Department of Homeland Security January 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 April 11, 2014.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that Inspectorate America Corporation has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next three years as of July 29, 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 July 30, 2014.

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: Trusted Traveler Programs and U.S. APEC Business Travel Card. This is a proposed extension of an information collection that was previously approved. CBP is proposing that this information collection be extended with no change to the burden hours or to the information collected. This document is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

This notice advises the public of the quarterly Internal Revenue Service interest rates used to calculate interest on overdue accounts (underpayments) and refunds (overpayments) of customs duties. For the calendar quarter beginning January 1, 2015, the interest rates for overpayments will be 2 percent for corporations and 3 percent for non-corporations, and the interest rate for underpayments will be 3 percent for both corporations and non-corporations. This notice is published for the convenience of the importing public and U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has established the Global Entry international trusted traveler program at most major U.S. airports. Global Entry allows pre-approved, low-risk participants expedited entry into the United States using Global Entry kiosks located at designated airports. Currently, eligibility for participation in Global Entry is limited to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents, Mexican nationals, and certain eligible citizens of the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, the Federal Republic of Germany, the State of Qatar, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, participants in the NEXUS trusted traveler program and certain participants in the Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection (SENTRI) trusted traveler program are permitted to use the Global Entry kiosks as part of their membership in those programs.\1\ This document announces that CBP is expanding eligibility for Global Entry to include citizens of the Republic of Panama. All of these individuals must otherwise satisfy the requirements for participation in the Global Entry program. Additionally, this document announces that U.S. citizens who participate in Global Entry or U.S. citizens who can utilize Global Entry kiosks as NEXUS or SENTRI participants have the option to apply for membership in Panama Global Pass, the Republic of Panama's trusted traveler program.

The Office of Health Affairs published a document in the Federal Register of December 19, 2014, concerning the public release of a guidance document, Patient Decontamination in a Mass Chemical Exposure Incident: National Planning Guidance for Communities. The document was missing a URL directing readers to the electronic copy of the document.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters around the Eastport Breakwater Terminal in Eastport, Maine. This safety zone is intended to restrict vessels from approaching within 100 yards of the eastern face of the Eastport Breakwater Terminal without authorization from the Captain of the Port (COTP), Sector Northern New England. This action is necessary due to the uncertainty regarding the breakwater's strength following a partial collapse of the structure on December 4, 2014.

The Coast Guard is revising and consolidating existing regulated navigation areas, security zones and safety zones currently in place in Apra Harbor, Guam. This action will replace existing redundant, potentially confusing and outdated navigation regulations with a cogent regulatory framework in order to better meet the needs of the community and help ensure the safe and efficient use of the harbor.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone within the Lake Moolvalya region of the navigable waters of the Colorado River in Parker, Arizona in support of the Arizona Drag Boat Association sponsored race event, the Blue Water Resort and Casino Southwest Showdown. This safety zone is established to ensure the safety of participants, crew, spectators, participating vessels, and other vessels and users of the waterway. Unauthorized persons and vessels are prohibited from entering into, transiting through, or anchoring within this safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or their designated representative. The Coast Guard requests public comments on the temporary safety zone.

The Chemical Transportation Advisory Committee and its subcommittees will meet on February 24, 25, and 26, 2015, in New Orleans, LA, to discuss the safe and secure marine transportation of hazardous materials. The meetings will be open to the public.

This notice announces modifications and clarifications to U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP's) voluntary National Customs Automation Program eBond test, scheduled to deploy January 3, 2015. This test provides for the transmission in Automated Commercial Environment of electronic bond contracts (eBonds) between principals and sureties, with CBP as third-party beneficiary, for the purpose of linking those eBonds to the transactions they are intended to secure. The modifications and clarifications to CBP's eBond test concern: The method by which continuous bonds executed prior to or outside of the eBond test may be converted to eBonds by the surety and principal; a surety or principal's ability to terminate an eBond; the identification of the principal on an eBond by the filing identification number; and an email address correction.

