Department of Homeland Security 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 September 19, 2016, at 84 FR 64190, allowing for a 60-day public comment period. USCIS did receive comments in connection with the 60-day notice.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension, without change, of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0119, Coast Guard Exchange System Scholarship Application. 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information without change: 1625-0008, Regattas and Marine Parades. 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.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0056, Labeling required in 33 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Parts 181 and 183 and 46 CFR 25.10-3. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

This notice informs the public of the extension of an earlier notice, which suspended certain requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal (Nepal) and who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the earthquake in Nepal on April 25, 2015. This notice extends the effective date of that earlier notice. These students will continue to be allowed to apply for employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session provided that they satisfy the minimum course load requirement, while continuing to maintain their F-1 student status until June 24, 2018.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for State of Florida (FEMA-4283-DR), dated October 8, 2016, and related determinations.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Tennessee (FEMA-4293-DR), dated December 15, 2016, and related determinations.

This document amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations regarding the requirement to file a Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) certification when importing into the customs territory of the United States chemicals in bulk form or as part of mixtures and articles containing a chemical or mixture. This document amends the regulations to establish an electronic option for importers to file the required U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) TSCA certifications, consistent with the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006. This document further amends the regulations to clarify and add certain definitions, and to eliminate the paper-based blanket certification process. The document was prepared in consultation with EPA, the agency with primary responsibility for implementing TSCA.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Wantagh Parkway Bridge, mile 15.4 and the Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge, mile 12.8, both across Sloop Channel, at Nassau, New York. This temporary deviation is necessary to facilitate public safety during a public event, the Jones Beach State Park U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Air Show. This deviation allows the bridges to remain in the closed position during the public event.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the 125 Street (Triborough) Bridge across the Harlem River, mile 1.3, at New York, New York. This deviation is necessary to allow the bridge owner to facilitate rehabilitation of the mechanical and electrical components of the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed position for the duration of the rehabilitation project.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster for the Soboba Band of Luise[ntilde]o Indians (FEMA-4206-DR), dated January 27, 2015, and related determinations.

The Department of Homeland Security Privacy Office seeks applicants for appointment to the DHS Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee.

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 October 17, 2016, at 81 FR 71521, allowing for a 60-day public comment period. USCIS received one comment in connection with the 60-day notice.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration (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 Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Westlake Bridge across the Calcasieu River, mile 36.4, at Westlake, Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. The deviation is necessary to repair and replace the existing lift rails and actuators on the east end of the bridge. These repairs are essential for the continued safe operation of the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed-to-navigation for a total of 36 hours on four different dates in December 2016 and January 2017.

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/national-flood-insurance-program-community-statu s-book.

The Department of Homeland Security is issuing a final rule to amend its regulations to exempt portions of a newly established system of records titled, ``Department of Homeland Security U.S. Customs and Border Protection (DHS/CBP)-023 Border Patrol Enforcement Records (BPER) System of Records'' from certain provisions of the Privacy Act. Specifically, the Department exempts portions of the ``DHS/CBP-023 BPER System of Records'' from one or more provisions of the Privacy Act because of criminal, civil, and administrative enforcement requirements.

This final rule adopts, without change, interim amendments to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations which were published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2013, as CBP Dec. No. 13-06. These amendments enabled DHS to transition the issuance of the Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) to an automated process. In the automated process, DHS creates a Form I-94 in an electronic format based on passenger, passport and visa information DHS obtains electronically from air and sea carriers and the Department of State (DOS) as well as through the inspection process. This document addresses the comments received in response to the interim rule and discusses some operational modifications to the Form I-94 process that were implemented after publication of the interim rule.

The Coast Guard will enforce the subject safety zone for First Night Fireworks on December 31, 2016, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during the fireworks display. Our regulation for Captain of the Port (COTP) Boston fireworks display zone, Boston Harbor, Boston, MA identifies the regulated area for this fireworks display. During the enforcement period, no vessel may transit this regulated area without approval from the COTP Boston or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard proposes to add permanent winter hours to the operating schedule of the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge (Bridge Road) at mile 8.8, over Trenton Channel at Grosse Ile, MI. A review of the current regulation was requested by the Grosse Ile Bridge Company, the owner of the Grosse Ile Toll Bridge (Bridge Road).

