Department of State 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Notice is hereby given of the following determinations: Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Act of October 19, 1965 [79 Stat. 985; 22 U.S.C. 2459], Executive Order 12047 of March 27, 1978, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 [112 Stat. 2681, et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6501 note, et seq.], Delegation of Authority No. 234 of October 1, 1999 [64 FR 56014], Delegation of Authority No. 236 of October 19, 1999 [64 FR 57920], as amended, and Delegation of Authority No. 257 of April 15, 2003 [68 FR 19875], I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition, ``The Shamans: Spirit Guides of Siberia,'' imported from abroad for temporary exhibition within the United States, are of cultural significance. The objects are imported pursuant to a loan agreement with the foreign lender. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, Anchorage, Alaska, from on or about May 12, 2005, to on or about September 18, 2005, and at possible additional venues yet to be determined, is in the national interest. Public Notice of these determinations is ordered to be published in the Federal Register.

The Department of State has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the emergency review procedures of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Type of Request: Emergency Review. Originating Office: Bureau of Consular Affairs, CA/PPT/FO/FC. Title of Information Collection: U.S. Passport Re-Application Form. Frequency: On occasion. Form Number: DS-5504. Respondents: Individuals or Households. Estimated Number of Respondents: 50,000 per year. Average Hours per Response: 30 minutes. Total Estimated Burden: 25,000 hours per year. The proposed information collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. Emergency approval of this collection was granted by OMB January 13, 2005. The approval is valid until June 30, 2005. Comments should be directed to the State Department Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20530, who may be reached on (202) 395- 4718. During the first 60 days of this same period a regular review of this information collection is also being undertaken. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until 60 days from the date that this notice is published in the Federal Register. The agency requests written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information. Your comments are being solicited to permit the agency to: Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected. Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of technology.

The Department of State has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the emergency review procedures of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Type of Request: Emergency Review. Originating Office: Bureau of Consular Affairs, CA/PPT/FO/FC. Title of Information Collection: Application for a U.S. Passport By Mail. Frequency: On occasion. Form Number: DS-82. Respondents: Individuals or households. Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,900,000 per year. Average Hours per Response: 40 minutes. Total Estimated Burden: 1,933,333 hours per year. The proposed information collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. Emergency approval of this collection was granted by OMB January 13, 2005. The approval is valid until June 30, 2005. Comments should be directed to the State Department Desk Officer, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20530, who may be reached on (202) 395- 4718. During the first 60 days of this same period a regular review of this information collection is also being undertaken. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until 60 days from the date that this notice is published in the Federal Register. The agency requests written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information. Your comments are being solicited to permit the agency to: Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected. Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of technology.

There will be a public meeting of the Study Group on Enforcement of Judgments of the Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on Private International Law, from 2 pm to 6 pm on Tuesday March 29 at the new headquarters of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: Henry Remsen Building, 400 Dulany Street, Conference Center (Lobby Level), Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. Full Text: The Department of State, in conjunction with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and other Federal agencies, is convening a meeting of the Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on Private International Law, Study Group on Enforcement of Judgments, in order to seek consultations on the proposed draft Hague Convention on Exclusive Choice of Court Agreements. The draft Convention will be considered at the 20th Diplomatic Session of the Hague Conference on Private International Law, June 14-30, 2005, and is expected to be adopted and opened for signature at that time. The meeting of the Advisory Committee will bring experts from industry, trade associations, bar associations, non-governmental associations, and other interested parties to consider in more detail those aspects of the draft convention that bear on intellectual property rights and related litigation, in order to assist the U.S. delegation prepare for the Diplomatic Conference. The current draft of the proposed convention may be found on the Web site of the Hague Conference (https://www.hcch.net). The meeting will be held from 2 pm to 6 pm on Tuesday March 29, at the new headquarters of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: Henry Remsen Building, 400 Dulany Street, Conference Center (Lobby Level), Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. The meeting is open to the public up to the capacity of the meeting room. Interested persons are invited to attend and to express their views. Persons who wish to have their views considered are encouraged, but not required, to submit written comments in advance of the meeting. Written comments should be submitted by e-mail to Jeffrey Kovar at kovarjd@state.gov. All comments will be made available to the public by request to Mr. Kovar via e-mail or by phone (202-776-8420). Persons wishing to attend must notify Ms. Cherise Reid by e-mail (reidcd@state.gov), fax (202-776-8482), or by telephone (202-776-8420).

The Department of State has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Title of Information Collection: Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status. OMB Control Number: 1405-0119. Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection. Originating Office: Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, DOS/ECA/EC. Form Number: DS-2019. Respondents: Department of State designated Exchange Visitor Program sponsors and exchange visitors. Estimated Number of Respondents: 300,000. Estimated Number of Responses: 300,000. Average Hours per Response: 45 minutes. Total Estimated Burden: 225,000. Frequency: On occasion. Obligation To Respond: Required to obtain or retain a benefit.

