Department of Homeland Security 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Florida (FEMA-4399-DR), dated October 11, 2018, and related determinations.

Comments are requested on proposed flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of any Base Flood Elevation (BFE), base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundary or zone designation, or regulatory floodway on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided to the affected communities. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, the FIRM and FIS report, once effective, will be used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents of those buildings.

The Coast Guard is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Fedreal Register on November 5, 2018. The document issued a final rule that permited tankers with automatic pilot systems that meet certain international standards to operate using those systems in shipping safety fairways and traffic separation schemes specified in 33 CFR parts 166 and 167, respectively.

The DHS Data Privacy and Integrity Advisory Committee will meet on Monday, December 10, 2018, in Washington, DC The meeting will be open to the public.

The Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (``DOJ,'' ``DHS,'' or, collectively, ``the Departments'') are adopting an interim final rule governing asylum claims in the context of aliens who are subject to, but contravene, a suspension or limitation on entry into the United States through the southern border with Mexico that is imposed by a presidential proclamation or other presidential order (``a proclamation'') under section 212(f) or 215(a)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (``INA''). Pursuant to statutory authority, the Departments are amending their respective existing regulations to provide that aliens subject to such a proclamation concerning the southern border, but who contravene such a proclamation by entering the United States after the effective date of such a proclamation, are ineligible for asylum. The interim rule, if applied to a proclamation suspending the entry of aliens who cross the southern border unlawfully, would bar such aliens from eligibility for asylum and thereby channel inadmissible aliens to ports of entry, where they would be processed in a controlled, orderly, and lawful manner. This rule would apply only prospectively to a proclamation issued after the effective date of this rule. It would not apply to a proclamation that specifically includes an exception for aliens applying for asylum, nor would it apply to aliens subject to a waiver or exception provided by the proclamation. DHS is amending its regulations to specify a screening process for aliens who are subject to this specific bar to asylum eligibility. DOJ is amending its regulations with respect to such aliens. The regulations would ensure that aliens in this category who establish a reasonable fear of persecution or torture could seek withholding of removal under the INA or protection from removal under regulations implementing U.S. obligations under Article 3 of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (``CAT'').

This document provides notification of substantive rules issued by the Coast Guard that were made temporarily effective but expired before they could be published in the Federal Register. This document lists temporary safety zones, security zones, special local regulations, drawbridge operation regulations and regulated navigation areas, all of limited duration and for which timely publication in the Federal Register was not possible.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) (collectively, the Departments), are jointly proposing regulatory revisions that would modernize the recruitment an employer seeking H-2B nonimmigrant workers must conduct when applying for a temporary labor certification. In particular, the Departments are proposing to replace the print newspaper advertisements that their regulations currently require with electronic advertisements posted on the internet, which the Departments believe will be a more effective and efficient means of disseminating information about job openings to U.S. workers. The Departments are proposing to replace, rather than supplement, the newspaper requirements because they believe that exclusive electronic advertisements posted on a website appropriate for the workers likely to apply for the job opportunity in the area of intended employment would best ensure that U.S. workers learn of job opportunities.

This document provides notice to customs brokers that the annual user fee that is assessed for each permit held by a broker, whether it may be an individual, partnership, association, or corporation, is due by January 25, 2019. Pursuant to fee adjustments required by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) and CBP regulations, the annual user fee payable in calendar year 2019 will be $144.74.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has approved the following organizations to assess third-party explosives detection canine teams to determine whether they meet TSA's standards for screening air cargo. This notice announces the list of approved certifying organizations, and establishes a certification start date of November 1, 2018. TSA-approved 3PK9-C Certifiers may begin certifying canine teams to TSA standards effective November 1, 2018, and may continue to certify teams thereafter. All certification events must be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the 3PK9-C Order, by an Authorized Evaluator employed by a TSA-approved 3PK9-C Certifier.

Comments are requested on proposed flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of any Base Flood Elevation (BFE), base flood depth, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundary or zone designation, or regulatory floodway on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports for the communities listed in the table below. The purpose of this notice is to seek general information and comment regarding the preliminary FIRM, and where applicable, the FIS report that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has provided to the affected communities. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that the community is required either to adopt or to show evidence of having in effect in order to qualify or remain qualified for participation in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, the FIRM and FIS report, once effective, will be used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents of those buildings.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Kansas (FEMA-4403-DR), dated October 19, 2018, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of North Carolina (FEMA-4393-DR), dated September 14, 2018, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of South Carolina (FEMA-4394-DR), dated September 16, 2018, and related determinations.

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 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 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 will permit tankers with automatic pilot systems that meet certain international standards to operate using those systems in shipping safety fairways and traffic separation schemes specified in 33 CFR parts 166 and 167, respectively. This final rule removes the previous regulatory restriction, updates the technical requirements for automatic pilot systems, and promotes the Coast Guard's maritime safety and stewardship (environmental protection) missions by enhancing maritime safety.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Upper Mississippi River from mile marker (MM) 179 to MM 180. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of persons, vessels, and the marine environment on these navigable waters near St. Louis, MO, during a fireworks display. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River or a designated representative.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Florida (FEMA-4399-DR), dated October 11, 2018, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of an emergency declaration for the State of Florida (FEMA-3405-EM), dated October 9, 2018, and related determinations.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary security zone for navigable waters on Lake Erie for a senior government official's visit to Cleveland, OH. The security zone is necessary to protect the official party, the public and surrounding waterways from terrorist acts, sabotage or other subversive acts, accidents, or other causes of a similar nature. Entry of vessels or persons into the zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Buffalo or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the State Route 82 (Little Prairie) swing span bridge across Schooner Bayou Canal (Old Intracoastal Waterway), mile 4.0, in Little Prairie Ridge, LA. The deviation is necessary to replace hydraulic piping, which will increase the reliability of the bridge's operation. This deviation allows the bridge four approved daylight openings four hours apart and to remain in the closed-to-navigation position at night.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Columbia River between river mile 142 and 143 in vicinity of Cascade Locks, Oregon. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by salvage operations of the tug DIANE. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Columbia River.

The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the LaCrosse Railroad Drawbridge across the Upper Mississippi River, mile 699.8, at LaCrosse, Wisconsin. The deviation is necessary to facilitate repairs essential for the safe operation of the drawbridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain in the closed-to-navigation position for approximately four (4) hours weekdays.