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

The Coast Guard seeks applications for fiscal year 2007 grants and cooperative agreements from national, nongovernmental, nonprofit public service organizations. The Boating Safety Financial Assistance Program is listed in section 97.012 of the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. These grants and cooperative agreements would be used to fund projects on various subjects promoting recreational boating safety on a national scope. This notice provides information about the grant and cooperative agreement application process and some of the subjects of particular interest to the Coast Guard.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has submitted the following information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995: 1640-0001. This notice and request for comments is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35).

Pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of Homeland Security proposes to add a new system of records to the Department's inventory, entitled ``the MaxHR e-Performance Management System.'' This system is an employee performance management e-tool that will standardize and automate related human resources functions that will support a portion of the Department's MaxHR program. This program will support the Department's ability to continue to attract, retain, and reward a robust and highly qualified workforce by transforming DHS human resources policies, processes, systems, streamlining business processes, and consolidating several disparate systems currently in operation. Implementation of the the MaxHR e-Performance Management System will provide greater flexibility and accountability in the way employees are paid, developed, and evaluated. Employees, through a password protected portal, can access the system to initiate each step in the performance cycle, including performance planning, quarterly reviews, and performance appraisals. Supervisors will utilize various features of the system to review employees' performance, determine completion of goals, and complete performance appraisals. Each step in the performance management cycle, as reflected in the automated system, will serve as a catalyst for increased communication between supervisor and employees to enhance performance and ensure that work is accomplished in an efficient and effective manner.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the operating regulations for the New Youngs Bay, Old Youngs Bay, and the Lewis and Clark River Drawbridges near Astoria, Oregon. This change is requested by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), owner of the bridges, due to reduced demand for draw openings.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of an emergency for the State of New York (FEMA-3268-EM), dated October 15, 2006, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Virginia (FEMA-1661-DR), dated September 22, 2006, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of New Mexico (FEMA-1659-DR), dated August 30, 2006, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the Commonwealth of Virginia (FEMA-1661-DR), dated September 22, 2006, and related determinations.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation (SLR) for the ChampBoat Grand Prix of Savannah, a speed boat race occurring on the Savannah River. The regulated area is defined as all waters located between the width of the Savannah River bounded on the northern end by the U. S. Highway 17 (Talmadge) Bridge across the Savannah River and on the southern end by a line drawn at 146 degrees True from Day Board 62 on the left descending bank of the Savannah River. This special local regulation is necessary to ensure the safety of commercial and recreational vessels and personnel within the regulated area.

This Notice serves to provide additional information on the process used to determine bond amounts for importations involving elevated collection risks and to seek public comment on that process. The process published in this Notice is in effect. Public comments will assist CBP in identifying factors that may further improve the process to ensure the bond amounts protect the revenue and facilitate trade. After consideration of the comments, a revised version of the Monetary Guidelines for Setting Bond Amounts Customs Directive 99-3510-004 July 23, 1991 (1991 Monetary Guidelines) will be published.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) invites the general public and other federal agencies the opportunity to comment on approved information collection request (ICR) OMB 1660-0002, General Admissions Applications and related forms. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35) as amended by the Clinger-Cohen Act (Pub. L. 104-106), DHS is soliciting comments for the approved information collection request.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) invites the general public and other federal agencies the opportunity to comment on information collection request (ICR) for the application for SAFER grants. As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35) as amended by the Clinger-Cohen Act (Pub. L. 104-106), DHS is soliciting comments for the approved information collection request.

The Department of Homeland Security announced the establishment of the Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC) by Notice published in the Federal Register on March 24, 2006 (``First CIPAC Notice;'' 71 FR 14930). That Notice identified the purpose of the committee as well as its membership. This Notice provides the quarterly update including instructions on how the public can obtain the most current roster of CIPAC membership.

This document provides the times and locations of for the additional public meetings which will be held by the Coast Guard to discuss issues relating to the proposed permanent safety zones located in the Great Lakes to conduct live gunnery training exercises. These meetings will be open to the public and are in addition to the four currently scheduled public meetings.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has temporarily changed the regulation governing the operation of the State Route 23 vertical lift span drawbridge across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (Algiers Alternate Route), mile 3.8, at Belle Chasse, Louisiana. This temporary final rule is issued to facilitate movement of vehicular traffic for the New Orleans Open House 2006 Air Show, to be held at the U.S. Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base at Belle Chasse, Louisiana.

At the request of the County of Nassau of the State of New York, the Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone that will close the channel at the Bayville Bridge at Mile 0.1, Mill Neck Creek, in the Town of Oyster Bay from 7 a.m. October 2, 2006, through 6 p.m. October 26, 2006, in order for the County to conduct necessary rehabilitation and construction operations on the bridge. The zone will temporarily close all waters within a one hundred (100) yard radius of the Bayville Bridge. This temporary safety zone is necessary for the safety of life and to protect the maritime community transiting the area from the potential safety hazards associated with the rehabilitation and construction operations on the bridge, which will include barge-mounted crane operations, replacement of the roadway grating, structural steel repair, and repair of the bridge fender system. The channel closure temporarily prohibits passage into or movement within this portion of Mill Neck Creek, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), Long Island Sound or the COTP's designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily change the drawbridge operating regulations governing the operation of the New Jersey Transit Rail Operations (NJTRO) railroad bridge, mile 0.2, at Morgan, New Jersey. This proposed rule would allow the NJTRO railroad bridge to remain in the closed position from January 1, 2007 through March 31, 2007. This rule is necessary to facilitate structural bridge rehabilitation.

The Coast Guard is establishing temporary safety zones on the waters of Tampa Bay, Florida. These safety zones will ensure the safety of mariners during the Albert Whitted Air Show, an event that will include low flying demonstrations over the waters of Tampa Bay, Florida in the vicinity of the Albert Whitted Airport. This regulation is necessary for the safety of life on the navigable waters of the United States.

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: Application for Allowance in Duties. 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 (71 FR 47508) on August 17, 2006, 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.

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: Application for Foreign Trade Zone Admission, Status Designation, and Activity Permit. 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 (71 FR 47509) on August 17, 2006, 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.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Amtrak Dock Bridge across the Passaic River at mile 5.0, at Harrison, New Jersey. Under this temporary deviation, the bridge may remain in the closed position for six weekends from October 13, 2006 through November 20, 2006. This deviation is necessary to facilitate scheduled bridge maintenance.

The Coast Guard amends its regulations for documenting lease- financed vessels that have a ``coastwise endorsement'' (i.e., vessels used in trade and passenger service within the U.S. or between U.S. ports and those used in dredging and towing in U.S. waters). The vessels affected by this proposal are owned by foreign owned or controlled U.S. companies, where there is a ``demise charter'' to a U.S. citizen (i.e., an agreement for the charterer to assume responsibility for operating, crewing, and maintaining the vessel as if the charterer owned it).