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

The Coast Guard announces the availability of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the proposed construction of a highway bridge across the Manatee River at Parrish, Manatee County, Florida. As a structure over navigable waters of the United States, the proposed bridge would require a Coast Guard bridge permit. The FEIS presents an analysis of the potential for impact to the natural, human and cultural environment of the proposed bridge.

The Coast Guard announces its intent to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) to develop, demonstrate, evaluate, and document viable technical approaches for securely forwarding maritime-related smart phone (voice image position and text) through Next Generation/Enhanced 9-1-1 (NG 911) into the Coast Guard Rescue21 System. The Coast Guard solicits public comment on the possible nature of and participation of other parties in the proposed CRADA. The Coast Guard also invites other potential non- Federal participants, who have the interest and capability to bring similar contributions to this type of research, to consider submitting proposals for consideration in similar CRADAs.

This final rule revises an existing interim rule to permanently establish a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) protecting floodwalls and levees in the New Orleans area from possible damage caused by vessels that can breakaway during certain tropical storm and hurricane conditions. This final rule also addresses comments from the public on the previously published Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) and economic review for this RNA. This action is necessary for the flood protection of high-risk areas throughout the Greater New Orleans Area when a tropical event threatens to approach and impact the area.

The Coast Guard will enforce a safety zone for the Pittsburgh Pirates Fireworks on the Allegheny River, from mile 0.4 to 0.6, extending the entire width of the river. This zone will be in effect on April 5, April 19, May 10, June 26, July 19, August 9, and September 20, 2014 from 9 p.m. until 11 p.m. This zone is needed to protect vessels transiting the area and event spectators from the hazards associated with the Pittsburgh Pirates Barge-based 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 National Boating Safety Advisory Council (NBSAC) will meet on May 8-9, 2014, in Arlington, VA, to discuss issues relating to recreational boating safety. The meetings will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is considering expanding its maritime safety training requirements to cover all persons other than crew working on offshore supply vessels (OSVs) and mobile offshore units (MOUs) engaged in activities on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), regardless of flag. This is necessary to enhance personnel preparedness for responding to emergencies such as fire, personal injury, and abandon ship situations in hazardous environments. We seek comments on the following topics: the sufficiency of existing maritime safety training and the value of additional maritime safety training for maritime crew and persons other than crew on OSVs and MOUs; an MOU's safety organizational structure (defining levels of authority and lines of communication); the professional education and service requirements for industrial officers on MOUs; the sufficiency of manning regulations on MOUs and OSVs; and any available economic data on current labor market trends and conditions as well as the current costs, benefits, and effectiveness of mandated maritime safety training courses and programs for maritime crew and persons other than crew.

The Coast Guard is establishing a permanent safety zone within the waters of the Raritan River upstream of the Perth Amboy Railroad Bridge. This safety zone is necessary to provide for the protection of the maritime public and safety of navigation during removal of underwater explosive hazards in the Raritan River. This action will protect the public from the dangers posed by underwater explosives by restricting unauthorized persons and vessels from traveling through or conducting underwater activities within a portion of the Raritan River while military munitions are rendered safe, detonated, and/or removed from the area. Entry into this zone (as well as a broad array of other actions) will be prohibited within the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port New York or the designated on-scene representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the schedule governing the operation of the Blynman (SR127) Bridge across the Annisquam River and Blynman Canal, mile 0.0, at Gloucester, Massachusetts. The deviation is necessary to facilitate public safety during a public event, the annual Saint Peter's Fiesta 5K Road Race. This temporary deviation authorizes the bridge to remain in the closed position for thirty minutes to facilitate public safety.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Blynman (SR127) Bridge across the Annisquam River and Blynman Canal, mile 0.0, at Gloucester, Massachusetts. The deviation is necessary to facilitate emergency structural repairs at the bridge. This temporary deviation authorizes the bridge to require a two hour advance notice for bridge openings for six weeks to facilitate emergency repairs at the bridge.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a Regulated Navigation Area (RNA) on the navigable waters of the Arthur Kill in New York and New Jersey from December 2014 through October 2018. This proposed rule would allow the Coast Guard to enforce speed and wake restrictions and prohibit vessel traffic through the RNA during bridge replacement operations on the Goethals Bridge, both planned and unforeseen, that could pose an imminent hazard to persons and vessels operating in the area. This proposed rule would also allow the Coast Guard to enforce navigation restrictions and prohibit vessel traffic during drilling, blasting, and dredging operations in support of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers channel deepening project. This proposed rule is necessary to provide for the safety of life in the regulated area during construction on the Goethals Bridge and the channel deepening project.

The Coast Guard is extending the Regulated Navigation Area promulgated for the navigable waters of the Arthur Kill in New York and New Jersey. This rule extends the Regulated Navigation Area until June 1, 2014, due to project delays.

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 January 30, 2014, at 79 FR 4952, allowing for a 60-day public comment period. USCIS received one public comment in connection with the 60-day notice.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone in the navigable waters of Richmond Inner Harbor near Richmond, CA in support of the Akadama Fireworks Display on April 19, 2014. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of participants and spectators from the dangers associated with the pyrotechnics. Unauthorized persons or vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or remaining in the safety zone without permission of the Captain of the Port or their designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish safety zones around four Chevron North America (Chevron) facilities located on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Mexico. The facilities are as follows: The Jack & St Malo Semi-Sub Facility located in Walker Ridge Block 718; The Petronius Compliant Tower Facility located in Viosca Knoll Block 786; The Blind Faith Semi-Sub Facility located in Mississippi Canyon Block 650; and The Tahiti SPAR Facility located in Green Canyon Block 641. The purpose of these safety zones is to protect each facility from vessels operating outside the normal shipping channels and fairways. Placing a safety zone around each 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.

By this direct final rule, the Coast Guard is removing the regulation for the safety zone at Snake Island, also known as Shoal Point, within the Texas City Channel. The Coast Guard is removing the regulation because it places general restrictions on vessels which are no longer necessary.

The Coast Guard proposes to amend the special local regulations for the ``RI Air National Guard Air Show'' and the ``Swim Buzzards Bay'' events. This amendment would add an additional month to the eligible dates for which the Safety Zone Regulations apply to each of these two events.

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 March 5, 2013.

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: Request for Entry or Departure for Flights To and From Cuba. 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting approval of a revision to the following collection of information: 1625-0036, Plan Approval and Records for U.S. and Foreign Tank Vessels Carrying Oil in Bulk. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

The Coast Guard proposes to establish a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia Beach, VA on September 11, 2014. This safety zone will restrict vessel movement in the specified area during the Virginia Symphony Orchestra Fireworks. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life and property on the surrounding navigable waters during the fireworks display.

The Coast Guard will enforce the 2014 Lake Havasu Desert Storm marine event special local regulations on April 26, 2014. This annual marine event occurs on the navigable waters of the Colorado River in Lake Havasu, Arizona. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, spectators, safety vessels, and general users of the waterway. During the enforcement period, persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee will meet on Wednesday, April 23, 2014 in New Orleans to discuss topics relating to navigational safety on the Lower Mississippi River. This meeting will be open to the public.

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, 2013, at 78 FR 76636, allowing for a 60-day public comment period. USCIS did receive multiple comments in connection with the 60-day notice. The comments, and USCIS' responses, are discussed within the Supporting Statement that can be found with the documents submitted to OMB in support of this proposed collection of information.

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 https:// www.fema.gov/fema/csb.shtm.