Department of Homeland Security November 18, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard announces that the First District Prevention Department's Inspections and Investigations Division has issued a Certificate of Alternate Compliance (COAC) from the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS) for the TUG MAXWELL PAUL MORAN as required by statue. Due to its operations as a harbor assistance and escort vessel it cannot fully comply with the sidelight, stern light, and towing light provisions of the 72 COLREGS without interfering with its ability to make up and assist other vessels. This notice promotes the Coast Guard's maritime safety and stewardship missions.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its regulations related to certain employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant visa programs. Specifically, the final rule provides various benefits to participants in those programs, including the following: improved processes and increased certainty for U.S. employers seeking to sponsor and retain immigrant and nonimmigrant workers; greater stability and job flexibility for those workers; and increased transparency and consistency in the application of DHS policy related to affected classifications. Many of these changes are primarily aimed at improving the ability of U.S. employers to hire and retain high-skilled workers who are beneficiaries of approved employment-based immigrant visa petitions and are waiting to become lawful permanent residents, while increasing the ability of those workers to seek promotions, accept lateral positions with current employers, change employers, or pursue other employment options.