2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On October 25, 2021, the President issued a Proclamation, ``Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic.'' Pursuant to this Proclamation, the President has implemented a global suspension and restriction on entry for noncitizens who are nonimmigrants seeking to enter the United States by air travel and who are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The Proclamation directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to implement the Proclamation as it applies to public health. As such, CDC announces an Amended Order implementing the Proclamation requiring noncitizens who are nonimmigrants seeking to enter the United States by air travel to provide proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to boarding an aircraft to fly to the United States, with only limited exceptions in accordance with the Proclamation. This Amended Order was signed by the CDC Director on October 30, 2021, and supersedes the previous Order signed by the CDC Director on October 25, 2021.

We, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, received a request under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 from JADE Energy, LLC, for authorization to take by Level B harassment a small number of polar bears from the Southern Beaufort Sea (SBS) stock incidental to oil and gas exploratory activities scheduled to occur between December 1, 2021, through November 30, 2022. These activities include mobilization, constructing ice roads and ice pads, drilling wells, and associated cleanup in the Prudhoe Bay Unit and Point Thomson Unit of the North Slope of Alaska. Mobilization would occur in December 2021, along a winter trail stretching east from Deadhorse, Alaska, to Point Thomson, Alaska. Prepacking of snow and construction of ice roads and pads would begin mid-December 2021, and drilling would begin at JADE #1 pad in late-January 2022. If conditions are favorable, drilling on JADE #2 pad would take place in mid-March 2022, preceding cleanup activities, which are proposed to be completed by July 15, 2022. We estimate these activities may result in the nonlethal incidental take of up to two SBS stock polar bears. This proposed authorization, if finalized, will be for take of two SBS stock polar bears by Level B harassment only. No lethal or Level A take of polar bears is likely or requested, and, therefore, such take is not included in this proposed authorization.

The Department of Education (Department) is issuing a notice inviting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2021 for the Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development (RPED) Grant Program, Assistance Listing Number 84.116W. This notice relates to the approved information collection under OMB control number 1894-0006.

The NITRD Subcommittee will hold a virtual public meeting to mark the 30th anniversary of the signing of the High-Performance Computing (HPC) Act of 1991 and the launching of the High-Performance Computing and Communications Program, now known as the NITRD Program. One of the key parts of this legislation was to establish an effective mechanism to coordinate HPC, networking, and information technology (IT) research and development (R&D) undertaken by the agencies of the Federal Government. The legislation also expanded Federal funding support for HPC and IT R&D to ensure continued technological leadership in these areas by the United States. The Act aimed to provide U.S. researchers and educators, as well as government and the public, with the advanced computing and information resources they needed for achievement of personal, business, and public goals. The NITRD mission has expanded over the last three decades as the capabilities of advanced computing, networking, and IT technologies increased dramatically. Join us as we recognize and celebrate the origins and expansion of America's IT innovation highway.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public to take this opportunity to comment on an extension, without change, of a currently approved information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning Disaster Assistance Registration, COVID-19 Funeral Assistance Registration, and Disaster Assistance Individuals and Households Program (IHP) Occupancy & Ownership Documentation.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is required to publish a notice of permit applications received to conduct activities regulated under the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978. NSF has published regulations under the Antarctic Conservation Act in the Code of Federal Regulations. This is the required notice of permit applications received.

Pursuant to the Federal Advisory Committee Act, notice is hereby given that the National Council on the Humanities will meet to advise the Chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) with respect to policies, programs and procedures for carrying out his functions; to review applications for financial assistance under the National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities Act of 1965 and make recommendations thereon to the Chair; and to consider gifts offered to NEH and make recommendations thereon to the Chair.

The Coast Guard is revising a temporary safety zone that was established for certain waters of the Potomac River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of persons, and the marine environment from the potential safety hazards associated with construction operations at the new Governor Harry W. Nice/Senator Thomas ``Mac'' Middleton Memorial (US-301) Bridge, which will occur from 7 a.m. on November 2, 2021, through 8 p.m. on December 31, 2021. This rule will prohibit persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Maryland- National Capital Region or a designated representative.

