Department of Homeland Security January 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is enlarging the current anchorage area outside the Federal breakwater of the Ports of Los AngelesLong Beach, CA. This rule is necessary in order to accommodate the ever-increasing number of larger vessels necessitating anchorage and will provide vessels an appropriate area to anchor.

The Coast Guard is continuing temporary security zones encompassing the Trans-Alaska Pipeline (TAPS) Valdez Terminal Complex, Valdez, Alaska and TAPS Tank Vessels and Valdez Narrows, Port Valdez, Alaska, and is reducing the size of one of these zones. These temporary security zones will remain effective until February 12, 2006, while we complete a separate rulemaking to create permanent security zones in these locations.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the Declaration of a Person Abroad Who Receives and is Returning Merchandise to the U.S. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register (70 FR 58456) on October 6, 2005, allowing for a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)).

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning Andean Trade Preferences. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register (70 FR 58454) on October 6, 2005, allowing for a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)).

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the NAFTA Regulations and Certificate of Origin. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register (70 FR 58456) on October 6, 2005, allowing for a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)).

The Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security has submitted 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: Importers of Merchandise Subject to Actual Use Provisions. This is a proposed extension of an information collection that was previously approved. CBP is proposing that this information collection be extended without a change to the burden hours. This document is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register (70 FR 58457) on October 6, 2005, allowing for a 60- day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the Guam Visa Waiver Information. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register (70 FR 58452-58453) on October 6, 2005, allowing for a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. This request for comment is being made pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13; 44 U.S.C. 3505(c)(2)).

The President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) will meet in a partially closed session.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster for the State of Louisiana (FEMA-1603-DR), dated August 29, 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 declaration for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (FEMA-1613-DR), dated November 10, 2005, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Connecticut (FEMA-1619-DR), dated December 16, 2005, and related determinations.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of North Dakota (FEMA-1621-DR), dated January 4, 2006, and related determinations.

The Coast Guard is amending the maritime personnel licensing rules to include new security requirements when mariners apply for original, renewal, and raise of grade licenses and certificates of registry. This interim rule corrects omissions and ambiguities in the Coast Guard's preexisting maritime personnel licensing regulations. This interim rule will require all applicants for licenses and certificates of registry to have their identity checked and their fingerprints taken for a criminal record review by the Coast Guard. The new requirements are similar to those that apply to applicants for merchant mariner's documents.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has approved a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the W-43 (Ocean Avenue) Bridge, at mile 0.1, over Shark River Inlet at Monmouth County, New Jersey. To facilitate removal and replacement of the mechanical systems of the lift spans, the temporary deviation would allow partial openings of the drawbridge.

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 extension of a currently approved information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning reimbursement of claims submitted for fighting fires on Federal property.

The Coast Guard has temporarily changed the drawbridge operation regulations that govern the U.S. 1 Bridge, mile 3.5, across the Housatonic River, at Stratford, Connecticut. This temporary final rule allows the bridge owner to open only one of the two moveable spans for bridge openings at various times from January 9, 2006 through September 1, 2006, to facilitate bridge rehabilitation construction. Full bridge openings will be available at various times during the above time period after a seven-day notice is given by calling the number posted at the bridge.

The Coast Guard announces that the Eighth Coast Guard District is realigning the boundaries of sectors to facilitate unity of operational effort.

The Coast Guard, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Minerals Management Service, in concert with representatives from various State governments, industry, environmental interest groups, and the general public, developed the National Preparedness for Response Exercise Program (PREP) Guidelines to reflect the consensus agreement of the entire oil spill response community. This notice announces the PREP triennial exercise cycle for 2006 through 2008, requests comments from the public, and requests industry participants to volunteer for scheduled PREP Area exercises. Additionally, this notice requests comments on the design and delivery of Government-led PREP exercises.

The Preparedness Directorate of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is issuing guidance entitled, ``Application of Protective Action Guides for Radiological Dispersal Devices (RDD) and Improvised Nuclear Device (IND) Incidents'' for Federal agencies, and as appropriate, State and local governments, emergency responders, and the general public who may find it useful in planning and responding to an RDD or IND incident. The guidance recommends ``protective action guides'' (PAGs) to support decisions about actions that may need to be taken to protect the public when responding to or recovering from an RDD or IND incident. It also outlines a process to implement the recommendations and discusses operational guidelines that may be useful in the implementation of the PAGs. The full text of the document is included in this Notice. This guidance is provided for interim use and will be revised based on comments received. The Preparedness Directorate is seeking input on the appropriateness, implementability and completeness of the guidance.