Department of Homeland Security September 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Tennessee (FEMA-4189-DR), dated August 13, 2014, and related determinations.

On July 9, 2014, FEMA published in the Federal Register a proposed flood hazard determination notice that contained erroneous tables. This notice provides corrections to those tables, to be used in lieu of the information published at 79 FR 38926 and 79 FR 38927. The tables provided here represent the proposed flood hazard determinations and communities affected for the Narragansett HUC8 Watershed, including Bristol County, Massachusetts (All Jurisdictions), Norfolk County, Massachusetts (All Jurisdictions), and Plymouth County, Massachusetts (All Jurisdictions), and Des Moines County, Iowa, and Incorporated Areas.

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).

New or modified Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, and/or regulatory floodways (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.

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.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment upon this proposed revision of a currently approved collection of information. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the information collection notice is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments regarding the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated burden (i.e., the time, effort, and resources used by the respondents to respond), the estimated cost to the respondent, and the actual information collection instruments.

The Coast Guard will enforce a segment of the Safety Zone; Brandon Road Lock and Dam to Lake Michigan including Des Plaines River, Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, Chicago River, Calumet-Saganashkee Channel on all waters of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal from Mile Marker 296.1 to Mile Marker 296.7 at specified times from September 3, 2014, to November 26, 2014. This action is necessary to protect the waterway, waterway users, and vessels from the hazards associated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' installation of a new permanent fish barrier. During the enforcement periods listed below, entry into, transiting, mooring, laying-up or anchoring within the enforced area of this safety zone by any person or vessel is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Lake Michigan, or her designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes modifying the operating schedule that governs the East Venetian Causeway Bridge across Miami Beach Channel, Miami-Dade County, Florida. For approximately nine months, the West Venetian Causeway Bridge will remain in the open position to complete necessary repairs. This rule is proposed to ensure that vehicular traffic will be able to access and depart from the Venetian Causeway via the East Venetian Causeway Bridge while these repairs are completed.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will hold a meeting of the Aviation Security Advisory Committee (ASAC) on Friday, October 3, 2014, to discuss issues listed in the ``Meeting Agenda'' section below. This meeting will be partially closed to the public to protect transportation and national security.

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 Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment upon this proposed revision of a currently approved collection of information or new collection of information. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the information collection notice is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments regarding the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated burden (i.e. the time, effort, and resources used by the respondents to respond), the estimated cost to the respondent, and the actual information collection instruments.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a special local regulation on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of Clearwater Beach, Florida during the Clearwater Super Boat National Championship. The race is scheduled to take place annually from approximately 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily during the last Saturday and Sunday of September. The proposed special local regulation is necessary to protect the safety of race participants, participant vessels, spectators, and the general public on the navigable waters of the United States during the event. The special local regulation would restrict vessel traffic in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in the vicinity of Clearwater, Florida. It would establish the following three areas: a race area, where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels participating in the high speed boat races, are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within; a spectator area, where all vessels must be anchored or operate at No Wake Speed; and an enforcement area where designated representatives may control vessel traffic as determined by the prevailing conditions.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the West Duwamish Waterway in Seattle, Washington due to scheduled drydock movement at Vigor Industrial. The safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of the maritime public and workers involved in the drydock movement. The safety zone will prohibit any person or vessel from entering or remaining in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port or a 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 the Boeuf Bayou, mile 10.2, in Amelia, St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. The deviation is necessary to complete scheduled maintenance and repairs for the continued safe operation of the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position for seven consecutive hours.

The Department of Homeland Security will submit the following Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that AmSpec Services, LLC, has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next three years as of June 11, 2014.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that Intertek USA, Inc. has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next three years as of August 29, 2013. This notice modifies a notice previously published on July 9, 2014 in the Federal Register (79 FR 38942) by including one additional laboratory method in the list of accredited methods, specifically ASTM D 3606.

The Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee will meet to discuss matters relating to medical certification determinations for issuance of licenses, certificates of registry, merchant mariners' documents, medical standards and guidelines for the physical qualifications of operators of commercial vessels, medical examiner education, and medical research. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is establishing a Special Local Regulation for a series of powerboat races located in the Captain of the Port Detroit Zone on the Detroit River, Detroit, Michigan. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life and property on navigable waters during this event. This special local regulation will establish restrictions upon, and control movement of, vessels in a portion of the Detroit River during the Detroit Offshore Grand Prix events.

The Board of Visitors for the National Fire Academy (Board) will meet on September 18-19, 2014. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Commercial Fishing Safety Advisory Committee will meet in Providence, Rhode Island to discuss various issues relating to safety in the commercial fishing industry. This meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone around the Gulfstar 1 SPAR, Mississippi Canyon Block 724 on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico. The purpose of the safety zone is to protect the facility from vessels operating outside the normal shipping channels and fairways. Placing a safety zone around the facility will significantly reduce the threat of allisions, oil spills, and releases of natural gas, and thereby protect the safety of life, property, and the environment.

Through this Notice, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) is extending the designation of South Sudan for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months from November 3, 2014 through May 2, 2016, and redesignating South Sudan for TPS for 18 months, effective November 3, 2014 through May 2, 2016. The extension allows currently eligible TPS beneficiaries to retain TPS through May 2, 2016, so long as they otherwise continue to meet the eligibility requirements for TPS. The redesignation of South Sudan allows additional individuals who have been continuously residing in the United States since September 2, 2014 to obtain TPS, if otherwise eligible. The Secretary has determined that an extension of the current designation and a redesignation of South Sudan for TPS are warranted because of the ongoing armed conflict and other extraordinary and temporary conditions that prompted the 2013 TPS redesignation have not only persisted, but have deteriorated. The ongoing armed conflict in South Sudan and other extraordinary and temporary conditions would pose a serious threat to the personal safety of South Sudanese nationals if they were required to return to their country. Through this Notice, DHS also sets forth procedures necessary for nationals of South Sudan (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in South Sudan) either to: (1) Re-register under the extension if they already have TPS and to apply for renewal of their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); or, (2) submit an initial registration application under the redesignation and apply for an EAD. For individuals who have already been granted TPS under the 2011 original South Sudan designation or under the 2013 South Sudan redesignation, the 60-day re-registration period runs from September 2, 2014 through November 3, 2014. USCIS will issue new EADs with a May 2, 2016 expiration date to eligible South Sudan TPS beneficiaries who timely re-register and apply for EADs under this extension. Given the timeframes involved with processing TPS re- registration applications, DHS recognizes that not all re-registrants will receive new EADs before their current EADs expire on November 2, 2014. Accordingly, through this Notice, DHS automatically extends the validity of EADs issued under the TPS designation of South Sudan for 6 months, through May 2, 2015, and explains how TPS beneficiaries and their employers may determine which EADs are automatically extended and their impact on Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) and E- Verify processes. Under the redesignation, individuals who currently do not have TPS (or an initial TPS application pending) may submit an initial application during the 180-day initial registration period that runs from September 2, 2014 through March 2, 2015. In addition to demonstrating continuous residence in the United States since September 2, 2014 and meeting other eligibility criteria, initial applicants for TPS under this redesignation must demonstrate that they have been continuously physically present in the United States since November 3, 2014, the effective date of this redesignation of South Sudan, before USCIS may grant them TPS. TPS applications that were filed during the 2013 South Sudan redesignation that remain pending on September 2, 2014 will be treated as initial applications under this 2014 redesignation. Therefore, individuals who have a pending South Sudan TPS application will not need to file a new Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I- 821). DHS provides additional instructions in this Notice for individuals whose TPS applications remain pending and who would like to obtain an EAD valid through May 2, 2016.