Department of Homeland Security – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice amends the notice of a major disaster for the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands (FEMA-4340-DR), dated September 20, 2017, and related determinations.

This notice amends the notice of an emergency declaration for the State of Connecticut (FEMA-3604-EM), dated January 13, 2024, and related determinations.

The Coast Guard's Mariner Credentialing Program issues merchant mariner credentials and medical certificates, approves training courses and programs, and approves other qualifications such as a Qualified Assessor and a Designated Examiner. Under this rulemaking, the Coast Guard proposes to allow for the electronic submission of information required for credentialing to allow for the future implementation of a new information technology system to support the mariner credentialing process. The Coast Guard also proposes to require the electronic payment of mandatory fees for merchant mariner credentials through Pay.Gov, to remove the requirement for prospective mariners to take an oath before an authorized official, and to change the requirements for the Certificate of Discharge to Merchant Mariners. Finally, the Coast Guard proposes technical amendments to update addresses and websites, to remove antiquated terminology, and to amend language to use gender-neutral terms.

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).

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 will enforce the special local regulation on the waters of Mission Bay, San Diego, California during the San Diego Crew Classic. This special local regulation will be enforced from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, 2024, and from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 7, 2024. This special local regulation is necessary to provide for the safety of the participants, crew, sponsor vessels of the rowing event, and general users of the waterway. During the enforcement period, persons and vessels are prohibited from entering, transiting through, or anchoring within this regulated area unless authorized by the Captain of the Port, or his designated representative.

The National Fire Academy (Academy) is requesting individuals who are interested in serving on the Board of Visitors for the National Fire Academy (Board) to apply for appointments as identified in this notice. Pursuant to the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, the Board shall review annually the programs of the Academy and shall make recommendations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator, through the United States Fire Administrator, regarding the operation of the Academy and any improvements that the Board deems appropriate. The Board is composed of eight members, all of whom have national or regional leadership experience in the fields of fire safety, fire prevention (such as community risk reduction to include wildland urban interface), fire control, research and development in fire protection, treatment and rehabilitation of fire victims, or local government services management, which includes emergency medical services. The Academy seeks to appoint one individual to a position on the Board that will be open due to term expiration. If other positions are vacated during the application process, candidates may be selected from the pool of applicants to fill the vacated positions.

The Coast Guard is proposing a temporary safety zone for certain waters of the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, MD, where Maryland Fleet Week and Flyover Baltimore 2024 will take place from June 12 to 18, 2024. The safety zone would protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards during multi-agency helicopter rescue demonstration. It would be enforced thirty minutes prior to a demonstration and lifted at its conclusion. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port, Maryland-National Capital Region, or a designated representative.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the U.S. Coast Guard intends to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) 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: 1625-0025, Carriage of Bulk Solids Requiring Special Handling; without change. Our ICR describes the information we seek to collect from the public. Before submitting this ICR to OIRA, the Coast Guard is inviting comments as described below.

This document amends the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations to extend import restrictions on certain archaeological and ecclesiastical ethnological material from Honduras. The Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs, United States Department of State, has made the requisite determinations for extending the import restrictions, which were originally imposed by CBP Decision (CBP Dec.) 04-08 and last extended by CBP Dec. 19-03. The United States and Honduras have also agreed to extend the restrictions for an additional five-year period. Accordingly, these import restrictions will remain in effect for an additional five years, and the CBP regulations are being amended to reflect this further extension through March 12, 2029.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters West of Indian Island in Port Townsend Bay, Washington. The safety zone is needed to protect personnel, vessels, and the marine environment from potential hazards created by a naval exercise. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Sector Puget Sound.

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 Coast Guard is proposing to establish a permanent security zone for certain waters of the Cooper River between Charleston and Mount Pleasant, SC. This action is necessary to provide for the security and protection of life on navigable waters near the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge during the annual Cooper River Bridge Run. This proposed rulemaking would prohibit persons and vessels from entering the security zone unless authorized by the Captain of the Port Charleston or a designated representative. We invite your comments on this proposed rulemaking.

The Coast Guard is revising existing regulations by updating the duration of an existing event in the Seventh Coast Guard District Captain of the Port St. Petersburg Zone. This action is necessary to provide for the safety of life on the navigable waters in Clearwater, FL, during the Clearwater Offshore Nationals/Race World Offshore event.

The Coast Guard is temporarily modifying the operating schedule that governs the draw of the California Department of Transportation (Route 4) highway bridge, mile 14.8 between Victoria Island and Byron Tract, CA. This action is necessary to allow the bridge owner to complete rehabilitation of the bridge after a continuing unexpected delay in installing We can't have and testing of the custom-made electronics.

The Coast Guard is establishing a temporary safety zone for navigable waters of Tampa Bay, in the vicinity of the St. Petersburg Municipal Yacht Basin, during a racing event in St. Petersburg, FL. The safety zone is necessary to ensure the safety of participant vessels, spectators, and the general public during the event. Entry of vessels or persons into this zone is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port St. Petersburg or a designated representative.

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.

The National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (Committee) will conduct a series of meetings over two days in Edmonds, WA to discuss issues relating to personnel in the United States Merchant Marine including the training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness of mariners.

The Coast Guard is extending the comment period of the Request for Information to collect opinions, ideas, recommendations, and concerns related to the Coast Guard's mandate to create planning criteria for vessel response plans (VRPs) distinct to the Western Alaska and Prince William Sound Captain of the Port (COTP) zones. The Coast Guard is tasked with developing planning criteria suitable for operating areas where response capability is currently inadequate.

The Coast Guard announces the recertification of the Prince William Sound Regional Citizens' Advisory Council (PWSRCAC) as an alternative voluntary advisory group for Prince William Sound, Alaska. This certification allows the PWSRCAC to monitor the activities of terminal facilities and crude oil tankers under an alternative composition, other than prescribed, the Prince William Sound Program established by the Oil Terminal and Oil Tanker Environmental Oversight and Monitoring Act of 1990.

CISA is publishing this notice to announce the CISA Cybersecurity Advisory Committee Quarterly Meeting will be held virtually on Thursday, March 21, 2024. This meeting will be partially closed to the public.

The Coast Guard is modifying the operating schedule that governs the Fifth Street Bridge, mile 0.15, and the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge, mile 1.5, both over the Ashtabula River. The Coast Guard is also changing signaling and signage requirements for the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge, mile 1.5. The Coast Guard is modifying these rules in response to complaints received concerning the operations of one or more bridges over the waterway and a desire to improve safety, remove barriers to interstate commerce, improve communications, and standardize winter operations associated with these bridges.

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. 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, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 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 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.