Department of Homeland Security January 7, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Temporary Protected Status designation for El Salvador will expire on March 9, 2005. This notice extends the designation of El Salvador for 18 months, until September 9, 2006, and sets forth procedures necessary for nationals of El Salvador (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in El Salvador) with TPS to re- register and to apply for an extension of their employment authorization documents (EADs) for the additional 18-month period. Re- registration is limited to persons who registered under the initial designation announced on March 9, 2001 or who filed their first application for TPS under the late initial registration provisions at 8 CFR 244.2(f)(2) and also timely re-registered under each subsequent extension of the designation. Eligible aliens also must have maintained continuous physical presence in the United States since March 9, 2001, and continuous residence in the United States since February 13, 2001. Certain nationals of El Salvador (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in El Salvador) who have not previously applied for temporary protected status may be eligible to apply under the late initial registration provisions. Given the large number of Salvadorans affected by this notice, the Department of Homeland Security recognizes that many re-registrants may not receive their new employment authorization documents until after their current documents expire on March 9, 2005. Accordingly, this notice automatically extends the validity of employment authorization documents issued under the temporary protected status designation of El Salvador for 6 months, until September 9, 2005, and explains how temporary protected status beneficiaries and their employers may determine which employment authorization documents are automatically extended.

The Coast Guard is removing the existing drawbridge operation regulation for the draw of the SR 4 bridge across the Boeuf River, mile 32.3, near Mason, Louisiana. The existing bridge has been removed from service and a replacement bridge has been constructed on the same alignment. Since the movable span of the bridge has been removed, the regulation controlling the opening and closing of the bridge is no longer necessary.

The Coast Guard seeks consultation with all interested and affected parties in identifying ballast water management strategies for vessels entering the Great Lakes that declare no ballast onboard (NOBOB). Our goal for these strategies is to prevent the introduction and spread of nonindigenous species via NOBOBs. To aid in the development of ballast water management strategies for NOBOBs, the Coast Guard will also hold a public meeting in order to expand the opportunity for the public to comment. We encourage all interested and/ or affected stakeholders to submit comments and to attend the public meeting.

The Coast Guard published a document in the Federal Register of December 27, 2004, requesting information about the current status of dry cargo operations on the Great Lakes. The document contained an incorrect ACTION caption.