Department of Homeland Security February 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Coast Guard is proposing to establish a safety zone for certain waters in the vicinity of the northwest branch of the Back River. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters near Langley Air Force Base, Hampton, VA, during an annual airshow. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from entry in the safety zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Virginia or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

CISA is publishing this notice to announce the following President's National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) meeting.

The .gov Registry Program within the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency will submit the following Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission seeks comments concerning the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Individuals and Households Program, providing financial assistance to individuals whose primary residences were destroyed as a result of a Presidentially-declared disaster. This revision reduces the overall burden on the public by updating the amount of time needed to complete most of the instruments in this collection.

The Coast Guard is establishing 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. This action is necessary to protect persons and vessels from hazards associated with a high-speed Jet Ski race competition in Orange, TX. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Marine Safety Unit Port Arthur or a designated representative.

This document amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to reflect an extension of import restrictions on certain archaeological material of Belize. The Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, United States Department of State (Department of State), has determined that conditions continue to warrant the imposition of import restrictions and that no cause for suspension exists. The restrictions, originally imposed by CBP Dec. 13- 05, will be extended for an additional five-year period through February 23, 2028, and the CBP regulations are being amended to reflect this extension. CBP Dec. 13-05 contains the Designated List of archaeological materials from Belize to which the restrictions apply.

The Department of Homeland Security (``DHS'') and the Department of Justice (``DOJ'') are issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking (``NPRM'' or ``proposed rule'') in anticipation of a potential surge of migration at the southwest border (``SWB'') of the United States following the eventual termination of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (``CDC'') public health Order. The proposed rule would encourage migrants to avail themselves of lawful, safe, and orderly pathways into the United States, or otherwise to seek asylum or other protection in countries through which they travel, thereby reducing reliance on human smuggling networks that exploit migrants for financial gain. It would do so by introducing a rebuttable presumption of asylum ineligibility for certain noncitizens who neither avail themselves of a lawful, safe, and orderly pathway to the United States nor seek asylum or other protection in a country through which they travel. In the absence of such a measure, which would be implemented on a temporary basis, the number of migrants expected to travel without authorization to the United States is expected to increase significantly, to a level that risks undermining the Departments' continued ability to safely, effectively, and humanely enforce and administer U.S. immigration law, including the asylum system, in the face of exceptionally challenging circumstances. Coupled with an expansion of lawful, safe, and orderly pathways into the United States, the Departments expect the proposed rule to lead to a reduction in the numbers of migrants who seek to cross the SWB without authorization to enter, thereby reducing the reliance by migrants on dangerous human smuggling networks, protecting against extreme overcrowding in border facilities, and helping to ensure that the processing of migrants seeking protection in the United States is done in an effective, humane, and efficient manner.

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).

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.

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).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission seeks comments concerning FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) financial and technical assistance programs; specifically, the Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (PDM), the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, BRIC Direct Technical Assistance (DTA), and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission seeks comments concerning information collected for the selling and servicing of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies by FEMA's direct servicing agent, NFIP Direct.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission will describe the nature of the information collection, the categories of the respondents, the estimated burden (i.e., the time, effort and resources used by respondents to respond) and cost, and the actual data collection instruments FEMA will use.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission seeks comments concerning the removal of use of the FEMA Form FF-USFA-FY-21-108 (formerly 119-17-2), Request for Use of National Emergency Training Center Facilities, due to its antiquated information collection method and requirement. There is no longer a need to formally require the use of this form in order for a requestor to receive support for special groups using the National Emergency Training Center.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission seeks comments concerning the collection of information related to the flood insurance claims process and the housing inspection damage assessment process.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission seeks comments concerning changes to modernize and simplify the disaster assistance registration. The changes will reduce the burden on survivors by only requiring them to answer questions based on the type of assistance they need. This will also reduce the amount of time it takes for survivors to apply either online, or through a call center, therefore allowing call center agents to assist survivors more quickly. The notice also includes FEMA documenting all post-registration contacts, including callouts, casework, and auto-dialers performed for the purpose of determining whether disaster assistance applicants have unmet needs and may be eligible for additional assistance and/or share the results of those contacts directly with external stakeholders, such as state or local government partners, who can potentially assist those same applicants with assistance or services not provided by FEMA through specific programs directly targeted to disaster survivors.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 the U.S. Coast Guard is forwarding an Information Collection Request (ICR), abstracted below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), requesting an extension of its approval for the following collection of information: 1625-0027, Vessel Documentation; without change. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Review and comments by OIRA ensure we only impose paperwork burdens commensurate with our performance of duties.

The Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) will hold a public meeting on Thursday, March 16, 2023. The meeting will be open to the public via web conference.

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 revision 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 is amending its special local regulations for recurring marine parades, regattas, and other events in Southern California Annual Marine Events for the San Diego Captain of the Port Zone. This final rule will add one new recurring special local regulation for the San Diego Fleet Week Veterans Day Boat Parade. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters during the annual event, and will restrict vessel traffic in the designated areas during the event unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector San Diego 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).

The Coast Guard is removing the safety zone established by the Captain of the Port Sector New York on April 11, 2001, that can be found under [Docket CGD01-00-242], titled ``Safety Zone: Macy's July 4th Fireworks, East River, NY.'' The safety zone was established to protect persons and vessels from potential hazards associated with the annual 4th of July fireworks display and high concentration of spectator vessels. The Coast Guard has since established a Special Local Regulation that regulates marine traffic in conjunction with the annual marine event, eliminating the need for the safety zone established in 2001. This action removes the existing regulations related to the initial safety zone.

This notice announces that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is modifying the Section 321 Data Pilot by adding optional data elements that may be submitted by any participant. CBP is also expanding the Section 321 Data Pilot to accept applications for additional participants in this test from all parties that meet the eligibility requirements. This notice also announces that CBP is extending the Section 321 Data Pilot through August 2025.

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend the established security zone extending 50 yards into the navigable waters of the Oakland Estuary, Alameda, California, surrounding the Coast Guard Island Pier. The proposed security zone change would include the entire perimeter of Coast Guard Island and 50 yards on either side of the Coast Guard Island causeway (Dennison Street Bridge). This action is necessary to provide for the continued security of the military service members on board vessels moored at the pier, as well as all military members and government property on Coast Guard Island. This security zone would prohibit all persons and vessels from entering, transiting through or anchoring within a portion of the Oakland Estuary surrounding Coast Guard Island, and prohibit all persons and vessels from loitering within 50 yards of the Coast Guard Island causeway, unless authorized by the Captain of the Port (COTP) or his designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.