Department of Homeland Security March 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone for certain navigable waters of the Sabine River, extending the entire width of the river, adjacent to the public boat ramp located in Orange, TX. The special local regulation is necessary to protect persons and vessels from hazards associated with a high-speed boat race competition in Orange, TX. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone would be prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

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) 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.

In accordance with the statutory provisions enacted by the Great Lakes Pilotage Act of 1960, the Coast Guard is issuing new base pilotage rates for the 2022 shipping season. This rule will adjust the pilotage rates to account for changes in district operating expenses, an increase in the number of pilots, and anticipated inflation. In addition, this rule will make a policy change to round up in the staffing model. The Coast Guard is also making methodology changes to factor in an apprentice pilot's compensation benchmark for the estimated number of apprentice pilots. The Coast Guard estimates that this rule will result in a 7-percent increase in pilotage operating costs compared to the 2021 season.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone on the navigable waters of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) and Queen Creek near Swansboro, Onslow County, NC. The safety zone is necessary to enhance the safety of mariners and participants during a mass-rescue training exercise. Entry of vessels or persons into this safety zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) North Carolina or a designated representative.

On August 20, 2021, the Department of Homeland Security (``DHS'') and the Department of Justice (``DOJ'') (collectively ``the Departments'') published a notice of proposed rulemaking (``NPRM'' or ``proposed rule'') that proposed amending regulations governing the procedures for determining certain protection claims and available parole procedures for individuals subject to expedited removal and found to have a credible fear of persecution or torture. After a careful review of the comments received, the Departments are now issuing an interim final rule (``rule'' or ``IFR'') that responds to comments received in response to the NPRM and adopts the proposed rule with changes. Most significantly, the IFR provides that DHS's United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (``USCIS'') will refer noncitizens whose applications are not granted to DOJ's Executive Office for Immigration Review (``EOIR'') for streamlined removal proceedings. The IFR also establishes timelines for the consideration of applications for asylum and related protection by USCIS and, as needed, EOIR. This IFR responds to comments received in response to the NPRM and adopts the NPRM with changes as described in this rule. The Departments solicit further public comment on the IFR's revisions, which will be considered and addressed in a future rule.

The Coast Guard proposes to revise existing regulations by removing an event that no longer takes place, and by updating the location of an existing event in the geographic boundaries of the Seventh Coast Guard District Captain of the Port (COTP) St. Petersburg Zone. The Coast Guard invites your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a temporary safety zone while the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Squadron conducts aerobatic performances over Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, from 9:00 a.m. through 5:00 p.m., August 12-14, 2022. This safety zone is necessary to protect watercraft and the general public from hazards associated with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels aircraft low flying, high powered jet aerobatics over open waters. Vessels desiring to transit through the zone can request permission by contacting the Honolulu Captain of the Port (COTP) or his designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard will enforce special local regulations for the Blessing of the FleetSt. Augustine on April 10, 2022, to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. Our regulation for marine events within the Seventh Coast Guard District identifies the regulated area for this event in St. Augustine, FL. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

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.

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend the anchorage regulations for Lockwoods Folly Inlet, NC, and adjacent navigable waters, by establishing a new offshore anchorage, relocating the existing explosives anchorage and amending the anchorage regulations. The purpose of this supplemental proposed rule is to improve navigation and public safety by accommodating recent and anticipated future growth in cargo vessel traffic and vessel size that call on Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point and the Port of Wilmington, North Carolina. We invite your comments on this supplemental proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is changing the operating schedule that governs the 63rd Street Bridge, across Indian Creek, mile 4.0, at Miami Beach, FL. A request was made to place the drawbridge on a weekend operating schedule to assist with alleviating vehicle congestion due to on demand drawbridge openings. This change extends the operating schedule to the weekend, so that openings on the hour and half-hour will be required every day of the week, except Federal Holidays.

The Coast Guard will enforce a special local regulation for the Fort Lauderdale Air Show to provide for the safety of life on navigable waterways during this event. During the enforcement periods, the operator of any vessel in the regulated area must comply with directions from the Patrol Commander or any Official Patrol displaying a Coast Guard ensign.

The Coast Guard is extending the duration of a temporary safety zone on certain navigable waters of the Chesapeake Bay. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of persons and the marine environment from the potential safety hazards associated with the damage assessment and salvage of the grounded freight ship EVER FORWARD, through 9 p.m. on April 13, 2022. This rule prohibits persons and vessels from being in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, Maryland-National Capital Region or a designated representative.

On March 18, 2020, the Coast Guard published a notice of study and request for comments announcing a Port Access Route Study (PARS) for the Seacoast of North Carolina Including Offshore Approaches to the Cape Fear River and Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina. This notice announces the availability of a draft report for public review and comment. We seek your comments on the content, proposed routing measures, and development of the report. The recommendations of the study may lead to future rulemakings or appropriate international agreements.

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a special local regulation (SLR) on certain navigable waters of the Atlantic Ocean, offshore of Miami Beach, FL, in connection with the Luminsea Offshore Powerboat Race. The race will include approximately 55 offshore powerboats, ranging from 30 to 50 feet in length. The SLR is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards associated with the high-speed powerboat race. The special local regulation establishes a race area where all persons and vessels, except those persons and vessels who are participating in the race, will be prohibited from entering, transiting through, anchoring in, or remaining within unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) Miami or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

This notice announces that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has forwarded the Information Collection Request (ICR), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number 1652-0058, abstracted below, to OMB for review and approval of an extension of the currently approved collection under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected burden. The information collection activity provides a means to gather qualitative customer and stakeholder feedback in an efficient, timely manner, in accordance with TSA's commitment to improving service delivery.

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend the anchorage regulations for the Delaware Bay and River, and adjacent waters, by establishing two new, offshore deep-water anchorages. The purpose of this proposed rule is to improve navigation safety by accommodating recent and anticipated future growth in vessel size and volume of vessel traffic entering the Delaware Bay and River, and to preserve areas traditionally used or needed for anchoring. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

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.

This Notice rescinds the July 23, 2019 Notice, Designating Aliens for Expedited Removal, which expanded to the maximum extent permitted by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) the application of expedited removal procedures to noncitizens not already covered by previous designations. The INA expressly authorizes the application of expedited removal procedures to noncitizens ``arriving in the United States,'' while also authorizing the Secretary of Homeland Security to extend (by designation) such procedures to certain other categories of noncitizens present in the United States. The INA permits the Secretary, in her or his sole and unreviewable discretion, to modify any such designations at any time. By rescinding only the designation of the class of noncitizens covered by the July 23, 2019 Notice, this Notice leaves in effect the prior discretionary designations that have, for over two decades, extended expedited removal to additional categories of noncitizens.

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 currently effective community number is shown in the table below and must be used for all new policies and renewals.

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).

This is a notice of the Presidential declaration of a major disaster for the Commonwealth of Kentucky (FEMA-4643-DR), dated February 27, 2022, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster declaration for the State of Oregon (FEMA-4499-DR), dated March 28, 2020, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (FEMA-4473-DR), dated January 16, 2020, and related determinations.