project to launch my brain into understanding TPP and what it means.
However, what motivates this posting is past awareness of how some DLC-like Democrats have promoted trade agreements in the past that had destructive effects and provisions for other Democrats, such as those concerned about labor and environment and other blue-green matters.
As a result, I wanted all of you to be aware of this notice appearing in today's Federal Register [reprinted below the fold in its entirety] that solicits public comments by a deadline of SEPTEMBER 25, 2013 for comments on the interim environmental review of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.
Since this is all being carried out on http://www.regulations.gov you'll be easily able to see other entities' comments after they have been submitted, plus all of the other materials in the docket established on this case that would have been placed in the docket by the U.S. Trade Representative.
Someone else other than me gets to go and understand this all and submit some comments appropriate for progressive DK Democrats.
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53183-53184]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20930]
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OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Request for Public Comments Regarding the Interim Environmental
Review of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
AGENCY: Office of the United States Trade Representative.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), on behalf
of the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), invites written comments
from the public on the interim environmental review of the proposed
Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP). The interim environmental
review will be available at:
http://www.ustr.gov/....
DATES: In order to be assured of consideration, comments should be
submitted not later than 11:59 p.m., September 25, 2013 to inform the
negotiations and the final environmental review of the agreement.
ADDRESSES: Submissions should be made via the Internet at
www.regulations.gov docket number USTR-2013-0028. For alternatives to
on-line submissions please contact Yvonne Jamison (202-395-3475). The
public is strongly encouraged to file submissions electronically rather
than by facsimile or mail.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions regarding the submission of
comments in response to this notice should be directed to Yvonne
Jamison at (202) 395-3475. Questions concerning the interim
environmental review should be addressed to David Oliver at (202) 395-
7320.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Trade Act of 2002 provides that the
President shall conduct environmental reviews of certain international
trade agreements consistent with Executive Order 13141-Environmental
Review of Trade Agreements (64 FR 63,169, Nov. 18, 1999) and its
implementing guidelines (65 FR 79,442, Dec. 19, 2000) and report on
such reviews to the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on
[[Page 53184]]
Finance of the Senate. The Executive Order and guidelines are available
at: http://www.ustr.gov/....
The purpose of environmental reviews is to ensure that policymakers and
the public are informed about reasonably foreseeable environmental
impacts of trade agreements (both positive and negative), to identify
complementarities between trade and environmental objectives, and to
help shape appropriate responses if environmental impacts are
identified. Reviews are intended to be one tool, among others, for
integrating environmental information and analysis into the fluid,
dynamic process of trade negotiations. USTR and the Council on
Environmental Quality jointly oversee implementation of the Order and
Guidelines. USTR, through the Trade Policy Staff Committee (TPSC), is
responsible for conducting the individual reviews.
Requirements for Submissions: Persons submitting comments must do
so in English and must indicate (on the first page of the submission)
``Comments Regarding the TPP Interim Environmental Review.'' In order
to be assured of consideration, comments should be submitted by 11:59
p.m., September 25, 2013. In order to ensure the timely receipt and
consideration of comments, USTR strongly encourages commenters to make
on-line submissions, using the www.regulations.gov Web site. To submit
comments via www.regulations.gov, enter docket number USTR-2013-0028 on
the home page and click ``search.'' The site will provide a search-
results page listing all documents associated with this docket. Find a
reference to this notice and click on the link entitled ``Comment
Now!'' (For further information on using the www.regulations.gov Web
site, please consult the resources provided on the Web site by clicking
on ``How to Use This Site'' on the left side of the home page).
The www.regulations.gov Web site allows users to provide comments
by filling in a ``Type Comment'' field, or by attaching a document
using an ``Upload File'' field. USTR prefers that comments be provided
in an attached document. USTR prefers submissions in Microsoft Word
(.doc) or Adobe Acrobat (.pdf). If the submission is in an application
other than those two, please indicate the name of the application in
the ``Type Comment'' field.
For any comments submitted electronically containing business
confidential information, the file name of the business confidential
version should begin with the characters ``BC''. Any page containing
business confidential information must be clearly marked ``BUSINESS
CONFIDENTIAL'' on the top of that page. Filers of submissions
containing business confidential information must also submit a public
version of their comments. The file name of the public version should
begin with the character ``P''. The ``BC'' and ``P'' should be followed
by the name of the person or entity submitting the comments. Filers
submitting comments containing no business confidential information
should name their file using the name of the person or entity
submitting the comments.
Please do not attach separate cover letters to electronic
submissions; rather, include any information that might appear in a
cover letter in the comments themselves. Similarly, to the extent
possible, please include any exhibits, annexes, or other attachments in
the same file as the submission itself, not as separate files.
As noted, USTR strongly urges submitters to file comments through
the www.regulations.gov Web site if at all possible. Any alternative
arrangements must be made with Ms. Jamison in advance of transmitting a
comment. Ms. Jamison may be contacted at (202) 395-3475. General
information concerning USTR is available at www.ustr.gov.
Comments will be placed in the docket and open to public
inspection, except business confidential information. Comments may be
viewed on the www.regulations.gov Web site by entering the relevant
docket number in the search field on the home page.
William Shpiece,
Acting Chair, Trade Policy Staff Committee.
[FR Doc. 2013-20930 Filed 8-27-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3290-F3-P