Department of Homeland Security December 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone regulation from December 21, 2010, through June 20, 2011. The security zones created by this rule will encompass all navigable waters extending from the surface to the sea floor, within a 100 yard radius around any cruise ship that is moored at any berth within the San Diego port area inside the sea buoys bounding the Port of San Diego. This temporary final rule is necessary to provide for the safety of the cruise ship, vessels, and users of the waterway. Entry into these security zones will be prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) San Diego, or his or her designated representative. This rule will also suspend paragraph (b)(2) of 33 CFR 165.1108, a related regulation.

This interim rule lists communities where modification of the Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) is appropriate because of new scientific or technical data. New flood insurance premium rates will be calculated from the modified BFEs for new buildings and their contents.

This interim rule lists communities where modification of the Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) is appropriate because of new scientific or technical data. New flood insurance premium rates will be calculated from the modified BFEs for new buildings and their contents.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) operates several international trusted traveler programs to provide expedited entry into the United States at designated ports of entry for pre-approved travelers. Through the utilization of automated kiosks, the Global Entry pilot program allows CBP to expedite clearance of pre-approved, low-risk air travelers arriving in the United States. In this notice, CBP is announcing that it is expanding two other trusted traveler programs, NEXUS and the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI), to permit participants of these programs currently in good standing to utilize Global Entry kiosks as part of their NEXUS or SENTRI membership. CBP also is describing the terms and conditions for such use. NEXUS is a program jointly administered by the United States and Canada that allows certain pre-approved, low-risk travelers expedited processing for travel between the United States and Canada. The SENTRI trusted traveler program allows certain pre-approved, low- risk travelers expedited entry at specified land border ports along the U.S.-Mexico border.

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), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval of revisions to the following collections of information: 1625-0058, Application for Permit to Transport Municipal and Commercial Waste, 1625-0072, Waste Management Plans, Refuse Discharge Logs, Letters of Instruction for Certain Persons-in-Charge (PIC) and Great Lakes Dry Cargo Residue Recordkeeping, and 1625-0092 Sewage and Graywater Discharge Records for Certain Cruise Vessels Operating on Alaskan Waters. Our ICRs describe the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting these ICRs to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Captain of the Port of New Orleans, under the authority of the Magnuson Act, 33 CFR sections 165.30 and 165.33, has established a security zone for the Michoud Slip encompassing the entire slip from position 30[deg]0'34.2'' N, 89[deg]55'40.7'' W to position 30[deg]0'29.5'' N, 89[deg]55'52.6'' W across the mouth of the slip. Vessels will not be allowed to enter this security zone without the permission of the Captain of the Port, New Orleans. This security zone is necessary to protect the Deepwater Horizon blowout preventer and adjacent piers and infrastructure from destruction, loss or injury from sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents or other causes of a similar nature.

The President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) will meet on Wednesday, January 19, 2011, via a conference call.

Modified Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) are finalized for the communities listed below. These modified BFEs will be used to calculate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and their contents.

This interim rule lists communities where modification of the Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs) is appropriate because of new scientific or technical data. New flood insurance premium rates will be calculated from the modified BFEs for new buildings and their contents.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone encompassing all waters within 100 yards of Pier 90/91 between terminal 89 and the Elliott Bay Marina Breakwater on Elliott Bay in Seattle, Washington. The safety zone is necessary to help ensure the safety of the maritime public due to discarded military munitions discovered in close proximity to Pier 91 and will do so by prohibiting any person or vessel from entering or remaining in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or his designated representative.

The Department of Homeland Security is issuing a final rule to amend its regulations to exempt portions of a newly established system of records titled ``Department of Homeland Security/United States Citizenship and Immigration Services-012 Citizenship and Immigration Data Repository System of Records'' from certain provisions of the Privacy Act. Specifically, the Department exempts portions of the ``Department of Homeland Security/United States Citizenship and Immigration Services-012 Citizenship and Immigration Data Repository System of Records'' from one or more provisions of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and administrative enforcement requirements.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone extending the entire width of the river between mile markers 0.6 and 0.8 on the Allegheny River. The safety zone is needed to protect the public from the hazards associated with the First Night Pittsburgh fireworks display. Entry into, movement within, and departure from this Coast Guard safety zone, while it is activated and enforced, is prohibited, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish drawbridge operating procedures for the Canadian National Railway Bridge across the Rainey River at Mile 85.0 at Rainer, Minnesota. This proposed rule is intended to establish standard bridge operating conditions for the drawbridge, including dates of operation.

The Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Crescent Railroad Drawbridge across the Upper Mississippi River, mile 481.4, at Rock Island, Illinois. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner time to perform preventive maintenance that is essential to the continued safe operation of the drawbridge. Maintenance is scheduled in the winter and when there is less impact on navigation; instead of scheduling work in the summer, when river traffic increases. This deviation allows the bridge to open on signal if at least 24 hours advance notice is given.

In Section 305 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010, Congress directs the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating to conduct a study, in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency, on Ship Emission Reduction Technology for cargo and passenger vessels that operate in United States waters and ports. For this study, the Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency will survey new technology and new applications of existing technology for reducing air emissions from cargo and passenger vessels regulated under the Clean Air Act and the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, and identify the impediments, including any laws or regulations, to the implementation of this technology. Through this notice, the Coast Guard and the Environmental Protection Agency invite the public to provide information on the state of current and future air emission reduction technology, including specific comments on any impediments to this technology.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has submitted the following information collection requests (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995: 1620-0001. This information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on October 8, 2010 at 75 FR 62409, allowing for OMB review and a 60-day public comment period. No comments were received. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this request for comments announces that the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding four Information Collection Requests (ICRs), 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 collections of information: (1) 1625-0002, Applications for Vessel Inspection, Waiver, and Continuous Synopsis Record; (2) 1625-0017, Various International Agreement Safety Certificates and Documents; (3) 1625-0019, Alternative Compliance for International and Inland Navigation Rules33 CFR Parts 81 and 89; (4) and 1625-0030, Oil and Hazardous Materials Transfer Procedures. Our ICRs describe 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 National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) and its subcommittees will meet on January 14-16, 2011, in Orlando, Florida. NBSAC discusses issues relating to recreational boating safety. The meetings will be open to the public.

By this direct final rule, the Coast Guard is amending its ``Coast Guard Whistleblower Protection'' regulations to conform to statutory protections for all members of the Armed Forces. The revised regulations broaden the protection already afforded uniformed members of the Coast Guard by: Providing that uniformed Coast Guard members may make protected communications to other persons and organizations in additiPn to Members of Congress or an Inspector General, and expanding the subject matter of protected communications to include information that the member reasonably believes constitutes evidence of sexual harassment and discrimination, among other subjects. Additionally, changes to the regulations update the responsibilities of the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security to conform to relevant statutory provisions.

The National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee (NOSAC) will meet by teleconference to discuss items related to safety of operations and other matters affecting the oil and gas offshore industry. The purpose of this meeting is to review and discuss reports and recommendations received from the two NOSAC subcommittees and to address two new tasks for the Committee. This meeting will be open to the public.

This final rule amends Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 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 final 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.

The Coast Guard announces that it is delaying the effective date of certain revisions in 46 CFR part 45 as amended by the final rule published in the November 18, 2010, Federal Register (75 FR 70595), and soliciting comments on those amendments.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the proposed nationwide implementation of the Interagency Operations Centers (IOC) Project and requests public comments on the scope of the PEA.