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

FEMA announces the following open meeting. Name: Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services (FICEMS). Date of Meeting: December 1, 2005. Place: 3rd Floor Conference Center, Potomac Room, Parklawn Building, 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, Maryland 20857. Times: 10:30 a.m.Main FICEMS Meeting; 1 p.m.FICEMS Ambulance Safety Subcommittee. Proposed Agenda: Review and submission for approval of previous FICEMS Committee Meeting Minutes; Ambulance Safety Subcommittee and Counter-terrorism Subcommittee report; Action Items review; presentation of member agency reports; and reports of other interested parties.

TSA is altering two existing systems of records under the Privacy Act of 1974. The revisions affect the Transportation Security Threat Assessment System (T-STAS), DHS/TSA 002, and Registered Traveler (RT) Operations Files, DHS/TSA 015, and will update the ``Categories of individuals covered by the system'' section for both systems, and the ``Categories of records in the system'' section for the T-STAS system.

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. 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: The National Flood Insurance ProgramBiennial Report. OMB Number: 1660-0003. Abstract: The NFIP Biennial Report enables FEMA to meet its regulatory requirement under 44 CFR 59.22(b)(2). It also enables FEMA to be more responsive to the ongoing changes that occur in each participating community's flood hazard area. These changes include, but are not limited to, new corporate boundaries, changes in flood hazard areas, new floodplain management measures, and changes in rate of floodplain development. It is also used to evaluate the effectiveness of the community's floodplain management activities. The evaluation is accomplished by analyzing information provided by the community, such as the number of variances and flood plain permits granted by each community in relationship to other information contained in the Biennial Report, as well as other data available in FEMA's Community Information System (CIS). The Biennial Report also provides an opportunity for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) participating communities to request technical assistance in implementing a floodplain management program. FEMA regional offices use this information as a means to know which communities need support and guidance. In addition, the NFIP Biennial Report is one of the tools used to assist FEMA in meeting its regulatory requirement under section 575 of the National Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2004. A ``yes'' answer to Items A-D in Section I of the report will provide the basis for FEMA to follow-up by contacting the community for clarification and/or elaboration regarding changes and activities occurring in a community's flood hazard area. This information will be used in ranking and prioritizing one community's mapping needs against all other communities in the NFIP and for determining how the limited flood hazard mapping funds are allocated for map updates. Affected Public: State, local and Tribal governments. Number of Respondents: 20,500 respondents. Estimated Time per Respondent: 2.49 hours. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 11,375. Frequency of Response: Every two years. Comments: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at OMB, Attention: Desk Officer for the Department of Homeland Security/FEMA, Docket Library, Room 10102, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503, or facsimile number (202) 395-7285. Comments must be submitted on or before December 5, 2005.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Florida (FEMA-1609-DR), dated October 24, 2005, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-1604-DR), dated August 29, 2005, and related determinations.

The purpose of this notice is to inform the public and interested security partners that the draft National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) Base Plan is available for review and comment. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for developing this comprehensive, integrated national plan for the protection of the Nation's critical infrastructure and key resources under the authority of Homeland Security Presidential Directive-7 (HSPD-7), Critical Infrastructure Identification, Prioritization, and Protection.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announces the availability of the Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Decommissioning and excessing of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter USCGC MACKINAW (WAGB-83) in Cheboygan, Michigan and invites comments as part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. The EA evaluates the environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the Proposed Action. The Draft FONSI records the USCG's determination that the Proposed Action would have no significant impact on the environment. The U.S. Coast Guard also announces the development of a Memorandum of Agreement to resolve potential adverse effects to a historic property and invites comments as part of the public involvement process under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA).

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary 90-day deviation from the drawbridge operation regulations to test an alternate drawbridge operation regulation for the Beach Channel Railroad Bridge mile 6.7, across Jamaica Bay, New York. Under this temporary deviation, in effect from December 1, 2005 through February 28, 2006, the bridge may remain closed during the commuter rail rush hours in the morning and afternoon, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The purpose of this temporary deviation is to test an alternate drawbridge operation schedule for 90 days and solicit comment from the public.

The Coast Guard is changing the regulation governing the Chief John Ross Drawbridge, mile 464.1, across the Tennessee River at Chattanooga, Tennessee. Under the temporary change, the drawbridge need not open for river traffic and may remain in the closed-to-navigation position from 8 a.m., December 1, 2005 until 8 a.m., July 1, 2006. This temporary change will allow the drawbridge to be maintained in the closed-to-navigation position to allow major repair work to be performed on the bridge.

TSA invites public comment on one currently approved information collection requirement abstracted below that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for remedial action associated with petroleum and metals impacted soil at the Passage Island Light Station, Keweenaw County, Michigan. This letter shall serve as notification for a thirty-day scoping period for the Draft EA. This scoping announcement provides interested parties with information on the USCG Passage Island Light Station, existing environment, and proposed action in advance of issuance of the Draft EA for this project. The Draft EA will assess the alternatives to address impacted soil at the light station. The USCG seeks public and agency input on the scope of the Draft EA. Specifically, the USCG requests input on any environmental concerns that the public may have related to the existing impacted soil, the remedial action alternatives, or sources of relevant data or information for inclusion in the Draft EA.

The Captain of the Port Puget Sound will begin enforcing the Budd Inlet security zone in West Bay, Olympia, Washington on Thursday, October 27, 2005, at 8 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. The security zone provides for the security of Department of Defense assets and military cargo in the navigable waters of Puget Sound and adjacent waters. The security zone will be enforced until Tuesday, November 1, 2005, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific standard time.

This notice amends the notice of an emergency declaration for the State of Florida (FEMA-3259-EM), dated September 20, 2005, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Texas (FEMA-1606-DR), dated September 24, 2005, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-1604-DR), dated August 29, 2005, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster for the State of Louisiana (FEMA-1603-DR), dated August 29, 2005, and related determinations.

The Coast Guard is revising its proposed rule published March 9, 2005, to establish permanent moving security zones around all escorted High Capacity Passenger Vessels (``HCPV'') and escorted Alaska Marine Highway System Vessels (``AMHS vessels'') during their transit in the navigable waters of the Seventeenth Coast Guard District. The 250-yard speed restriction zone, the 25-yard security zone around moored and anchored vessels, and the waiver request process in the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) have been eliminated. The Coast Guard has revised the proposed security zones prohibiting any vessel from entering within 100 yards of an escorted HCPV or escorted AMHS vessel while in transit. These security zones are necessary to mitigate potential terrorist acts and enhance public and maritime safety and security. Permission to enter these security zones may be granted by the designated on-scene representative.

The Coast Guard has temporarily changed the drawbridge operation regulations that govern the operation of the General Edwards SR1A Bridge, at mile 1.7, across the Saugus River between Lynn and Revere, Massachusetts. This temporary change to the drawbridge operation regulations allows the bridge to remain in the closed position from November 1, 2005 through April 30, 2006. This action is necessary to facilitate structural maintenance at the bridge.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency, 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 a proposed continuing information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), this notice seeks comments on the Exemption of State- Owned Properties Under Self-Insurance Plan.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Louisiana (FEMA-1607-DR), dated September 24, 2005, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Louisiana (FEMA-1607-DR), dated September 24, 2005, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-1604-DR), dated August 29, 2005, and related determinations.

The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting a study of the potential impacts that would result from increasing the passenger weight and size regulatory standards used when calculating the intact stability of domestic passenger vessels. The study will include an assessment of the potential impact on industry, identify the regulations potentially requiring change, develop a regulatory implementation strategy and other work associated with the implementation of new passenger weight and size standards.