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

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of North Dakota (FEMA-4190-DR), dated August 19, 2014, and related determinations.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act: CBP Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record), CBP Form I-94W (Nonimmigrant Visa Waiver Arrival/Departure), and the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). CBP is proposing that this information collection be extended with a change to the burden hours. This document is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Southern Railroad Drawbridge across the Tennessee River, mile 304.4, at Decatur, Alabama. The deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner time to replace and adjust the down haul operating ropes that are essential to the continued safe operation of the drawbridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position and not open to vessel traffic.

This notice amends the notice of an emergency declaration for the State of Washington (FEMA-3371-EM), dated July 23, 2014, and related determinations.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Washington (FEMA-4188-DR), dated August 11, 2014, and related determinations.

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.

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.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Iowa (FEMA-4187-DR), dated August 5, 2014, and related determinations.

Each year, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is required by the Write-Your-Own (WYO) Program Financial Assistance/ Subsidy Arrangement (Arrangement) to notify private insurance companies (Companies) and to make available to the Companies the terms for subscription or re-subscription to the Arrangement. In keeping with that requirement, this notice provides the terms to the Companies to subscribe or re-subscribe to the Arrangement.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission will describe the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated burden (i.e., the time, effort and resources used by respondents to respond) and cost, and the actual data collection instruments FEMA will use.

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 safety zone on the navigable waters of the Elizabeth River in the vicinity of the Midtown Tunnel, Portsmouth, Virginia for 12 periods of 48 hours each beginning at midnight on January 1, January 12, January 19, January 22, January 27, February 9, March 2, March 5, March 10, March 23, March 30 and April 6, 2015. This proposed safety zone is intended to restrict vessel movement in the specified area during the construction of the new Midtown Tunnel. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life and property on the surrounding navigable waters during the aforementioned dates due to the increased amount of work vessels in the area.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Montlake Bridge across the Lake Washington Ship Canal, mile 5.2, at Seattle, WA. The deviation continues to allow the Washington State Department of Transportation to accommodate vehicular traffic attending football games, and maintain the bridge in the closed to navigation position. This deviation modifies the previously approved deviation under the same docket number.

The Coast Guard announces that a Certificate of Alternative Compliance was issued for the passenger vessel CHICAGO'S CLASSIC LADY as required by 33 U.S.C. 1605(c) and 33 CFR 81.18.

The Coast Guard is changing the enforcement period of a security zone regulation within the Baltimore COTP Zone. This regulation applies to a recurring event that takes place on the William P. Lane Jr. Memorial Bridges, across the Chesapeake Bay, between Sandy Point and Kent Island, MD. This action is necessary to protect persons and property, and prevent terrorist acts or incidents on navigable waters during the event. This rule prohibits vessels and people from entering the security zone and requires vessels and persons in the security zone to depart the security zone, unless specifically exempt under the provisions in this rule or granted specific permission from the Coast Guard Captain of the Port Baltimore.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the Wheeling Vintage Raceboat Regatta on the Ohio River, from mile 90.2 to 90.8, extending the entire width of the river. This zone will be in effect on August 30-31, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. This regulated area is necessary to protect vessels participating in the event and event spectators from the hazards associated with a boat race on the waterway. During the enforcement period, entry into, transiting, or anchoring in the safety zone is prohibited to all vessels not registered with the sponsor as participants or official patrol vessels, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Pittsburgh or a designated representative.

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee will meet to discuss various issues related to the training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. This meeting will be open to the public.

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 extension 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 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 extension. 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 proposes revisions to its regulations for commercial fishing vessels carrying flammable or combustible liquid cargoes in bulk. The proposed revisions would reflect a 1984 statutory change that eliminated fishery-specific and geographical limitations on a statutory exemption that, effectively, permits certain commercial fishing vessels to carry and dispense flammable and combustible material including petroleum products; additionally, this proposed revision would simplify regulatory text. This notice of proposed rulemaking promotes the Coast Guard's maritime safety mission.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for the Bob O'Connor Foundation Fireworks on the Ohio River from mile 0.0 to 0.1. This zone will be in effect on August 20, 2014 from 8:30 p.m. until 9:40 p.m. This zone is needed to protect vessels transiting the area and event spectators from the hazards associated with the Bob O'Connor Foundation Fireworks. During the enforcement period, entry into, transiting, or anchoring in the safety zone is prohibited to all vessels not registered with the sponsor as participants or official patrol vessels, unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Pittsburgh or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is temporarily changing the enforcement date of the special local regulation for the recurring air show event known as the Ocean City Air Show, held over the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, adjacent to Ocean City, New Jersey. The change of enforcement date for the special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of life on navigable waters during the event. This action will restrict vessel traffic in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to Ocean City, New Jersey, during the event.

The Coast Guard proposes to increase the limits of liability for vessels, deepwater ports, and onshore facilities, under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, as amended (OPA 90), to reflect significant increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). We also propose a simplified regulatory procedure for the Coast Guard to make future required periodic CPI increases to the OPA 90 limits of liability for vessels, deepwater ports, and onshore facilities. These regulatory inflation increases to the limits of liability are required by OPA 90, and are necessary to preserve the deterrent effect and ``polluter pays'' principle embodied in OPA 90. Finally, we propose language to clarify applicability of the OPA 90 vessel limits of liability to two categories of tank vessels, edible oil cargo tank vessels and tank vessels designated as oil spill response vessels. This clarification to the existing regulatory text is needed for consistency with OPA 90.

This notice requests individuals interested in serving on the Boston Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC) to submit their applications for membership, to the Captain of the Port (COTP), Boston, MA.