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

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zones for annual fireworks events in the Captain of the Port Detroit zone from 9:45 p.m. on May 25, 2012 through 11:15 p.m. on September 2, 2012. This action is necessary and intended to ensure safety of life on the navigable waters immediately prior to, during, and immediately after fireworks events. During the aforementioned period, the Coast Guard will enforce restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a specified area immediately prior to, during, and immediately after fireworks events. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the upper deck of the Steel Bridge across the Willamette River, mile 12.1, at Portland, OR. This deviation is necessary to accommodate the efficient movement of light rail and roadway traffic associated with the Starlight Parade in Portland, Oregon. This deviation allows the upper deck of the Steel Bridge to remain in the closed position to facilitate efficient movement of event patrons.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Canadian Pacific Railroad Drawbridge across the Black River, at Mile 1.0, near La Crosse, Wisconsin. This deviation is related to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) under the same docket number and will test a change to the drawbridge operation schedule to determine whether a permanent change to the schedule is needed as proposed by the NPRM. This deviation will allow remote operation of the drawspan. Remote operation will enable the bridge to open on demand, instead of with a two-hour delay as it is currently operated when the on-site bridge tender is present.

Comments are requested on proposed flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of any Base Flood Elevation (BFE), base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundary or zone designation, or regulatory floodway on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided to the affected communities. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis 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, the FIRM and FIS report, once effective, will be used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents of those buildings.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a moving safety zone around large cruise ships as they transit the Lower Mississippi River between the Port of New Orleans Cruise Ship Terminal, mile marker 96.0 and the Southwest Pass Sea Buoy. The proposed moving safety zone extends from bank to bank encompassing one-mile ahead and one-mile astern of each large cruise ship. This safety measure is necessary to protect persons and vessels from the potential safety hazards associated with congested maritime traffic on the Lower Mississippi River.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announces that the TSA Maritime Self-Assessment Risk Module (TMSARM), developed to support the United States Coast Guard's (USCG) regulatory efforts promulgated pursuant to the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002, will no longer be available. Since the TMSARM became available, other tools for conducting vulnerability assessments became available and usage of the TMSARM has dropped off considerably.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement evaluating the impacts on the quality of the human environment of the National Flood Insurance Program as it is currently implemented and of potential future changes to the Program.

On March 1, 2012, the Coast Guard published a direct final rule, amending and updating its special local regulations and safety zones relating to recurring marine parades, regattas, fireworks displays, and other events that take place in the Eighth Coast Guard District area of responsibility. No adverse comment or notice of intent to submit an adverse comment was received. The rule will go into effect as scheduled. The Coast Guard is also correcting two entries in this rule through technical amendment. The first correction changes the event name in one entry and the second reduces the occurrence of an event and resulting safety zone from annually to biannually.

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the City of Eureka Fourth of July Fireworks in the Captain of the Port, San Francisco area of responsibility during the dates and times noted below. This action is necessary to protect life and property of the maritime public from the hazards associated with the fireworks display. During the enforcement period, unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring in the safety zone, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM).

The Coast Guard will enforce the safety zone for the City of Antioch Fourth of July Fireworks display in the Captain of the Port, San Francisco area of responsibility during the dates and times noted below. This action is necessary to protect life and property of the maritime public from the hazards associated with the fireworks display. During the enforcement period, unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring in the safety zone, unless authorized by the Patrol Commander (PATCOM).

The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection notice was previously published in the Federal Register on February 8, 2012, at 77 FR 6573, allowing for a 60-day public comment period. USCIS/did not receive any comments in connection with the 60-day notice.

The Coast Guard is establishing two temporary safety zones in the navigable waters of the East Passage, Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, during the America's Cup World Series (ACWS) sailing vessel racing event.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Hawaii (FEMA-4062-DR), dated April 18, 2012, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for State of Indiana (FEMA-4058-DR), dated March 9, 2012, and related determinations.

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 Coast Guard proposes to establish a safety zone at the entrance of Yaquina Bay in Newport, OR, for a local fireworks event. The safety zone is necessary to help ensure the safety of the maritime public during the display and would do so by prohibiting persons and vessels from entering the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Columbia River or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway Company swing span bridge across Bayou Boeuf, mile 10.2, at Amelia, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. The deviation is necessary to perform scheduled repairs necessitated by a bridge allision. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position for sixteen consecutive hours.

The Commander, First Coast Guard District, has issued a temporary deviation from the regulations governing the operation of the New Jersey Transit Rail Operations (NJTRO) Bridge, across the Raritan River, mile 0.5, at Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Under this temporary deviation the draw may remain in the closed position for four days to facilitate mechanical maintenance. Vessels that can pass under the draw without an opening may do so at all times. This deviation is necessary to facilitate scheduled bridge maintenance.

The Coast Guard is establishing a 420-foot radius safety zone on the navigable waters of James River in Richmond, VA in support of the Rocketts Red Glare Fireworks event. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the Rocketts Red Glare Fireworks show. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic movement to protect mariners and spectators from the hazards associated with aerial fireworks displays.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the Elizabeth River in the vicinity of Norfolk, VA to support the Naval Helicopter Association Reunion Helicopter Demonstration. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the Naval Helicopter Association Reunion Helicopter Demonstration. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic movement on the Elizabeth River to protect mariners from the hazards associated with air show events.

The Coast Guard will enforce the Special Local Regulation for the biennial Newport to Bermuda Regatta, Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, June 15, 2012. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter or remain in the regulated area except for participants in the event, supporting personnel, vessels registered with the event organizer, and personnel or vessels authorized by the Coast Guard on-scene patrol commander.

This proposed rule would amend the inland waterways navigation regulations. Specifically, this rule proposes to redefine the geographical points which currently demarcate an area of the Detroit River in which certain vessels are restricted to speeds not greater than 12 statute miles per hour (10.4 knots).

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 revision of a currently approved information collection. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice seeks comments concerning the Urban Search and Rescue Response System information collection.