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

The Coast Guard announces that a Certificate of Alternative Compliance was issued for the offshore supply vessel Tyler Stephen as required by 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 CFR 81.18.

This rule finalizes, with minor non-substantive changes, the amendments to Coast Guard regulations on merchant mariner documentation which were published as an interim rule with request for comments on April 24, 2007. These amendments implement section 3509 of the John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Warner Act), which allows for the issuance of merchant mariner's documents (MMDs), (which have since been consolidated by the Coast Guard into merchant mariner credentials (MMCs)), to certain non-resident aliens for service in the steward's departments of U.S. flag large passenger vessels endorsed for coastwise trade. Prior to publication of the interim rule, the regulations prohibited the Coast Guard from issuing MMDs, which are required for service on large passenger vessels, to non-resident aliens. Specifically, this rule finalizes the amendments to Coast Guard regulations allowing the Coast Guard to issue MMCs to qualified non-resident aliens who are authorized to be employed in the United States, the amendments setting the requirements these aliens must meet in order to qualify for MMCs, and the requirements for the large passenger vessels that may choose to hire these aliens. This rule only applies to large passenger vessels, as defined under the Warner Act.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency finalizes the interim regulations that implemented the Severe Repetitive Loss program and clarified provisions of the existing Flood Mitigation Assistance program. In addition, this rule finalizes interim requirements for the acquisition of property for open space with mitigation funds and clarifies mitigation planning requirements for Indian Tribal governments. This rule is intended to encourage hazard mitigation, reduce the number of repetitive loss properties, and improve FEMA's mitigation programs.

On September 16, 2009, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer will host a DHS Workforce Diversity informational meeting to discuss ways to enhance diversity within the DHS workforce and, in particular, among the Department's senior leadership ranks. The purpose of this meeting is to provide stakeholders from the diversity community with an overview of DHS diversity policy, initiatives, and planning. The meeting, which will also be attended by representatives from the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, DHS component representatives and members of the diversity community, is strictly informational and it is not meant to result in advice or recommendations to the Department.

Comments are requested on the proposed Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and proposed BFE modifications for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the proposed regulatory flood elevations for the reach described by the downstream and upstream locations in the table below. The BFEs and modified BFEs are a part of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, these elevations, once finalized, will be used by insurance agents, and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents in those buildings.

Comments are requested on the proposed Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and proposed BFE modifications for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the proposed regulatory flood elevations for the reach described by the downstream and upstream locations in the table below. The BFEs and modified BFEs are a part of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, these elevations, once finalized, will be used by insurance agents, and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents in those buildings.

Comments are requested on the proposed Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and proposed BFE modifications for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the proposed regulatory flood elevations for the reach described by the downstream and upstream locations in the table below. The BFEs and modified BFEs are a part of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, these elevations, once finalized, will be used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents in those buildings.

The Department of Homeland Security, National Protection and Programs Directorate, 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 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

The Department of Homeland Security, National Protection and Programs Directorate, 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 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

The Department of Homeland Security, National Protection and Programs Directorate, 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 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

The Department of Homeland Security, National Protection and Programs Directorate, 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 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

The Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the California Route 160 Drawbridge across Three Mile Slough, mile 0.1, near Rio Vista, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow Caltrans to conduct drawbridge maintenance. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position during the maintenance period.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing to amend its regulations governing E-2 nonimmigrant treaty investors to establish procedures for classifying long-term investors in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) as E-2 nonimmigrants. This proposed rule implements the CNMI nonimmigrant investor visa provisions of the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008 extending the immigration laws of the United States to the CNMI.

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.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has submitted the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission describes the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated burden (i.e., the time, effort and resources used by respondents to respond) and cost, and includes the actual data collection instruments FEMA will use.

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 use of the Mapping Needs Update Support System Data Worksheet to collect data on flood hazard mapping needs enabling FEMA to be more responsive to ongoing changes affecting flood hazard areas that occur in communities participating in the NFIP. These changes include, but are not limited to, new corporate limit boundaries, changes in the road network, and changes in flood hazard areas, which affect communities' flood risks.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone on the waters of the Calcasieu River for the mooring basin at Cameron LNG in Hackberry, LA. The security zone is needed to protect vessels, waterfront facilities, the public, and other surrounding areas from destruction, loss, or injury caused by sabotage, subversive acts, accidents, or other actions of a similar nature. Entering this security zone is prohibited without permission from the Captain of the Port, Port Arthur or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is announcing that the collection of information requirement under 33 CFR 138.85, entitled ``Financial Responsibility for Water Pollution (Vessels),'' has been approved by OMB under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The OMB control number is 1625-0046.

Comments are requested on the proposed Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and proposed BFE modifications for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the proposed regulatory flood elevations for the reach described by the downstream and upstream locations in the table below. The BFEs and modified BFEs are a part of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, these elevations, once finalized, will be used by insurance agents, and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents in those buildings.

The Coast Guard is establishing a permanent safety zone around Seal Island, Maine from the shoreline out to the 60 foot depth curve. This safety zone prohibits persons and vessels from entering the designated area around Seal Island unless authorized by the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Northern New England. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters around Seal Island by protecting mariners from the hazards of Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC) found in the area.

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 the Witt Penn Bridge may remain in the closed position for 45 days to facilitate necessary bridge maintenance.

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

Comments are requested on the proposed Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) and proposed BFE modifications for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the proposed regulatory flood elevations for the reach described by the downstream and upstream locations in the table below. The BFEs and modified BFEs are a part of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, these elevations, once finalized, will be used by insurance agents, and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents in those buildings.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone upon the navigable waters of the Pacific Ocean, San Diego, CA, in support of a paddling regatta near the Ocean Beach Pier. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, participating vessels, and other vessels and 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.

As part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, CBP invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on an information collection requirement concerning the Application for Allowance in Duties. 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)).