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

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is transferring the TSA Civil Enforcement Docket from TSA's Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, to the Docketing Center, Office of Administrative Law Judges, United States Coast Guard (USCG ALJ Docketing Center) in Baltimore, Maryland. Accordingly, this document provides the new address for the TSA Civil Enforcement Docket at the USCG ALJ Docketing Center. This transfer and new address are effective August 22, 2006.

The Coast Guard is establishing special local regulations during the ``Ocean City Maryland Offshore Challenge'', a power boat race to be held on the waters of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to the shoreline at Ocean City, MD. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic in the regulated area during the power boat race.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the regulation governing the Prescott Highway Bridge, across the St. Croix River, Mile 0.3, at Prescott, Wisconsin. Under our proposed rule, the drawbridge need not open for river traffic and may remain in the closed-to-navigation position from November 1, 2006 to April 1, 2007. This proposed rule would allow the bridge owners to make necessary repairs to the bridge.

This technical amendment authorizes the Commanding Officer, National Maritime Center, to perform certain mariner credentialing functions in addition to Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection, who currently perform those functions. At the end of a transitional period, most credentialing functions will be consolidated at a centralized location. The amendment also makes technical changes to the mariner credentialing appellate process. This rule is organizational in nature and will have no substantive effect on the regulated public. The amendment also will have no effect on any other Coast Guard regulatory projects or policy initiatives.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone encompassing the navigable waters of Presque Isle Bay during the Celebrate Erie Fireworks on August 20, 2006. This safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessel traffic from a portion of Presque Isle Bay, Erie, Pennsylvania.

The Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC) and its working groups will meet as required to discuss various issues relating to shallow-draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and towing safety. All meetings will be open to the public.

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 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 Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone around construction vessels and mooring lines under the West Span of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge during the deck erection phase of construction. The zone will encompass all waters within a box created by the points: 47-16.44' N, 122-33.35' W; 47-16.34' N, 122-33.04' W; 47-16.1' N, 122- 33.33' W; 47-16.21' N, 122-33.63' W. This safety zone will be in effect regardless of whether construction vessels are present or not. This zone approximately encompasses all waters from the Gig Harbor shoreline to just east of the west bridge caissons, extending 1500 feet north and south. The Coast Guard is taking this action to safeguard the public from possible collision with the vessels or their mooring lines, chains, or cables. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound or his designated representatives.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone around the Barge ``MARMACK 12'', Official Number 1024657, while it is being used for the New Tacoma Narrows Bridge Construction Project. The zone will extend 500 feet in all directions from the barge, and will be in effect at all times during the duration of this rule. This zone is only in effect while the barge is on the navigable waters of the United States, in the Tacoma Narrows. The Coast Guard is taking this action to safeguard the public from possible collision with the barge and the deck sections it is carrying, and from hazards associated with navigating in the vicinity of the barge during construction operations. Entry into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Puget Sound or his designated representatives.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the Serially Numbered Substantial Holders or Containers. 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 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is soliciting public comment on the application forms and instructions (hereinafter ``Application Kit'') designed to assist persons applying for coverage under the SAFETY Act of 2002. 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).

On July 7, 2006, the Coast Guard published a temporary final rule in the Federal Register establishing temporary special local regulations for the ``Thunder Over the Boardwalk Airshow'', an aerial demonstration to be held over the waters of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to Atlantic City, New Jersey. On July 14, 2006, the Coast Guard was notified that this marine event was proposed to be conducted at a different time period. This rule changes the times of enforcement for the temporary regulated area. These special local regulations are necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic in the regulated area during the event.

This document proposes to amend the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Regulations pertaining to the field organization of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by extending the geographical limits of the port of St. Louis, Missouri, to include the entire Lambert-St. Louis International Airport after the completion of its ongoing expansion. The expansion of the airport is expected to be complete by March 2006. The extension would also modify the geographic description of the port of St. Louis, Missouri, to align the port boundaries with the Federal Interstate Highways that encircle the St. Louis metropolitan area. The proposed change is part of CBP's continuing program to more efficiently utilize its personnel, facilities, and resources, and to provide better service to carriers, importers, and the general public.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster for the State of Ohio (FEMA-1656-DR), dated August 1, 2006, and related determinations.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of Stockton Deep Water Channel, in the vicinity of the Old Mormon Slough. This safety zone is necessary to protect persons and vessels, which might otherwise transit near the work site, from the hazards associated with the work. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the coastlines of Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. The Regional Examination Center (REC) at New Orleans, which provided credentialing services to approximately 29,000 mariners in those three states and 14 percent of mariners nationwide, was completely flooded, destroying vital records and equipment and rendering the facility inoperable for a considerable period of time. As a result, many mariners in the area are in possession of merchant mariner's documents, licenses and/or certificates of registry (collectively referred to as ``credentials'') that either have expired or may expire before the Coast Guard will be able to process these mariners' applications for renewal or upgraded credentials. With the authority Congress has granted, the Coast Guard is temporarily extending the expiration dates for credentials of eligible mariners for up to one year.

This document contains a technical correction to a Notice which was published in the Federal Register on Monday, July 17, 2006 in which Customs and Border Protection (CBP) requests individuals who are interested in serving on the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (formerly known as the ``Commercial Operations Advisory Committee'' and popularly still known as ``COAC'') to apply for appointment.

The Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee (NOSAC). NOSAC provides advice and makes recommendations to the Coast Guard on matters affecting the offshore industry.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the R. Ozzie Wedding Fireworks display on August 12, 2006 in Manchester By The Sea, MA, temporarily closing all waters in the vicinity of Manchester Bay and Manchester Harbor within a four hundred (400) yard radius of the fireworks barge located at approximate position 42[deg]50.00' N, 070[deg]47.00' W. This zone is necessary to protect the maritime public from the potential hazards posed by a fireworks display. The safety zone temporarily prohibits entry into or movement within this portion of Manchester Bay and Manchester Harbor during its closure period, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Boston, MA.

The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 provides that by January 1, 2008, United States citizens and nonimmigrant aliens may enter the United States only with passports or such alternative documents as the Secretary of Homeland Security may designate as satisfactorily establishing identity and citizenship. This notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) is the first phase of a joint Department of Homeland Security and Department of State plan to implement these new requirements. This NPRM proposes that, beginning January 8, 2007, United States citizens and nonimmigrant aliens from Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico entering the United States at air ports-of- entry and most sea ports-of-entry, with certain limited exceptions, will generally be required to present a valid passport. This NPRM does not propose to change the requirements for United States citizens and nonimmigrant aliens from Canada, Bermuda, and Mexico entering the United States at land border ports-of-entry and certain types of arrivals by sea (ferries and pleasure vessels) which will be addressed in a separate, future rulemaking.

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.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Marine Parkway Bridge across Jamaica Bay at mile 3.0, at Queens, New York. Under this temporary deviation, the Marine Parkway Bridge need not open for the passage of vessel traffic between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. on August 28, 2006 and August 29, 2006. This deviation is necessary to facilitate scheduled bridge maintenance.

The Coast Guard is establishing a permanent security zone approximately one quarter mile on each side of the Mackinac Bridge in the Straits of Mackinac near Mackinaw City, MI. This security zone will place navigational and operational restrictions on all vessels transiting through the Straits area, under and around the Mackinac Bridge, located between Mackinaw City, MI, and St. Ignace, MI.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone encompassing a portion of the navigable waters of the St. Lawrence River in New York. This safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessel traffic from a portion of the St. Lawrence River.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Ohio (FEMA-1656-DR), dated August 1, 2006, and related determinations.