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

The Homeland Security Science and Technology Advisory Committee (HSSTAC) will meet in closed session.

The Coast Guard is temporarily changing the regulations governing the operation of the east and west spans of the Venetian Causeway bridges across the Miami Beach Channel on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the Miami Avenue bridge and the Brickell Avenue bridge across the Miami River, Miami-Dade County. This temporary rule allows these bridges to remain in the closed position during the running of the Miami Tropical Marathon on January 30, 2005.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the regulation governing the operation of the SR 661 (Houma Nav Canal) swing bridge across the Houma Navigation Canal, mile 36.0, in Houma, Louisiana. An increase in traffic during the noontime time period has facilitated a request to allow the bridge to remain closed to navigation for two (2), 30-minute periods in the middle of the day. These closures will allow local workers to transit the area with minimal delays during the noontime lunch period.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has submitted the following information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). 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 includes the actual data collection instruments FEMA will use. Title: Emergency Management Institute Follow-up Evaluation Survey. OMB Number: 1660-0044. Abstract: FEMA Form 95-56 is a continuous self-assessment qualitative tool used to identify trainees' knowledge and skills gained through emergency management-related courses and the extent to which they have been beneficial and applicable in the conduct of their official positions. The information collected is primarily used to review course content and offerings for program planning and management purposes. Results are combined with other program metrics to document performance per GPRA mandates. Affected Public: Individuals or households; State, local or tribal governments. Number of Respondents: 2,300. Estimated Time Per Respondent: FEMA Form 95-56, 15 minutes; Students participating in pilot testing for electronic version of FEMA Form 95-56, 30 minutes. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 600. Frequency of Response: One per course.

This notice amends the notice of an emergency declaration for the State of Indiana (FEMA-3197-EM), dated January 11, 2005, and related determinations.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations for the Metropolitan Avenue Bridge, mile 3.4, across English Kills at New York City, New York. Under this temporary deviation the bridge may remain closed from 6 a.m. to midnight on the following days: January 19 through January 21; January 26 through January 28; and January 31 through February 5, 2005. This temporary deviation is necessary to facilitate bridge maintenance.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Tule Lake Vertical Lift Span Highway and Railroad Bridge across the Corpus ChristiPort Aransas Channel, mile 14.0, at Corpus Christi, Nueces County, TX. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation for four hours on two consecutive days. This temporary deviation is necessary for the maintenance of the rope sheaves and for the cleaning and lubrication of the haul and counterweight ropes of the drawbridge.

The Coast Guard is temporarily changing the regulations regarding the Annual Gasparilla Marine Parade, Hillsborough Bay, and Tampa, FL. This action is necessary because the Parade will be held on January 29, 2005, instead of the first Saturday in February as established by permanent regulation. Also, the Coast Guard and the Parade coordinators have agreed on a modified parade route to minimize security and safety concerns and reduce congestion in the Sparkman and Ybor channels in vicinity of commercial port facilities.

An H-2B alien is someone who comes temporarily to the United States to perform temporary nonagricultural labor or services. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), after consulting with the Department of Labor (DOL) and the Department of State (DOS), is proposing significant changes to its regulations that are designed to increase the effectiveness of the H-2B nonimmigrant classification. This proposed rule will facilitate use of the H-2B program by United States employers who are unable to find United States workers to perform the temporary labor or services for which the H-2B nonimmigrant is sought. Through this proposed rule, DHS has created a one-step application process whereby certain U.S. employers seeking H-2B temporary workers now will only be required to file one application the Form I-129, Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker, which will include a modified H supplement containing certain labor attestations. With limited exceptions, U.S. employers will no longer need to file for or receive a labor certification from the Department of Labor. In addition, DHS is reducing significantly the paper-based application process by now requiring that most Form I-129 petitions (including the H supplement) be submitted to USCIS electronically, through e-filing. DHS anticipates that this one-step process and the e-filing will enhance the effectiveness of the H-2B program, reduce costs and delays associated with separate USCIS petition adjudication and DOL labor certification processes, and will match a U.S. employer with a qualified H-2B worker in a more timely fashion. Finally, this proposed rule makes changes that will maintain the integrity of the program through enforcement mechanisms while retaining the current definition of the word ``temporary'' in 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(ii) in order to ensure continued availability of the program to its traditional users. These proposals will increase the efficiency of the program by eliminating certain regulatory barriers, and improve Government coordination.