ODNI provides notice of a revision to a Privacy Act system of records at the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC). This notice revises the system of records titled Continuous Evaluation Records, also identified as ODNI/NCSC-003. This notice is necessary to inform the public of revisions to the notice summary, system purpose, categories of individuals covered, and supplementary information about the records that the agency maintains. This revised notice to the Continuous Evaluation (CE) Records system adds one-time record checks of employment applicants in addition to the previous uses of CE for enrolled individuals. CE is a personnel security investigative process used to review the continued eligibility of individuals who have been determined eligible for access to classified information or to hold a sensitive position. Individuals subject to CE include current Executive Branch employees, detailees, contractors, and other sponsored individuals who are cleared for access to classified information or to hold a sensitive position. The Departments and Agencies (D/A) that sponsor these individuals for access to classified information or to hold a sensitive position ``enroll'' the individuals (enrollees) by electronically entering their identifying information into the CE System, an information technology system that conducts automated checks of security-relevant information. All D/As are required to submit their qualifying populations for CE automated record checks. D/As may choose to develop a CE system of their own, or subscribe to CE services provided by another agency. NCSC will provide CE services to subscribing agencies via the ODNI CE System. The CE System conducts automated checks of government and commercial databases and, based on personnel security business rules, transmits electronic alerts and reports to the subscribing agency. Databases queried in the CE process are those that contain security- relevant information, e.g., government-owned financial, law enforcement, terrorism, foreign travel, and current clearance status information. Credit bureau records and commercially-aggregated publically available data are also used. On receipt of an electronic alert or report, authorized personnel security officials at the subscribing agency verify that the alert or report received pertains to the enrollee (the subject of the electronic queries). Where the agency verifies that the alert or report pertains to the enrollee, authorized personnel security officials review the nature of the alert or report to determine the need for further investigation, as dictated by Federal Investigative Standards requirements. Information obtained through any follow-on investigation is considered in adjudicating the enrollee's continued eligibility for access to classified information or to hold a sensitive position. The ODNI CE System retains the enrollment information (personal identifiers provided by the subscribing agency to facilitate ongoing CE checks for individuals who are enrolled in the CE System. The system does not retain the records returned from the electronic database queries beyond the time needed to ensure proper electronic delivery to the subscribing agency. Data necessary to implement CE business rules, to perform program assessments, and to satisfy auditing requirements will be retained. D/ As conducting CE will adhere to the principles articulated in Security Executive Agent Directive (SEAD) 6, Continuous Evaluation. SEAD 6 establishes policy and provides high-level guidance and requirements specific to the personnel security investigative process. The CE System is being revised to now also conduct one-time electronic record checks for initial vetting of individuals seeking Executive Branch employment that requires eligibility for access to classified information or to hold a sensitive position. Employment applicants receiving one-time checks of security-relevant information are not enrolled in the CE System for ongoing record checks, and personal identifiers and records returned are only retained in the system for the time needed to ensure proper electronic delivery to the subscribing agency.

Per Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) regulations and guidelines, DHS is announcing the establishment of the CISA Cybersecurity Advisory Committee, a new Federal Advisory Committee, for public awareness.

NMFS solicits nominations for the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) Workshops Advisory Panel, also known as the ``SEDAR Pool.'' The SEDAR Pool is comprised of a group of individuals who may be selected to consider data and advise NMFS regarding the scientific information, including but not limited to data and models, used in stock assessments for oceanic sharks in the Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea. Nominations are being sought for 5-year appointments (2022-2027). Individuals with definable interests in the recreational and commercial fishing and related industries, environmental community, academia, and non-governmental organizations will be considered for membership on the SEDAR Pool.

In this notice, the Secretary of HUD, pursuant to the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (CFO Act), which established the position of the Chief Financial Officer within HUD, is delegating authority to the Chief Financial Officer and the Deputy Chief Financial Officer for certain responsibilities with respect to the financial management activities, systems, and operations of the Department.

FMCSA announces a meeting of MCSAC, which will take place via videoconference.

The Internal Revenue Service, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The IRS is soliciting comments concerning the application for filing information returns electronically (FIRE).