Department of Homeland Security February 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This regulatory agenda is a semiannual summary of all current and projected rulemakings, existing regulations, and completed actions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its components. This agenda provides the public with information about DHS's regulatory activity. DHS expects that this information will enable the public to be more aware of, and effectively participate in, the Department's regulatory activity. DHS invites the public to submit comments on any aspect of this agenda.

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).

The Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operation of the Fruitvale Avenue Drawbridge across Oakland Inner Harbor, mile 5.6, between the cities of Alameda and Oakland, Alameda County, CA. The deviation is necessary to allow the County of Alameda Public Works Agency to perform seismic retrofitting on the drawbridge. This deviation allows the bridge owner to secure the drawspan in the closed- to-navigation position during the project.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish two temporary safety zones in the navigable waters of the East Passage, Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, during the America's Cup World Series sailing vessel racing event. This safety zone is intended to safeguard mariners from the hazards associated with high-speed, high-performance sailing vessels competing in America's Cup-class races on the waters of the East Passage, Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island. Vessels will be prohibited from entering into, transiting through, mooring, or anchoring within these safety zones during the effective period unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP), Southeastern New England.

The Coast Guard is removing, adding, and consolidating limited access areas in the Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone. These limited access areas include special local regulations, permanent safety zones for annual recurring marine events and a permanent security zone. When these limited access areas are subject to enforcement, this rule will restrict vessels from portions of water areas during these annual recurring events. The special local regulations and safety zones will facilitate public notification of events, and ensure the protection of the maritime public and event participants from the hazards associated with these annual recurring events.

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 President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) will meet on Tuesday, February 28, 2012, via a conference call. The meeting will be open to the public.

Certain vessels and aircraft owned or chartered by the Department of Defense (DoD) are exempt from entry requirements and, in some cases, reporting requirements upon their arrival in the United States from a foreign place. This rule proposes to expand those exemptions to include additional DoD-owned or chartered vessels and aircraft when transporting certain cargo or passengers.