Department of Homeland Security 2024 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of the Chief Information Office (OCIO) within Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) will submit the following Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0031, Plan Approval and Records for Electrical Engineering RegulationsTitle 46 CFR Subchapter J; without change. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a safety zone for certain waters of the Biscayne Bay. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Homestead, FL, during a recurring military exercises that would be enforced approximately 8-12 times per year. The exercises will include military aircraft and watercraft that may pose a danger to the public. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Miami or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

On January 19, 2024, FEMA published in the Federal Register a notice describing the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program application process, deadlines, and award selection criteria pursuant to the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as amended. This notice explained the differences, if any, between these guidelines and those recommended by representatives of the national fire service leadership during the annual meeting of the Criteria Development Panel (CDP), which was held July 18-19, 2023. This notice also announced the application period for the FY 2023 AFG Program, which is Jan. 29, 2024-March 8, 2024, and was also announced on the FEMA AFG Program website at https://www.fema.gov/grants/ preparedness/firefighters, as well as at https://www.grants.gov. This notice provides a correction to this information to be used in lieu of the information published January 19, 2024.

In accordance with the statutory provisions enacted by the Great Lakes Pilotage Act of 1960, the Coast Guard is issuing new pilotage rates for the 2024 shipping season. This rule adjusts the pilotage rates to account for changes in district operating expenses, an increase in the number of pilots, and anticipated inflation. These changes, when combined, result in a 7-percent net increase in pilotage costs compared to the 2023 season.

The Board of Visitors for the National Fire Academy (Board) will meet virtually on Monday, April 22, 2024. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is establishing two temporary safety zones on the waters of the Delaware River, in portions of Marcus Hook Range and Anchorage 7 off Marcus Hook Range. The safety zones temporarily restrict vessel traffic from transiting or anchoring in portions of the Delaware River while maintenance dredging is being conducted within the Delaware River. The safety zones are needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from hazards created by dredging operations. Entry of vessels or persons into these zones is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) or his designated representatives.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is modifying its regulations to reduce the frequency of renewal applications by indirect air carriers (IACs). Rather than requiring these entities to submit an application to renew their security program each year, TSA now requires renewal once every 3 years. This modification reduces the burden of compliance without a negative impact on security.

The Coast Guard is modifying a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railroad Bridge, across the Okeechobee Waterway (OWW), mile 7.41, at Stuart, Florida. This modification tests an alternate temporary deviation to determine if the updated mobile application and simplified drawbridge opening requirements are reliable and predictable and will meet the reasonable needs of navigation and competing modes of transportation given the increase in railway activity. The Coast Guard is seeking comments from the public regarding this deviation.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Illinois (FEMA-4749-DR), dated November 20, 2023, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Washington (FEMA-4539-DR), dated April 23, 2020, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Tennessee (FEMA-4751-DR), dated December 13, 2023, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Kansas (FEMA-4747-DR), dated October 26, 2023, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Washington (FEMA-4682-DR), dated January 12, 2023, and related determinations.

FEMA gives notice that the statewide per capita indicator for recommending cost share adjustments for major disasters declared on or after January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024 is $179.

The Coast Guard is modifying the operating schedule that governs the Roosevelt (US1) Bridge, across the Okeechobee Waterway, mile 7.5, at Stuart, FL. This action is necessary to allow the drawbridge to operate on demand, as outlined in the Record of Decision for the high-level fixed US1 Roosevelt Bridge which was constructed in 1997. Additionally, with the increase in railway activity on the adjacent railroad bridge, this modification will allow the drawbridges to operate in concert. The drawbridge name in the existing regulation is incorrect and will be changed in this Final Rule.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone in the navigable waters of Suisun Bay, off Concord, CA, in support of explosive handling operations at Military Ocean Terminal Concord, CA (MOTCO), on February 2, 2024, through February 9, 2024. This safety zone is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential explosion within the explosive arc. The safety zone is open to all persons and vessels for transitory use, but vessel operators desiring to anchor or otherwise loiter within the safety zone must obtain permission of the Captain of the Port (COTP) San Francisco or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard announced a series of public meetings to solicit feedback on the potential environmental impact of shipping safety fairways along the Atlantic coast. The time of two of the meetings has been changed. This notice announces the new times for the Norfolk and virtual public meetings. The email address for the Coast Guard's point of contact with regard to the Atlantic coast fairways has also been updated.

On January 5, 2024, the Secretary of DHS, Alejandro N. Mayorkas, issued a memorandum tasking the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council (FBSAC) to establish two subcommittees further outlined below. This notice is not a solicitation for membership.

The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). The information collection is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public to take this opportunity to comment on a revision of a currently approved information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning a revision of an instrument for the Public Assistance (PA) program eligibility determinations, grants management, and compliance with Federal laws and regulations.

The Coast Guard is amending the temporary safety zone for the M/V GENIUS STAR XI navigable waters from 1 nautical mile radius to a \1/2\ nautical mile radius. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a fire onboard the M/V GENIUS STAR XI. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Western Alaska (COTP).

Through this notice, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) is extending the designation of Syria for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, beginning on April 1, 2024, and ending on September 30, 2025. This extension allows existing TPS beneficiaries to retain TPS through September 30, 2025, if they otherwise continue to meet the eligibility requirements for TPS. Existing TPS beneficiaries who wish to extend their status through September 30, 2025, must re-register during the 60-day re-registration period described in this notice. The Secretary is also redesignating Syria for TPS. The redesignation of Syria allows additional Syrian nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Syria) who have been continuously residing in the United States since January 25, 2024, to apply for TPS for the first time during the initial registration period described under the redesignation information in this notice. In addition to demonstrating continuous residence in the United States since January 25, 2024, and meeting other eligibility criteria, initial applicants for TPS under this designation must demonstrate that they have been continuously physically present in the United States since April 1, 2024, the effective date of this redesignation of Syria for TPS.

Comments are requested on proposed flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of any Base Flood Elevation (BFE), base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundary or zone designation, or regulatory floodway on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided to the affected communities. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis 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).

Flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, or regulatory floodways on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports have been made final for the communities listed in the table below. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that a 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 Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).