Department of Homeland Security May 11, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Secretary, 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). DHS previously published this information collection request (ICR) in the Federal Register on Monday, February 22, 2016 at 81 FR 8736 for a 60-day public comment period. Three comments were received by DHS. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of its Practicability Review conducted for the purpose of determining whether technology to comply with a performance standard more stringent than that required by the Coast Guard's current regulations on Ballast Water Discharges can be practicably implemented and whether testing protocols that can assure accurate measurement of compliance with a more stringent performance standard can be practicably implemented. Coast Guard ballast water regulations require the Coast Guard to undertake and publish the results of its Practicability Review. In the Practicability Review, we conclude that, at this time, technology to achieve a significant improvement in ballast water treatment efficacy onboard vessels cannot be practicably implemented. The reason for this determination is that, as of the date of completion of the Practicability Review, there are no data demonstrating that ballast water management systems can meet a discharge standard more stringent than the existing performance standards. In light of this determination, the Coast Guard has not evaluated whether testing protocols exist which can accurately measure efficacy of treatment against a performance standard more stringent than the existing performance standards.