Department of Homeland Security August 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for emergency purposes for all waters of the Lower Mississippi River (LMR), between Mile Marker 618 and 622. The emergency safety zone is needed to protect persons, property, infrastructure, and the marine environment from the potential safety hazards associated with the Mat Sinking Unit effort in the vicinity of the Knowlton Revetment, AR. Deviation from the safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Lower Mississippi River or a designated representative.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of California (FEMA-4558-DR), dated August 22, 2020, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Arkansas (FEMA-4556-DR), dated July 10, 2020, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-4551-DR), dated July 9, 2020, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-4536-DR), dated April 16, 2020, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-4470-DR), dated December 6, 2019, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-4429-DR), dated April 23, 2019, and related determinations.

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 Louisiana (FEMA-3538-EM), dated August 23, 2020, 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 National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee teleconference meeting scheduled for August 26, 2020 and announced in the Federal Register on July 28, 2020 has been rescheduled.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to amend its Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) program regulations to reflect current statutory authority and agency practice. FEMA's HMA program regulations consist of the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), financial assistance for property acquisition and relocation of open space, and mitigation planning program regulations. FEMA proposes to revise the FMA grant program regulations to incorporate changes made by amendments to the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (NFIA). Finally, FEMA proposes to update terms and definitions throughout the HMA and Mitigation Planning program regulations to better align with uniform administrative requirements that apply to all Federal assistance.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters within defined points during the launch of SpaceX Falcon 9 SAOCOM1B mission. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by space vehicles being launched in a direction resulting in a polar orbit trajectory. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Jacksonville.

The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). The information collection is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. Comments are encouraged and must be submitted (no later than September 28, 2020) to be assured of consideration.

The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). The information collection is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. Comments are encouraged and must be submitted (no later than October 26, 2020 to be assured of consideration.

This document announces the decision of the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to continue to temporarily limit the travel of individuals from Canada into the United States at land ports of entry along the United States-Canada border. Such travel will be limited to ``essential travel,'' as further defined in this document.

This notice lists communities where the addition or modification of Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, or the regulatory floodway (hereinafter referred to as flood hazard determinations), as shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports, prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for each community, is appropriate because of new scientific or technical data. The FIRM, and where applicable, portions of the FIS report, have been revised to reflect these flood hazard determinations through issuance of a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), in accordance with Federal Regulations. The LOMR will be used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents of those buildings. For rating purposes, the currently effective community number is shown in the table below and must be used for all new policies and renewals.

New or modified Base (1-percent annual chance) Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, and/or regulatory floodways (hereinafter referred to as flood hazard determinations) as shown on the indicated Letter of Map Revision (LOMR) for each of the communities listed in the table below are finalized. Each LOMR revises the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and in some cases the Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports, currently in effect for the listed communities. The flood hazard determinations modified by each LOMR will be used to calculate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and their contents.

Flood hazard determinations, which may include additions or modifications of Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, or regulatory floodways on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports have been made final for the communities listed in the table below. The FIRM and FIS report are the basis of the floodplain management measures that a 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 Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In addition, the FIRM and FIS report are used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for buildings and the contents of those buildings.

On April 3, 2020, FEMA published in the Federal Register a proposed flood hazard determination notice that contained an erroneous table. This notice provides corrections to that table, to be used in lieu of the information published at 85 FR 19010. The table provided here represents the proposed flood hazard determinations and communities affected for Middlesex County, Virginia, and Incorporated Areas.

This notice lists communities where the addition or modification of Base Flood Elevations (BFEs), base flood depths, Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) boundaries or zone designations, or the regulatory floodway (hereinafter referred to as flood hazard determinations), as shown on the Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), and where applicable, in the supporting Flood Insurance Study (FIS) reports, prepared by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for each community, is appropriate because of new scientific or technical data. The FIRM, and where applicable, portions of the FIS report, have been revised to reflect these flood hazard determinations through issuance of a Letter of Map Revision (LOMR), in accordance with Federal Regulations. The LOMR will be used by insurance agents and others to calculate appropriate flood insurance premium rates for new buildings and the contents of those buildings. For rating purposes, the currently effective community number is shown in the table below and must be used for all new policies and renewals.

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (Committee) will meet via teleconference to discuss issues related to the training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. The meeting will be open to the public.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for emergency purposes for all waters of the Lower Mississippi River (LMR), extending from River Mile Marker (MM) 592.0 to MM 595.0. The emergency safety zone is needed to protect persons, property, infrastructure, and the marine environment from the potential safety hazards associated with the salvage and diving effort of two sunken barges at MM 593.5, in the vicinity of the Victoria Bend Revetment, Rosedale, Mississippi. Deviation from the safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Lower Mississippi River or a designated representative.

As a result of continued disruptions and uncertainty to the U.S. food agriculture sector during the summer and upcoming fall agricultural season caused by the global novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency, the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, has decided it is necessary to temporarily extend the amendments to certain regulations regarding temporary and seasonal agricultural workers, and their U.S. employers, within the H-2A nonimmigrant classification. Through this temporary final rule DHS is partially extending some of the provisions of the April 20, 2020, temporary final rule. Namely, the Department will continue to allow H- 2A employees whose extension of stay H-2A petitions are supported by valid temporary labor certifications issued by the Department of Labor to begin work with a new employer immediately after the extension of stay petition is received by USCIS. DHS will apply this temporary final rule to H-2A petitions requesting an extension of stay, if they were received on or after August 19, 2020, but no later than December 17, 2020. The temporary extension of these flexibilities will ensure that agricultural employers have access to the orderly and timely flow of legal foreign workers, thereby protecting the integrity of the nation's food supply chain and decreasing possible reliance on unauthorized aliens, while at the same time encouraging agricultural employers' use of the H-2A program, which protects the rights of U.S. and foreign workers.

This notice amends the notice of an emergency declaration for the State of Louisiana (FEMA-3527-EM), dated June 7, 2020, and related determinations.