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is issuing this ANPRM to request public comments on several topics relevant to the development of surface transportation vulnerability assessment and security plan regulations mandated by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (9/11 Act). Based on its regular interaction with stakeholders, TSA assumes many higher-risk railroads (freight and passenger), public transportation agencies, and over-the- road buses (OTRBs) have implemented security programs with security measures similar to those identified by the 9/11 Act's regulatory requirements. In general, TSA is requesting information on three types of issues. First, existing practices, standards, tools, or other resources used or available for conducting vulnerability assessments and developing security plans. Second, information on existing security measures, including whether implemented voluntarily or in response to other regulatory requirements, and the potential impact of additional requirements on operations. Third, information on the scope/cost of current security systems and other measures used to provide security and mitigate vulnerabilities. This information is necessary for TSA to establish the current baseline, estimate cost of implementing the statutory mandate, and develop appropriate performance standards. While TSA will review and consider all comments submitted, TSA invites responses to a number of specific questions posed in the ANPRM. See the Comments Invited section under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION that follows.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD), Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM) has completed a Draft Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Assessment (SPEA) to assess the impacts resulting from the replacement of the existing Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) in order to meet obligations pertaining to expanded biometric service obligations. IDENT was developed in the 1990s by the Immigration and Naturalization Service as a pilot project. As DHS demands for biometric identity services grew and evolved, IDENT expanded both its customer base and services provided to those customers by retrofitting functionalities to its original pilot project foundation to meet urgent mission needs. The system has progressed from supporting one usage scenario and one stakeholder in 1994 to a multiplicity of business processes, services, and interfaces required to meet the needs of a variety of stakeholders. In 2003 the former United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) Program was designated as the DHS provider for biometric and associated biographic identity screening and analysis services. The primary mission of the former US-VISIT program was to serve as a repository of collected information on the unique identity of travelers and to collect, maintain, and share information related to entry, exit, and status events of foreign nationals in order to enhance national security, facilitate legitimate trade and travel, and ensure the integrity of our immigration system, while deploying the program in accordance with existing privacy laws and policies. This mission was accomplished through the deployment of discrete capabilities through two systems: IDENT and the Arrival and Departure Information System (ADIS). In 2013 OBIM assumed cross-cutting responsibility for DHS biometric identity services from the former US-VISIT Program. OBIM operates and maintains IDENT, and matches, stores, analyzes, and shares biometric data to provide more accurate and high assurance biometric identity information and analysis. IDENT, with its repository of biometrics and associated biographic data, is used by its customers for biometric identity verification and determination. Current IDENT customers include DHS components such as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Transportation Security Administration, and various elements of DHS Headquarters; the Intelligence Community; other Federal agencies including the Departments of Justice, State, and Defense; State and local law enforcement; and international partners. OBIM needs HART to replace the 22-year-old legacy IDENT system to ensure continued fulfillment of evolving customer and mission needs. The redesign and development of the system will address the baseline and current gaps including capacity, increased security and privacy protections, interoperability, unsustainable costs, and performance and availability. Support of the system for additional biometric identity modalities beyond fingerprints will address customer needs for alternative modalities, provide options for non-contact biometric data collection, improve performance, and increase interoperability with customers and partners that support multiple biometric modalities. For the Proposed Action, OBIM would develop and implement a solution to address increasing customer demand for biometric services in addition to providing technological advances, more efficient processing, and a flexible and a scalable platform to meet DHS's mid- and long-term identity needs. Several project alternatives explored in the SPEA were: (1) No Action; (2) Enhanced Baseline with Transaction Manager Replacement Alternative; (3) Data Driven Modular Alternative; and (4) Cloud Based and Managed Service. In reviewing the alternatives, OBIM's objective was to determine whether to prepare a ``Finding of No Significant Impact'' (FONSI) or an ``Environmental Impact Statement'' (EIS). With the No Action Alternative, minor indirect effects may occur with respect to noise and air quality from the slowing of services at customer locations. With Alternatives 2, 3, or 4, minor impacts are anticipated with respect to energy use. With any of these alternatives, OBIM will have an increase in capacity and scope of services which may increase energy use. However, it is also anticipated that the proposed improvements will increase efficiencies in the administration and use of OBIM services with all of the action alternatives. Therefore, energy impacts are expected to be minimal. For implementation of Alternative 4 specifically, managed service may be hosted in the existing DHS data centers or other federally approved sites. For the No Action Alternative and Alternative 4, potential changes to facilities or personnel may have some minimal effects, particularly with the potential for temporary construction. However, more specific analysis is not possible at this programmatic level of assessment, and would have to be performed with site-specific environmental analysis.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that Intertek USA, Inc. has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next three years as of June 9, 2016.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that AmSpec Services, LLC, 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 August 4, 2016.

This notice advises the public that the quarterly Internal Revenue Service interest rates used to calculate interest on overdue accounts (underpayments) and refunds (overpayments) of customs duties will remain the same from the previous quarter. For the calendar quarter beginning October 1, 2016, the interest rates for overpayments will be 3 percent for corporations and 4 percent for non-corporations, and the interest rate for underpayments will be 4 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.