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

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone encompassing certain waters of the Choptank River. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of persons and property, and prevent terrorist acts or incidents during the U.S. House Republican Issues Conference, being held during January 24-26, 2007. This rule prohibits vessels and people 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.

The Coast Guard is temporarily establishing security zones around any vessel escorted by one or more Coast Guard, State, or local law enforcement assets within the Captain of the Port Zone Jacksonville, FL. No vessel or person is allowed within 100 yards of an escorted vessel, while within the navigable waters of the Captain of the Port Zone, Jacksonville, FL, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Jacksonville, FL or designated representative. Additionally, all vessels within 500 yards of an escorted vessel in the Captain of the Port Zone Jacksonville, FL will be required to operate at a minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course. This action is necessary to protect personnel, vessels, and facilities from sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents, or other events of a similar nature while we undertake a separate, notice-and-comment rulemaking to establish a permanent security zone for escorted vessels in the COTP Jacksonville Zone.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of Homeland Security is giving notice that it proposes to add a new system of records to its inventory of record systems for Department of Homeland Security General Information Technology Access Account Records System.

Section 550 of the Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007 (``Section 550'') provided the Department of Homeland Security with authority to promulgate ``interim final regulations'' for the security of certain chemical facilities in the United States. This notice seeks comment both on proposed text for such interim final regulations and on several practical and policy issues integral to the development of a chemical facility security program.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Figure Eight Swing Bridge across the AICW mile 278.1, at Scotts Hill, North Carolina to perform needed mechanical and structural repairs.

The Coast Guard is changing the drawbridge operation regulation that governs the Consolidated Rail Corporation (CONRAIL) Railroad Bridge, at mile 0.3, across Darby Creek in Essington, Pennsylvania. This change will allow the bridge to be left in the open- to-navigation position from April 1 through October 31 of every year. The bridge will only close for the passage of trains and to perform periodic maintenance. From November 1 to March 31, the bridge will open on signal, if at least 24 hours notice is given by calling (856) 231- 7088 or (856) 662-8201.

Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to 19 CFR 151.I2 and 151.I3, SGS North America, Inc., 2759 Battleground Road, Deer Park, Texas 77536, has been re-approved to gauge petroleum and petroleum products, organic chemicals and vegetable oils, and to test petroleum and petroleum products for customs purposes, in accordance with the provisions of 19 CFR 151.12 and 151.13.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to request a revision of a currently approved collection of information. The ICR is 1625-0086, Great Lakes Pilotage. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensures that we impose only paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of New York (FEMA-1670-DR), dated December 12, 2006, and related determinations.

This proposal would enhance the security of our Nation's rail transportation system. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) proposes security requirements for freight railroad carriers; intercity, commuter, and short-haul passenger train service providers; rail transit systems; and rail operations at certain, fixed-site facilities that ship or receive specified hazardous materials by rail. This rule proposes to codify the scope of TSA's existing inspection program and to require regulated parties to allow TSA and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials to enter, inspect, and test property, facilities, and records relevant to rail security. This rule also proposes that regulated parties designate rail security coordinators and report significant security concerns to DHS. TSA further proposes that freight rail carriers and certain facilities handling hazardous materials be equipped to report location and shipping information to TSA upon request and to implement chain of custody requirements to ensure a positive and secure exchange of specified hazardous materials. TSA also proposes to clarify and extend the sensitive security information (SSI) protections to cover certain information associated with rail transportation. This proposal would allow TSA to enhance rail security by coordinating its activities with other Federal agencies, which would also avoid duplicative inspections and minimize the compliance burden on the regulated parties. This proposed rule is intended to augment existing rail transportation laws and regulations that the Department of Transportation (DOT) administers. In today's edition of the Federal Register, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is publishing an NPRM proposing to revise the current requirements in the Hazardous Materials Regulations applicable to the safe and secure transportation of hazardous materials transported in commerce by rail.

The Privacy Office of the Department of Homeland Security is making available five Privacy Impact Assessments on various programs and systems in the Department. These assessments were approved and published on the Privacy Office's Web site between October 1, 2006 and October 31, 2006.

Base (1% annual chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and modified BFEs are made final for the communities listed below. The BFEs and modified BFEs are the basis for the floodplain management measures that each community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of being already in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The Coast Guard is amending the permanent special local regulation for the Annual Gasparilla Marine Parade, Hillsborough Bay, and Tampa Bay, FL. This rule will change the date of the event from the first weekend in February to the last weekend in January. Additionally, this regulation will create a parade staging area and a 50 foot safety zone around officially entered parade boats during the parade. This action is necessary because the date on which the parade is held annually has changed. Restricting access to the parade staging area box is necessary to ensure the official parade boats are properly lined up to begin the parade. A 50 foot safety zone around officially entered parade boats is necessary to ensure the safety of the parade participants due to safety concerns caused by an increasing number of spectator vessels that gather to watch the parade.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has submitted the following information collection request (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Action of 1995: 1600-0002, 1600-0003, 1600- 0004, 1600-0005. The information collections were previously published in Federal Register on October 12, 2006 allowing for OMB review and a 60-day public comment period. No Comments were received by DHS. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments.

Technical information or comments are requested on the proposed Base (1% annual chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and proposed BFEs modifications for the communities listed below. The BFEs are the basis for the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of being already in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

Base (1% annual chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and modified BFEs are made final for the communities listed below. The BFEs and modified BFEs are the basis for the floodplain management measures that each community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of being already in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone around the lifting beams of the cranes being used to lift deck sections into place on the New Tacoma Narrows Bridge. The zone will encompass all waters within 500 feet of the area directly below the lifting beams for the duration of the lowering, hookup, raising, and securing evolutions, and will only apply to the beams on the cranes that are in use. The beams being used for the day's evolutions will be clearly marked on each end with a white flashing light. The Coast Guard is taking this action to safeguard the public from the hazards associated with navigating in the vicinity of moving construction equipment and heavy loads. These hazards may include risk of collision with the lifting beams and risks associated with falling loads, should there be an equipment failure. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound or his designated representatives.

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

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to request an extension of their approval of the following collection of information. The ICR is 1625-0008, Regattas and Marine Parades. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

Under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, the Secretary of Homeland Security has established an Area Maritime Security (AMS) Committee under the direction of the Houston-Galveston Captain of the Port (COTP)/Federal Maritime Security Coordinator (FMSC). The Houston-Galveston COTP/FMSC hereby requests qualified individuals interested in serving on this committee to apply for AMS Committee membership.

The Coast Guard is issuing another temporary final rule to continue a temporary regulated navigation area (RNA) from the entrance of East Rockaway Inlet to the Atlantic Beach Bridge, Nassau County, New York. Significant shoaling in this area has reduced the depths of the navigable channel and has increased the risk of vessels with drafts of greater than 5 feet carrying petroleum products as cargo grounding in the channel, and the potential for a significant oil spill. This rule will continue to restrict passage of commercial vessels carrying petroleum products with a loaded draft in excess of 5 feet.