TSA invites public comment on a new information collection requirement abstracted below that will be submitted to OMB for approval in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act.

In accordance with section 10 (a) (2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, FEMA announces the following committee meeting:

The Department of Homeland Security is designating lead universities as Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence.

This notice announces meetings of Subcommittees of the Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 472 Standard, and on Hazardous Cargo Transportation Security (HCTS). The Subcommittee on the NFPA 472 Standard will meet to discuss the formation of a marine emergency responder chapter in NFPA 472, Professional Competence of Responders to Hazardous Materials Incidents. The Subcommittee on HCTS will meet to discuss security issues relating to the marine transportation of hazardous materials in bulk. These meetings will be open to the public.

The U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP), Port Arthur, is preparing a letter of recommendation as to the suitability of the Sabine Pass Channel waterway for liquefied natural gas (LNG) marine traffic. The COTP is looking for comments and related material pertaining specifically to the Maritime Operation, Waterways Management, and Port Security aspects of the proposed LNG Facility.

Pursuant to section 641 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, (19 U.S.C. 1641) and the Customs Regulations (19 CFR 111.51), the following Customs broker local permits are cancelled without prejudice.

Pursuant to section 641 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, (19 U.S.C. 1641) and the Customs Regulations (19 CFR 111.51), the following Customs broker license is cancelled with prejudice.

Pursuant to section 641 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, (19 U.S.C. 1641) and the Customs Regulations (19 CFR 111.51), the following Customs broker licenses are cancelled without prejudice.

The Coast Guard's Office of Boating Safety (we) is sponsoring a panel of representatives of the recreational boating community. This panel will discuss, analyze, and propose performance measurement goals that we may use to improve boating safety. This meeting is open to the public.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the Coast Guard has forwarded three Information Collection Reports (ICRs)1625-0036, Plan Approval and Records for U.S. and Foreign Tank Vessels Carrying Oil in Bulk, 1625- 0058, Application for Permit To Transport Municipal and Commercial Waste, and 1625-0061, Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Regulationsabstracted below, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comment by OIRA ensures that we impose only paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

This notice announces a teleconference meeting of the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee (NOSAC) on the proposed formation of a NOSAC subcommittee. NOSAC will meet to discuss the formation of a subcommittee on the application of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention to the various types of offshore support vessels working in foreign locations, including offshore supply vessels (OSVs), anchor handling vessels, liftboats, crew boats, dive support vessels, and seismic vessels.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone from January 14 through January 25, 2005, encompassing certain waters of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. This action is necessary to provide for the security of persons and property, and prevent terrorist acts or incidents during the 2005 Presidential Inauguration activities in Washington, DC. This rule prohibits vessels and persons from entering the security zone and requires vessels and persons in the security zone to depart the security zone, unless specifically exempt under the provisions in this rule or granted specific permission from the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Baltimore.

This rule identifies communities, where the sale of flood insurance has been authorized under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), that are scheduled for suspension on the effective dates listed within this rule because of noncompliance with the floodplain management requirements of the program. If the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) receives documentation that the community has adopted the required floodplain management measures prior to the effective suspension date given in this rule, the suspension will not occur and a notice of this will be provided by publication in the Federal Register on a subsequent date.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Fort Madison Drawbridge, mile 383.9, Fort Madison, Iowa and the Burlington Railroad Drawbridge, mile 403.1, Burlington, Iowa, across the Upper Mississippi River. This deviation allows the drawbridges to remain closed to navigation unless at least 4 hours advance notice is given for an opening from 8 a.m., January 24, 2005, until 8 a.m., March 1, 2005, Central Standard Time. The deviation is necessary to allow time for making repairs of critical mechanical components essential to the continued safe operation of the drawbridges.