Department of Homeland Security 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

FEMA gives notice that the countywide per capita impact indicator under the Public Assistance program for disasters declared on or after October 1, 2007, will be increased.

FEMA gives notice of the maximum amounts for assistance under the Individuals and Households Program for emergencies and major disasters declared on or after October 1, 2007.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Oklahoma (FEMA-1712-DR), dated July 7, 2007, and related determinations.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issues this notice of the dates for the beginning of the initial enrollment for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) for the Port of Wilmington, in Wilmington, DE.

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).

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a 600 foot radius safety zone in the vicinity of Hopewell, VA centered on position 37-19.18' N/ 077-16.93' W (NAD 1983) in support of the Christmas Holiday Boat Parade and Fireworks Event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic on the Appomattox River as necessary to protect mariners from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit Information Collection Requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting an extension of their approval for the following collections of information: (1) 1625-0024, Safety Approval of Cargo Containers; (2) 1625-0036, Plan Approval and Records for U.S. and Foreign Tank Vessels Carrying Oil in Bulk; (3) 1625-0061, Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Regulations; and (4) 1625-0100, Advance Notice of Vessel Arrival. Before submitting these ICRs to OMB, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Stephensville Bridge across Milhomme Bayou, mile 12.2, at Stephensville, St. Martin Parish, Louisiana. This deviation will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed. The deviation will allow the draw of the Stephensville Bridge to open on signal if at least one hour of advance notice is given. During the advance notice period, the draw shall open on less than one hour notice for an emergency and shall open on demand should a temporary surge in waterway traffic occur.

This rule amends Department of Homeland Security (``DHS'' or ``the Department'') regulations relating to intercountry adoptions by U.S. citizens. First, to facilitate the ratification of the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, signed at The Hague on May 29, 1993 (``Convention''), the rule establishes new administrative procedures for the immigration of children who are habitually resident in Convention countries and who are adopted by U.S. citizens. Second, the rule makes other amendments to DHS regulations relating to the immigration of adopted children to reflect the changes to those provisions necessary to comply with the Convention. The Senate consented to ratification of the Convention in 2000 conditioned on the adoption of the necessary implementing regulations. Accordingly, this rule is necessary to establish the regulations necessary for the United States to ratify the Convention.

The Coast Guard proposes to create a security zone in the waters of Nawiliwili Harbor, Kaui, and on the land of the jetty south of Nawiliwili Park, including the jetty access road commonly known as Jetty Road. This zone is intended to enable the Coast Guard and its law enforcement partners to better protect people, vessels, and facilities in and around Nawiliwili Harbor in the face of non-compliant obstructers who have impeded, and threaten to continue impeding, the safe passage of the Hawaii Superferry in Nawiliwili Harbor. This rule would complement, but not replace or supersede, existing regulations that establish a moving 100-yard security zone around large passenger vessels like the Hawaii Superferry.

The Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District, has approved a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the Figure Eight Swing Bridge, at AIWW mile 278.1, at Scotts Hill, NC. Beginning November 1, 2007, until January 31, 2008, this deviation allows the drawbridge to remain closed-to-navigation each day from 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m., from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., to facilitate sandblasting and painting operations. In addition, commercial vessel openings will be provided at night if at least three hours notice is given by calling (910) 686-0635 or via marine radio on Channel 13.

This document announces that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will convene its annual trade symposium, featuring panel discussions involving department personnel, members of the trade community and other government agencies, on the agency's role in international trade initiatives and programs. Members of the international trade and transportation communities and other interested parties are encouraged to attend.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announces the migration of data and a service disruption to our automated public dockets, now managed by the Department of Transportation's (DOT's) Docket Management System (DMS). Effective September 30, 2007, DOT's DMS electronic dockets will be replaced by the Federal Docket Management System (FDMS), a government-wide, electronic docket management system. In preparation for the data migration from DMS to FDMS, effective Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 5 p.m., DOT's DMS will no longer accept electronic comments/submissions. DOT will continue to accept, as well as process, faxed and other paper documents after the migration to FDMS. On Monday, October 1, 2007, FDMS will begin accepting electronic submissions for all currently open DMS dockets, including open TSA dockets. Between October 1 and October 31, closed DMS dockets will still be accessible through the DMS Web site. By October 31, the full migration of all electronic dockets currently in DMS is expected to be completed.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 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 revised information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the e-Grants application used to determine whether mitigation activities proposed for funding meets eligibility criteria. To better reflect all of the mitigation grant programs using the mitigation e-Grants application, the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) e-Grant Program, the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) e-Grant Program and the Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) e-Grant Program have been combined and renamed to be called the Mitigation Grant Program/e-Grants.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 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 revised information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning State Hazard Mitigation Plan requirements to support State administration of FEMA Mitigation grant programs.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the United States Coast Guard (Coast Guard), issues this final rule to amend provisions of its previously issued final rule, to allow for greater participation in the TWIC program and codify final fees to obtain a TWIC. This final rule continues to further secure our Nation's ports and modes of transportation, and also implements the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) and the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE Port Act). Those statutes require credentialed merchant mariners and individuals with unescorted access to secure areas of vessels and facilities to undergo a security threat assessment and receive a biometric credential, known as a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). With this final rule, the Coast Guard amends its regulations on vessel and facility security, requiring the use of the TWIC as an access control measure. Specifically, the Coast Guard is amending its definition of secure areas, to take into account facilities in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, whose workers are not required to obtain work visas from the United States before being allowed to work. With this final rule, TSA amends its regulations on TWIC to allow additional non-resident aliens to apply for a TWIC if they are working in a job that requires them to have unescorted access to a maritime facility regulated under 33 CFR parts 105 or 106. TSA also amends the scope provision of the rule to include additional non-resident aliens that may apply for TWIC. TSA amends its regulations to clarify those credentialed merchant mariners who may receive a TWIC at a reduced fee. TSA amends the fee portion of the regulation, increasing the replacement credential fee from $36 to $60 and codifying the other fees that were announced in the Federal Register on March 20, 2007. Finally, TSA announces a reduction in the fee charged by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to conduct fingerprint-based criminal history record checks (CHRCs) that are submitted to the FBI electronically. Therefore, the standard fee for a TWIC is $132.50 and the reduced TWIC fee for applicants who have completed a comparable threat assessment is $105.25.

This document contains corrections to the interim rule published in the Federal Register on September 17, 2007. The rule established the requirements and procedures for aliens seeking U nonimmigrant status. A review of the interim rule after publication identified erroneous references to filing fees for Form I-918, ``Petition for U Nonimmigrant Status,'' and Form I-918, Supplement A.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the St. Clair River, Marine City, Michigan. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from portions of the St. Clair River during the Marine City Maritime Festival Fireworks Display. This temporary safety zone is necessary to protect spectators and vessels from the hazards associated with fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard is amending special local regulations for annual regattas and marine parades in the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan zone. This rule is intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after regattas or marine parades. This rule will establish restrictions upon, and control the movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after regattas or marine parades.

The Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, submits this extension for 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 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). The Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman is soliciting comments concerning an extension to an existing information collection, DHS CIS Ombudsman Case Problem Submission, DHS Form 7001.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster for the State of Oklahoma (FEMA-1718-DR), dated August 24, 2007, and related determinations.

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 the Federal Emergency Management Agency (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.

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).