2. PUBLIC WORKSHOP-CONFERENCE

The FTC staff will conduct a Public Workshop-Conference to discuss written comments received in response to this Notice of Request for Public Comment. The purpose of the conference is to afford Commission staff and interested parties a further opportunity to openly discuss and explore issues raised in the guideline review process, and, in particular, to examine publicly areas of significant controversy or divergent opinions that are raised in the written comments. The conference is not intended to achieve a consensus of opinion among participants or between participants and Commission staff with respect to any issue raised in the guide review process. Commission staff will consider and review the comments made during the conference, in conjunction with the written comments, in formulating its final recommendation to the Commission concerning the guide review.

Commission staff will select a limited number of parties, to represent the significant interests affected by the guideline review. These parties will participate in an open discussion of the issues.

In addition, the conference will be open to the general public. Members of the general public who attend the conference may have an opportunity to make a brief oral statement presenting their views on issues raised in the guide review process. Oral statements of views by members of the general public will be limited to a few minutes in length. The time allotted for these statements will be determined on the basis of the time allotted for discussion of the issues by the selected parties, as well as the number of persons who wish to make statements.

Written submissions of views, or any other written or visual materials, will not be accepted during the conference. The discussion will be transcribed and the transcription placed on the public record.

To the extent possible, Commission staff will select parties to represent the following affected interests: individual manufacturers and trade associations whose members are involved with environmental marketing issues; consumer and environmental organizations; federal, state and local governmental authorities with experience in environmental issues; and academics or polling firms involved in the area of environmental claims.

Parties to represent the above-referenced interests will be selected on the basis of the following criteria:

1. The party submits a written comment on or before September 29, 1995.
2. The party notifies Commission staff of its interest and authorization to represent an affected interest on or before August 30, 1995.
3. The party's participation would promote a balance of interests being represented at the conference.
4. The party's participation would promote the consideration and discussion of a variety of issues raised in the guide review process.
5. The party has expertise in activities possibly affected by the review of the existing guides.
6. The number of parties selected will not be so large as to inhibit effective discussion among them.

Parties interested in participating and authorized to represent an affected interest at the conference must notify Commission staff on or before August 30, 1995. Prior to the conference, parties selected to represent an affected interest will be provided with computer disks containing copies of comments received in response to this notice by the close of the comment period. The Public Workshop-Conference will be held on November 13 and 14, 1995.

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