Department of Homeland Security February 10, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment upon this proposed new collection of information. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the information collection notice is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments regarding proposed modifications to certain DHS immigration and foreign travel forms. This collection of information is necessary to comply with Section 5 of the Executive Order (E.O.) 13780, ``Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States'' to establish screening and vetting standards and procedures to enable DHS to assess an alien's eligibility to travel to or be admitted to the United States or to receive an immigration-related benefit from DHS. This data collection also is used to validate an applicant's identity information and to determine whether such travel or grant of a benefit poses a law enforcement or national security risk to the United States. DHS previously published this information collection request (ICR) in the Federal Register on Wednesday, September 4, 2019 for a 60-day public comment period. One- hundred and seven (107) comments were received by DHS. The purpose of this notice is to allow additional 30-days for public comments.

By law, the Secretary of Homeland Security is required to commission an assessment of how effective the transportation security card program is at enhancing security and reducing security risks for regulated maritime facilities and vessels. Through the transportation security card program, the Department issues the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC[supreg]). Legislation passed August 2, 2018 restricts the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) from implementing any rule requiring the use of biometric readers for TWIC[supreg] until after submission to Congress of the results of this effectiveness assessment. The Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center (HSOAC), a federally funded research and development center operated by the RAND Corporation, will collect information from those involved in maritime security on behalf of the DHS S&T Office of Innovation and Collaboration (OIC) Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) Program Management Office. HSOAC will visit regulated maritime facilities and terminals and conduct interviews using a semi-structured interview method to collect information. HSOAC will analyze this information and use it to produce a public report with its research findings.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of New York (FEMA-4472-DR), dated December 19, 2019, and related determinations.