Department of Homeland Security November 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 new information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this Notice seeks comments concerning the collection of information necessary for the Grants Reporting Tool (GRT).

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 new information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this Notice seeks comments concerning the information collection activities required to administer the FEMA Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP).

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 new information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this Notice seeks comments concerning the Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program (RCPGP).

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 revision of a currently approved information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this Notice seeks comments concerning the information collected by FEMA to make determinations for Public Assistance payments.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend its regulations to fully incorporate the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW Convention), as well as the Seafarer's Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code (STCW Code) in the requirements for the credentialing of United States merchant mariners as found in 46 CFR Parts 10, 11, 12, and 15. The changes proposed incorporate lessons learned from implementation of the STCW Convention and STCW Code through the interim rule and attempt to clarify those regulations that have generated confusion in the past.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is adopting as final, without substantive change, a proposed rule that increases the maximum civil monetary penalty under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act from $5,000 to $5,500. The Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 mandates this increase.

The Coast Guard proposes to modify the drawbridge operation regulation for the Port of Coos Bay Railroad Bridge, Coos Bay, mile 9.0, at North Bend, Oregon by deleting the requirement for special sound signals used in foggy weather and to change the name of the owner. This rule is necessary to make the sound signals used at the bridge consistent with other bridges in the area and to eliminate the unnecessary special sound signals.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) invites public comment on one currently approved Information Collection Request (ICR), OMB control number 1652-0040, abstracted below that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal in compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The collections of information that make up this ICR involve five broad categories affecting airports, passenger aircraft operators, foreign air carriers, indirect air carriers operating under a security program, and all-cargo carriers: security programs, security threat assessments (STA), known shipper data via the Known Shipper Management System (KSMS), cargo screening reporting, and evidence of compliance recordkeeping. TSA seeks continued OMB approval in order to secure passenger aircraft carrying cargo as authorized in the Aviation and Transportation Security Act, and to meet the screening requirements for cargo transported on passenger aircraft within the deadlines established in the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is issuing a final rule to amend the Homeland Security Acquisition Regulation (HSAR) to establish guidelines under which DHS will prohibit awards of Federal Protective Service (FPS) contract for guard services to a business concern that is owned, controlled, or operated by an individual who has been convicted of a serious felony. The rule implements the provisions of the Federal Protective Service Guard Contracting Reform Act of 2008.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone and regulated navigation area on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal near Romeoville, IL. This temporary final rule places navigational and operational restrictions on all vessels transiting the navigable waters located adjacent to and over the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' (USACE) electrical dispersal fish barrier system.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) Vertical Lift Span Bridge across the Victoria Barge Canal, mile 29.4 at Bloomington, Victoria County, Texas. The deviation is necessary to allow for one phase of an on-going maintenance project to replace the lift span motors and brakes. This deviation provides for the bridge to remain closed to navigation for 12 consecutive hours on November 23 and 24, 2009, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Witt Penn Bridge at mile 3.1, across the Hackensack River, at Jersey City, New Jersey. Under this temporary deviation a two-hour advance notice for bridge opening shall be required at the Witt Penn Bridge to facilitate bridge repairs.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) on the Lower Mississippi River and transfer certain vessel traffic management (VTM) provisions of the Mississippi River, LouisianaRegulated Navigation Area to the VTS. The proposed rule would implement current practices and operating procedures appropriate to an Automatic Identification System (AIS)-based VTS and facilitate vessel transits, enhance good order, promote safe navigation, and improve existing waterway operating measures. The rule also proposes minor conforming revisions to the existing VTM provisions and related regulations.

FEMA is correcting a table for Black Hawk County, Iowa, and Incorporated Areas. Further, on July 8, 2009, FEMA published a proposed

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).

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of an emergency for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (FEMA-3306-EM), dated October 24, 2009, and related determinations.

The Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) will meet via teleconference for the purpose of reviewing the findings and recommendations of the HSAC's Sustainability and Efficiency Task Force (SETF).

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone upon the navigable waters of Mission Bay near San Diego, California in support of the Sea World December Fireworks. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, participating vessels, and other users of the waterway. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0080, Customer Satisfaction Surveys. 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.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the LA 75 pontoon bridge and the LA 77 swing bridge across the Lower Grand River, mile 38.4 and 47.0 respectively, in Iberville Parish, Louisiana. This deviation will test a change to both drawbridge's operating schedules to determine whether permanent changes to the schedules are needed. The deviation will allow an additional 30 minutes to the end of each scheduled closure period to provide more time for school buses to transit across the bridges.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) Vertical Lift Span Bridge across the Victoria Barge Canal, mile 29.4 at Bloomington, Victoria County, Texas. The deviation is necessary to allow for one phase of an on-going maintenance project to replace the lift span motors and brakes.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974 the Department of Homeland Security proposes to update and reissue a system of records notice titled, Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Coast Guard060 Homeport System of Records. The updated system of records, Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Coast Guard060 Homeport System of Records contains a secure collection of information from and about individuals and entities that are subject to the requirements of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. As a result of the biennial review of this system, the Department of Homeland Security U.S. Coast Guard is proposing changes to (1) the categories of individuals covered to include Federal, State and local government agency members involved in maritime safety, security and environmental protection missions; categories of records to include government service grade or military rate/rank, and for Transportation Worker Identification Credential new hire query, the addition of full name and optional social security number (last four; not required); (2) the purpose to state that the Homeport system will no longer be used to collect information from and about individuals for whom background screening will be conducted for purposes of establishing U.S. Coast Guard approved identification credentials for access to maritime facilities (records associated with this function have been deleted); and (3) the routine uses to conform with Department's library of routine uses. No new routine uses have been added. This updated system will be included in the Department of Homeland Security's inventory of record systems.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has revised its Snow Assistance and Severe Winter Storm Policy. The Snow Assistance and Severe Winter Storm Policy provides the procedures and criteria FEMA uses to make its recommendations to the President after a State Governor requests a declaration following a snowstorm. The criteria in the Snow Assistance and Severe Winter Storm Policy are used by FEMA solely for consideration in making its recommendations to the President and do not limit the ability of the President, in his discretion, to declare emergencies or major disasters.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a permanent safety zone in San Pablo Bay for Coast Guard Use of Force Training exercises. This safety zone would be established to ensure the safety of the public and participating crews from potential hazards associated with fast-moving Coast Guard smallboats or helicopters taking part in the exercise. Unauthorized persons or vessels would be prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.