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

This notice announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) is suspending certain regulatory requirements for F-1 nonimmigrant students whose country of citizenship is Cameroon, regardless of country of birth (or individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Cameroon), and who are experiencing severe economic hardship as a direct result of the current armed conflict and current humanitarian crisis in Cameroon. The Secretary is taking action to provide relief to these Cameroonian students who are in lawful F-1 nonimmigrant student status, so the students may request employment authorization, work an increased number of hours while school is in session, and reduce their course load while continuing to maintain their F-1 nonimmigrant student status. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will deem an F-1 nonimmigrant student granted employment authorization by means of this notice to be engaged in a ``full course of study'' for the duration of the employment authorization, if the nonimmigrant student satisfies the minimum course load requirement described in this notice.

The National Chemical Transportation Safety Advisory Committee (Committee) will conduct a series of meetings over three days in League City, TX, to discuss matters relating to the safe and secure marine transportation of hazardous materials. The subcommittee meetings will also be available by videoconference for those unable to attend in person, however the full committee meeting will be held in person only. All meetings will be open to the public.

This document adopts as final, without change, interim amendments made to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations by CBP Decision 16-26, as modified by a subsequent technical correction, CBP Decision 19-11. The interim amendments established the Centers of Excellence and Expertise (Centers) as a permanent organizational component of the agency. The interim amendments shifted certain trade functions to the Centers and identified other trade functions jointly carried out by port directors and Center directors. The interim amendments provided broad, centralized decision-making authority to the Centers to enable the Centers to facilitate trade, reduce transaction costs, increase compliance with applicable import laws, and achieve uniformity of treatment at ports of entry for identified industries.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is publishing this notice to document and request comments on its determination that a programmatic/class review is appropriate for six categories of activities in specific grant programs that do not have an adverse impact individually or cumulatively on floodplain values placing property and persons at risk.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for all navigable waters in the Upper Mississippi River at Mile Marker (MM) 660.5 through 659.5. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from all potential hazards associated with the implosion of the Lansing Power Station. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Upper Mississippi River (COTP) or a designated representative.

Through this notice, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) is extending the designation of Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 18 months, beginning on March 11, 2024 and ending on September 10, 2025. This extension allows existing TPS beneficiaries to retain TPS through September 10, 2025, if they otherwise continue to meet the eligibility requirements for TPS. Existing TPS beneficiaries who wish to extend their status through September 10, 2025, must re- register during the re-registration period described in this notice. Separately, the Secretary is also redesignating Venezuela for TPS. The redesignation of Venezuela allows additional Venezuelan nationals (and individuals having no nationality who last habitually resided in Venezuela) who have been continuously residing in the United States since July 31, 2023, to apply for TPS for the first time during the initial registration period described under the redesignation information in this notice. In addition to demonstrating continuous residence in the United States since July 31, 2023, and meeting other eligibility criteria, initial applicants for TPS under this designation must demonstrate that they have been continuously physically present in the United States since October 3, 2023, the effective date of this redesignation of Venezuela for TPS. The Secretary's actions represent two distinct TPS designations of Venezuelathe first designation of Venezuela that was announced on March 9, 2021 (Venezuela 2021) and is being extended in this FRN, and this second action, redesignating Venezuela on October 3, 2023 (Venezuela 2023).

The Coast Guard is issuing this final rule to revise the training requirements for national Merchant Mariner Credential endorsements as master of towing vessels (limited) or mate (pilot) of towing vessels on inland waters or Western Rivers routes. Consistent with recommendations from two Federal advisory committees, this rule gives mariners seeking these endorsements the option of taking a modified basic firefighting course. That course excludes training on equipment that is not required to be carried on towing vessels operating on inland waters or the Western Rivers. Applicants who take the modified basic firefighting course will reduce their costs because it is shorter and less expensive than the basic firefighting course.

The Coast Guard proposes to temporarily modify the operating schedule that governs the Meadowbrook State Parkway Bridge, mile 12.8, across Sloop Channel, Nassau County, NY. The bridge owner, New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), submitted a request to operate the bridge under single leaf openings to perform bridge deck replacement. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

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

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to amend its regulations to implement the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) and update the agency's 8-step decision-making process floodplain reviews. FEMA also proposes a supplementary policy that would further clarify how FEMA would apply the FFRMS. The proposed rule would change how FEMA defines a floodplain with respect to certain actions, and FEMA would use natural systems, ecosystem process, and nature-based approaches, where possible, when developing alternatives to locating the proposed action in the floodplain.

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 U.S. Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone offshore of Huntington Beach, CA in support of the Pacific Airshow. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on these navigable waters in the area of the air and water demonstrations and to protect the high concentration of people attending the event. This regulation prohibits vessels from entering into, transiting through, or remaining within the designated area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Los AngelesLong Beach (COTP), or a designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a safety zone near Ship Rock, Catalina Island, in support of the Ocean Cup Pacific Rum Run. This action is necessary to protect the area near Ship Rock, Catalina Island, public vessels, and the high-speed vessels participating in the event. This regulation would prohibit vessels from entering, transiting through, or remaining within the designated area unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Los AngelesLong Beach, or his designated representative.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary, moving safety zone for all navigable waters of the La Quinta and Corpus Christi Shipping Channel between gated pair lights 11 and 12 to the sea buoy. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards arising from the towing of the rig NFE PIONEER II. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Sector Corpus Christi, or a designated representative.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that AmSpec Services, LLC (Plainfield, IL) has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next four years as of May 25, 2022.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that Intertek USA, Inc. (Carteret, NJ), has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next four years as of July 18, 2022.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that Intertek USA, Inc. (Texas City, TX), has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next four years as of August 4, 2022.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that Saybolt LP (Wilmington, NC), has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next three years as of July 20, 2022.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that Intertek USA, Inc. (Yorktown, VA), has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next four years as of June 2, 2022.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that Intertek USA, Inc. (Tampa, FL), has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next four years as of August 2, 2022.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that AmSpec, LLC (Texas City, TX), has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next four years as of August 3, 2022.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that King Inspection and Testing, Inc. (Carson, CA) has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next four years as of August 11, 2022.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that Coastal Gulf and International (Gonzales, LA) has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next four years as of April 14, 2022.

Notice is hereby given, pursuant to CBP regulations, that Camin Cargo Control, Inc. (Corpus Christi, TX) has been approved to gauge petroleum and certain petroleum products and accredited to test petroleum and certain petroleum products for customs purposes for the next four years as of May 18, 2022.