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

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 December 29, 2020) to be assured of consideration.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (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 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 purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (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.

This final rule modernizes regulations regarding publication requirements of community eligibility status information under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). FEMA is replacing outdated regulations that require publication of community loss of eligibility notices in the Federal Register with a requirement that FEMA publish this information on the internet or by another comparable method. FEMA is also replacing its requirement that the agency maintain a list of communities eligible for flood insurance in the Code of Federal Regulations with a requirement that FEMA publish this list on the internet or by another comparable method.

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.

TSA is extending the exemption from Renewal of the Hazardous Materials Endorsement Security Threat Assessment for Certain Individuals that TSA published on July 31, 2020 which was scheduled to expire on October 30, 2020, through December 31, 2020. Under this exemption, states may extend the expiration date of hazardous materials endorsements (HMEs) that expire on or after March 1, 2020, for 180 days, due to restrictions and business closures in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. If a state grants an extension, the individual with an expired HME must initiate the process of renewing his or her security threat assessment (STA) for the HME no later than 60 days before the end of the state-granted extension. Federal partners, state licensing agencies and related associations report ongoing difficulties in timely renewal of expiring HMEs and asked TSA to consider extending the exemption until the end of calendar year 2020. TSA has determined it is in the public interest to extend the exemption through December 31, 2020, which aligns with similar waivers issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation. TSA may extend this exemption at a future date depending on the status of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Coast Guard is announcing the availability of CG-OES Policy Letter 02-20, Commercial Diving OperationsEquivalent Levels of Safety. This policy letter provides guidance on Coast Guard acceptance of certain industry-recognized standards for commercial diving operations as providing a level of safety that is equivalent to the requirements contained in Coast Guard regulations.

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 29, 2021. Pursuant to fee adjustments required by the Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST ACT) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations, the annual user fee payable for calendar year 2021 will be $150.33.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of the Menominee River in Marinette, WI and Menominee, MI between the Highway 41 bridge and Ogden Street Bridge. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the launching of a vessel at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine Shipyard. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated representative.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is considering the amendment of its regulations to mandate continuing education for licensed customs brokers. CBP is seeking comments on a potential framework of continuing education requirements for licensed customs brokers in order to assess the current situation among members of the customs broker industry and analyze the potential impact of such a framework on customs brokers.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters within 200 yards of a worksite removing overhead electrical cables along a line crossing the Menominee River in Menominee, MI. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by the removal of overhead electrical cables across the river. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Lake Michigan or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for the navigable waters of Tampa Bay, in the vicinity of the St. Petersburg Municipal Yacht Basin, St. Petersburg, Florida during the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The temporary safety zone is needed to protect the safety of race participants, spectators, and vessels on the surrounding waterway during the race. Persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within the regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary special local regulation (SLR) for certain navigable waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) and Beaufort Inlet in Morehead City, North Carolina. This SLR restricts vessel traffic on the AICW and Beaufort Inlet during high-speed boat races. The restriction of vessel traffic movement in the SLR protects participants and spectators from the hazards posed by these events. Entry of vessels or persons into this regulated area is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) North Carolina or a designated representative.

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 notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of New York (FEMA-4567-DR), dated October 2, 2020, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Florida (FEMA-4564-DR), dated September 23, 2020, and related determinations.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the State of Alabama (FEMA-4563-DR), dated September 20, 2020, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Oregon (FEMA-4562-DR), dated September 15, 2020, and related determinations.

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 Iowa (FEMA-4557-DR), dated August 17, 2020, and related determinations.

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of an emergency for the State of Alabama (FEMA-3545-EM), dated September 14, 2020, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of an emergency declaration for the State of Mississippi (FEMA-3544-EM), dated September 14, 2020, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of an emergency declaration for the State of Louisiana (FEMA-3543-EM), dated September 14, 2020, and related determinations.

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 November 25, 2020) to be assured of consideration.