Department of Homeland Security March 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is withdrawing its proposed rule concerning proposed flood elevation determinations for Sussex County, Delaware, and Incorporated Areas.

On October 7, 2010, FEMA published in the Federal Register a proposed rule that contained an erroneous table. On September 11, 2012, a correction to that original notice was published in the Federal Register. This notice provides corrections to that initial table and the correction notice, to be used in lieu of the information published at 75 FR 62061 and at 77 FR 55785. The table provided here represents the flooding sources, location of referenced elevations, effective and modified elevations, and communities affected for Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania (All Jurisdictions). Specifically, it addresses the following flooding sources: Good Spring Creek, Little Schuylkill River, Mahanoy Creek, Schuylkill River, and West Branch Schuylkill River.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Louisiana (FEMA-4102-DR), dated February 22, 2013, 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. Also, information identifying the current participation status of a community can be obtained from FEMA's Community Status Book (CSB). The CSB is available at http:/ /www.fema.gov/fema/csb.shtm.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), 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 December 18, 2012, at 77 FR 74861, allowing for a 60-day public comment period. USCIS received one public comment submission in connection with the 60-day notice.

New or modified Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, and/or the regulatory floodway (hereinafter referred to as flood hazard determinations) as shown on the indicated Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) for each of the communities listed in the table below are finalized. Each LOMR revises the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and in some cases the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports, currently in effect for the listed communities. The flood hazard determinations modified by each LOMR will be used to calculate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and their contents.

This notice lists communities where the addition or modification of Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, or the regulatory floodway (hereinafter referred to as flood hazard determinations), as shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports, prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for each community, is appropriate because of new scientific or technical data. The FIRM, and where applicable, portions of the FIS report, have been revised to reflect these flood hazard determinations through issuance of a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), in accordance with Title 44, Part 65 of the Code of Federal Regulations (44 CFR Part 65). The LOMR will be used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents of those buildings. For rating purposes, the currently effective community number is shown in the table below and must be used for all new policies and renewals.

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.

Flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, or regulatory floodways on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports have been made final for the communities listed in the table below. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that a 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 Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, the FIRM and FIS report are used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for buildings and the contents of those buildings.

Flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, or regulatory floodways on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports have been made final for the communities listed in the table below. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that a 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 Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, the FIRM and FIS report are used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for buildings and the contents of those buildings.

The Coast Guard is changing the drawbridge operation regulation that governs the operation of the New England Central Railroad Bridge across Missisquoi Bay, mile 105.6, at Swanton, Vermont, and removing the regulation for the SR78 highway bridge at mile 105.9. The owner of the New England Central Railroad Bridge has requested to operate the bridge from a remote location, at St. Albans, Vermont. It is expected that this change to the regulations will provide relief to the bridge owner from crewing the bridge while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.

This final rule amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to reflect the imposition of import restrictions on certain archaeological material from Belize. These restrictions are being imposed pursuant to an agreement between the United States and Belize that has been entered into under the authority of the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act in accordance with the 1970 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property. The final rule amends CBP regulations by adding Belize to the list of countries for which a bilateral agreement has been entered into for imposing cultural property import restrictions. The final rule also contains the designated list that describes the types of archaeological material to which the restrictions apply.

The Coast Guard is changing the enforcement period of a safety zone regulation for the annual movement of the historic sloop-of-war USS CONSTELLATION. This regulation applies to a recurring event that takes place in Baltimore, MD. The safety zone regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action is intended to restrict vessel traffic in portions of the Patapsco River, Northwest Harbor and Inner Harbor during the event.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters, from surface to seabed, around the Outer Continental Shelf Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) KULLUK currently located in Kiliuda Bay, Kodiak Island, Alaska with planned towed transit into Captains Bay, Unalaska Island, AK. The temporary safety zone will encompass the navigable waters within a 1000 meter radius of the MODU KULLUK while it is being towed to and located within Captains Bay to include while at anchor and through the loading of the MODU KULLUK onto the transport ship M/V XIANG RUI KOU. The purpose of the safety zone is to protect persons and vessels from the inherent dangers of towing and loading operations of the MODU KULLUK.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-4101-DR), dated February 13, 2013, and related determinations.

Flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, or regulatory floodways on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports have been made final for the communities listed in the table below. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that a 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 Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, the FIRM and FIS report are used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for buildings and the contents of those buildings.

This notice amends the notice of an emergency declaration for the State of Connecticut (FEMA-3361-EM), dated February 10, 2013, and related determinations.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-4101-DR), dated February 13, 2013, and related determinations.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), Office of National Laboratories (ONL) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are requesting information regarding utilization alternatives for the planned Biotechnology Development Module (BDM) a planned component of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). The BDM will provide a distinct environment for scientific synergy, attract animal health industry involvement and serve to encourage public- private partnerships as countermeasures developed for agricultural biodefense emerge from NBAF. The information provided by industry and other interested stakeholders in response to this RFI will be used by DHS and USDA to better plan the scope, capacity, and utilization alternatives for the BDM facility. DHS and USDA are requesting that this information be provided in writing per the guidelines below. There will also be an opportunity for interested parties to participate in a workshop with DHS and USDA.

The Homeland Security Academic Advisory Council (HSAAC) will meet on March 20, 2013 in Washington, DC. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone in the Captain of the Port New York Zone on the specified date and time. This action is necessary to ensure the safety of participants, vessels and spectators from hazards associated with the escape artist event and associated pyrotechnics display. During the enforcement period, no person or vessel may enter the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port (COTP).