Department of Homeland Security 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of New Hampshire (FEMA-4026-DR), dated September 3, 2011, and related determinations.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of an emergency for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (FEMA-3326-EM), dated August 22, 2011, and related determinations.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Iowa (FEMA-4016-DR), dated August 24, 2011, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Missouri (FEMA-4012-DR), dated August 12, 2011, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of an emergency declaration for the State of New York (FEMA-3341-EM), dated September 8, 2011, and related determinations.

On March 30, 2011, the Coast Guard published a direct final rule that notified the public of the Coast Guard's intent to harmonize structural and performance standards for inflatable recreational personal flotation devices (PFDs) with current voluntary industry consensus standards, and to slightly modify regulatory text in anticipation of a future rulemaking addressing the population for which inflatable recreational PFDs are approved (76 FR 17561). As discussed below, we have received an adverse comment on the direct final rule, and have withdrawn the direct final rule in a notice of withdrawal published separately in this issue of the Federal Register. The Coast Guard seeks comment on the issues raised by the commenters and proposes to make the same changes to the current regulatory text, as modified below.

The Department of Homeland Security is giving concurrent notice of a newly established system of records pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 for the ``Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency-012 Suspicious Activity Reporting System of Records'' and this proposed rulemaking. In this proposed rulemaking, the Department proposes to exempt portions of the system of records from one or more provisions of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and administrative enforcement requirements.

This Notice announces that CBP is discontinuing the H-2A and H-2B Temporary Worker Visa Exit Program Pilot, effective September 29, 2011. The pilot began on December 8, 2009. It required temporary workers in H-2A or H-2B nonimmigrant classifications who enter the United States at the port of San Luis, Arizona, or the port of Douglas, Arizona, to depart (at the time of their final departure) from these respective ports and to submit certain biographical and biometric information at one of the kiosks established for this purpose.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of Homeland Security proposes to establish a new system of records titled, ``Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency 012 Suspicious Activity Reporting System of Records.'' This system of records allows the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency to collect, maintain, and retrieve records on individuals who report suspicious activities, individuals reported as being involved in suspicious activities, and individuals charged with the analysis and appropriate handling of suspicious activity reports. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency is issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking elsewhere in the Federal Register to exempt this system of records from certain provisions of the Privacy Act. This newly established system will be included in the Department of Homeland Security's inventory of record systems.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of Homeland Security proposes to establish a new Department of Homeland Security system of records titled, ``Department of Homeland Security/ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 015 Electronic Immigration System-2 Account and Case Management System of Records.'' This system of records will allow the Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to collect and maintain records on an individual after he or she submits a benefit request and/or updates account information to create or update U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Electronic Immigration System accounts; gather any missing information; manage workflow; assist U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in making a benefit determination; and provide a repository of data to assist with the efficient processing of future benefit requests. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Electronic Immigration System-2 Account and Case Management process will also be used to process and track all actions related to a particular case, including scheduling appointments and issuing decision notices and/or proofs of benefit. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security is issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking elsewhere in the Federal Register , to exempt this system of records from certain provisions of the Privacy Act. This newly established system will be included in the Department of Homeland Security's inventory of record systems.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of New York (FEMA-4031-DR), dated September 13, 2011, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of an emergency declaration for State of Maryland (FEMA-3335-EM), dated August 27, 2011, and related determinations.

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 proposed rule 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 to 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 is giving concurrent notice of a newly established system of records pursuant to the Privacy Act of 1974 for the ``Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services-015 Electronic Immigration System-2 Account and Case Management System of Records'' and this proposed rulemaking. In this proposed rulemaking, the Department proposes to exempt portions of the system of records from one or more provisions of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and administrative enforcement requirements.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proposing to amend its regulations governing the employment creation (EB-5) immigrant classification. This rule only proposes requirements and procedures for special determinations on the applications and petitions of qualifying aliens whose employment-creation immigrant petitions were approved by the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) after January 1, 1995 and before August 31, 1998. This rule would implement provisions of the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act.

The Coast Guard proposes to change the shape and expand the dimensions of anchorage ``D'' at Newport, Rhode Island, to better accommodate increasing cruise ship visits to Newport and to improve navigation safety.

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.

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 proposed rule 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 to 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.

This notice announces the appointment of the members of the Senior Executive Service Performance Review Boards for the Department of Homeland Security. The purpose of the Performance Review Board is to view and make recommendations concerning proposed performance appraisals, ratings, bonuses, pay adjustments, and other appropriate personnel actions for incumbents of Senior Executive Service, Senior Level and Senior Professional positions of the Department.

This notice amends the notice of an emergency declaration for State of North Dakota (FEMA-3309-EM), dated March 14, 2010, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for State of North Dakota (FEMA-1981-DR), dated May 10, 2011, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Texas (FEMA-4029-DR), dated September 9, 2011, and related determinations.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Amtrak Pelham Bay Railroad Bridge at mile 0.5, across the Hutchinson River at the Bronx, New York. The deviation is necessary to facilitate scheduled maintenance at the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position for two days followed by a two hour advance notice requirement for 20 days.

The National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) will meet on October 14, 2011, in Washington, DC. NBSAC discusses issues relating to recreational boating safety. This meeting will be open to the public.

This notice amends the notice of an emergency declaration for the State of Nebraska (FEMA-3323-EM), dated June 18, 2011, and related determinations.