Department of Homeland Security November 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) and Analysis to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting a revision of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0008, Regattas and Marine Parades. Before submitting this ICR to OMB, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a notice in the Federal Register on October 1, 2010, requesting comments on an initial small business plan to address small business concerns in the Voluntary Private Sector Accreditation and Certification Preparedness Program (PS-Prep Program). That notice did not contain a closing date for the comment period. This notice provides a closing date.

The Coast Guard proposes a permanent increase in security zone size from 100 yards (91 meters) to 500 yards (457 meters) on the navigable waters of San Francisco Bay, Delta Ports, Monterey Bay, and Humboldt Bay, CA. Security zones are necessary to effectively protect high value assets (HVAs) such as cruise ships, high interest vessels (HIV), or tankers, as defined in 33 CFR 165.1183. A security zone is only enforceable within the limits of that zone. The limitation of the 100 yard (91 meters) security zone hinders reaction time and the ability of the coxswains to determine the target of interest's (TOI) intent, properly assess the situation, and execute protective measures for HVAs. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within the temporary security zones unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or her designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of San Francisco Bay 1,500 feet off Yellow Bluff, Sausalito, CA during a fireworks display in support of the Richardson Ash Scattering. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of participants and spectators from the dangers associated with the pyrotechnics. Unauthorized persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission from the Captain of the Port or her designated representative.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has submitted the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission describes the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated burden (i.e., the time, effort and resources used by respondents to respond) and cost, and the actual data collection instruments FEMA will use.

This Notice announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) has extended the designation of Somalia for temporary protected status (TPS) for 18 months, from its current expiration date of March 17, 2011 through September 17, 2012. The Secretary has determined that an 18-month extension is warranted because conditions in Somalia prompting the TPS designation continue to be met. Armed conflict in Somalia is ongoing and, due to such conflict and other extraordinary and temporary conditions, requiring the return of eligible individuals with TPS to Somalia would pose a serious threat to their personal safety. This Notice also sets forth procedures necessary for nationals of Somalia (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Somalia) with TPS to re-register and to apply for an extension of their employment authorization documents (EADs) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Re-registration is limited to persons who previously registered for TPS under the designation of Somalia and whose applications have been granted or remain pending. Certain nationals of Somalia (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Somalia) who have not previously applied for TPS may be eligible to apply under the late initial registration provisions. Information on late initial registration can be found on the USCIS Web site at https://www.uscis.gov on the ``Temporary Protected Status'' homepage. USCIS will issue new EADs with a September 17, 2012 expiration date to eligible TPS beneficiaries who timely re-register and apply for EADs.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary special local regulations for the swim portions of ``Beach 2 Battleship Full and Half Iron Distance Triathlon,'' to be held on the waters adjacent to Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic on Banks, Motts, and Wrightsville Channels during the swimming portion of this event.

Comments are requested on the proposed Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and proposed BFE modifications for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the proposed regulatory flood elevations for the reach described by the downstream and upstream locations in the table below. The BFEs and modified BFEs are a part of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, these elevations, once finalized, will be used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents in those buildings.

Comments are requested on the proposed Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and proposed BFE modifications for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the proposed regulatory flood elevations for the reach described by the downstream and upstream locations in the table below. The BFEs and modified BFEs are a part of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, these elevations, once finalized, will be used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents in those buildings.

The Coast Guard published a final rule in the Federal Register on August 31, 2010 which created a security zone around the U.S. Coast Guard Base Support Unit Seattle, Pier 36, on Elliot Bay in Seattle, WA. This correction document provides more precise coordinates to match the geographic description of the zone provided in the final rule to better depict the boundaries of the security zone for charting purposes. This document makes that change to the subject final rule security zone which, as described in the preamble of the final rule, extends from the north western tip of Pier 36 across the inlet to the south western tip of Pier 36, effectively closing off the access point such that unauthorized vessels are prohibited from entering the pier.