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: Passenger List/Crew List (CBP Form I-418). CBP is proposing that this information collection be reinstated with a change to the burden hours. This document is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

Through this Notice, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) is extending the designation of the Syrian Arab Republic (Syria) for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, from April 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016, and redesignating Syria for TPS for 18 months, effective April 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016. The extension allows currently eligible TPS beneficiaries to retain TPS through September 30, 2016, so long as they otherwise continue to meet the eligibility requirements for TPS. The redesignation of Syria allows additional individuals who have been continuously residing in the United States since January 5, 2015 to obtain TPS, if otherwise eligible. The Secretary has determined that an extension of the current designation and a redesignation of Syria for TPS are warranted because the ongoing armed conflict and other extraordinary and temporary conditions that prompted the 2013 TPS redesignation have not only persisted, but have deteriorated, and because the ongoing armed conflict in Syria and other extraordinary and temporary conditions would pose a serious threat to the personal safety of Syrian nationals if they were required to return to their country. Through this Notice, DHS also sets forth procedures necessary for nationals of Syria (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Syria) 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 2012 original Syria designation or under the 2013 Syria redesignation, the 60-day re-registration period runs from January 5, 2015 through March 6, 2015. USCIS will issue new EADs with a September 30, 2016 expiration date to eligible Syria 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 March 31, 2015. Accordingly, through this Notice, DHS automatically extends the validity of EADs issued under the TPS designation of Syria for 6 months, through September 30, 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 January 5, 2015 through July 6, 2015. In addition to demonstrating continuous residence in the United States since January 5, 2015 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 April 1, 2015, the effective date of this redesignation of Syria, before USCIS may grant them TPS. TPS initial applications that were either filed during 2012 designation or during the 2013 Syria redesignation and remain pending on January 5, 2015 will be treated as initial applications under this 2015 redesignation. Individuals who have a pending initial Syria 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 September 30, 2016.

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of Homeland Security proposes to update and reissue a current Department of Homeland Security system of records titled, ``Department of Homeland Security/Transportation Security AdministrationDHS/TSA-019 Secure Flight Records System of Records.'' This system of records allows the Department of Homeland Security/Transportation Security Administration to collect and maintain records on aviation passengers and certain non- travelers to screen such individuals before they access airport sterile areas or board aircraft, in order to identify and prevent a threat to aviation security or to the lives of passengers and others. TSA is reissuing this system of records to update the categories of records to include records containing risk-based assessments generated by aircraft operators using data in their Computer-Assisted Passenger Prescreening Systems (CAPPS). These CAPPS assessments are used in risk- based analysis of Secure Flight and other prescreening data that produces a boarding pass printing result for each passenger. This change identifies additional passengers who may be eligible for expedited screening at airport security checkpoints. This updated system will continue to be included in the Department of Homeland Security's inventory of record systems. Additionally, this notice includes non-substantive changes to simplify the formatting and text of the previously published notice.

A working group of the Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee will meet to work on and review Task Statement 30, concerning evaluating military education, training, and assessment for the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 and U.S. Coast Guard Certifications. This meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily change the operating schedule that governs the Simpson Avenue Bridge on the Hoquiam River, mile 0.5, at Hoquiam, Washington. The proposed rule change is necessary to accommodate Washington State Department of Transportation's (WSDOT) extensive maintenance and restoration efforts on that bridge. The bridge is currently scheduled to open on signal if at least one hour of notice is given. From April 1, 2015 to November 30, 2015, the Coast Guard proposes to only open half of the bascule, a single leaf, of the bridge when at least two hours of notice is given.

The Coast Guard is changing the operating schedule that governs the Amtrak Bridge across the Thames River at mile 3.0, at New London, Connecticut. The bridge owner, National Passenger Railroad Corporation (Amtrak), submitted a request to allow the Amtrak Bridge to open to 75 feet above mean high water instead of the full bridge opening at 135.3 feet above mean high water, unless a full bridge opening is requested. It is expected that this change to the regulations will create more efficiency in drawbridge operations while continuing to meet the reasonable needs of navigation.

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 collections of information: 1625-0013, Plan Approval and Records for Load LinesTitle 46 CFR Subchapter E; 1625- 0094, Ships Carrying Bulk Hazardous Liquids; 1625-0096, Report of Oil or Hazardous Substance Discharge and Report of Suspicious Maritime Activity; 1625-0097, Plan Approval and Records for Marine Engineering SystemsTitle 46 CFR Subchapter F; and 1625-0101, Periodic Gauging and Engineering Analyses for Certain Tank Vessels over 30 Year Old. Our ICRs describe the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting these ICRs to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.