The Department of State gives notice of the availability of two draft Comprehensive Environmental Evaluations (CEEs) for activities proposed to be undertaken in Antarctica. Interested members of the public are invited to submit comments relative to these CEEs.

Notice is hereby given of the following determinations: Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Act of October 19, 1965 (79 Stat. 985; 22 U.S.C. 2459), Executive Order 12047 of March 27, 1978, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2681, et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6501 note, et seq.), Delegation of Authority No. 234 of October 1, 1999, Delegation of Authority No. 236 of October 19, 1999, as amended, and Delegation of Authority No. 257 of April 15, 2003 [68 FR 19875], I hereby determine that the object to be included in the exhibition ``Printing the Talmud: From Bomberg to Schottenstein,'' imported from abroad for temporary exhibition within the United States, is of cultural significance. The object is imported pursuant to a loan agreement with the foreign owner. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit object at the Yeshiva University Museum, New York, NY, from on or about April 10, 2005, to on or about August 28, 2005, and at possible additional venues yet to be determined, is in the national interest. Public Notice of these Determinations is ordered to be published in the Federal Register.

The International Telecommunication Advisory Committee announces additional April meetings to prepare positions for the next meeting of the ITU-T Study Groups 11 (Signalling requirements and protocols), 13 (Next Generation Networks), and 15 (Optical and other transport network infrastructures). Members of the public will be admitted to the extent that seating is available, and may join in the discussions, subject to the instructions of the Chair. Directions to the meeting location are available to the public on the Internet and conference bridge information (if any) may be obtained from marcie.g@comcast.com. The International Telecommunication Advisory Committee (ITAC) will meet on Friday, April 15, 2005 to prepare U.S. and company contributions to ITU-T Study Groups 11 and 13. The meeting will be held at the Double Tree Hotel Denver North, 8773 Yates Drive, Westminster, CO 80031 starting 30 minutes after the close of the plenary meeting of the Packet Technologies and Systems Committee (PTSC) of the Alliance for Telecommunications Solutions (ATIS), being held at the same venue. The International Telecommunication Advisory Committee (ITAC) will meet on Friday, April 22, 2005 to prepare U.S. and company contributions to ITU-T Study Group 15. The meeting will be held at the Double Tree Hotel Denver North, 8773 Yates Drive, Westminster, CO 80031 starting 30 minutes after the close of the plenary meeting of the Optical Transport and Synchronization Committee (OTSC) of the Alliance for Telecommunications Solutions (ATIS), being held at the same venue.

Notice is hereby given of the following determinations: Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Act of October 19, 1965 (79 Stat. 985; 22 U.S.C. 2459), Executive Order 12047 of March 27, 1978, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2681, et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6501 note, et seq.), Delegation of Authority No. 234 of October 1, 1999, and Delegation of Authority No. 236 of October 19, 1999, as amended, and Delegation of Authority No. 257 of April 15, 2003 [68 FR 19875], I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition ``Pioneering Modern Painting: C[eacute]zanne and Pissarro 1865-1885,'' imported from abroad for temporary exhibition within the United States, are of cultural significance. The objects are imported pursuant to a loan agreement with the foreign owners. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY from on or about June 24, 2005 to on or about September 12, 2005, Los Angeles County Museum from on or about October 20, 2005 to on or about January 16, 2006, and at possible additional venues yet to be determined, is in the national interest. Public Notice of these determinations is ordered to be published in the Federal Register.

The Office of Academic Programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition to administer the United States-East Timor (USET) Scholarship Program and the United States-South Pacific (USSP) Scholarship Program. Eligible applicants may submit a proposal to administer one or both of the scholarship programs. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to organize and carry out academic exchange program activities for students from East Timor and the sovereign island nations of the South Pacific (eligible nations are listed below in the Overview section). The grantee(s) will be responsible for all aspects of the programs, including publicity and recruitment of applicants; merit-based competitive selection; placement of students at an accredited U.S. academic institution; student travel to the U.S.; orientation; up to four years of U.S. degree study at the bachelor's or master's level; enrichment programming; advising, monitoring and support; pre-return activities; evaluation; and follow- up with program alumni. The duration of the grant(s) will be up to five years, beginning in Summer 2005. The Conference Report accompanying the FY-2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 108-447) earmarks $500,000 to support the U.S.-East Timor Scholarship Program and $500,000 to support the U.S.-South Pacific Scholarship Program. I. Funding Opportunity Description

The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment in the Federal Register preceding submission to OMB. We are conducting this process in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Title of Information Collection: Department of State Application for Employment. OMB Control Number: 1405-0139. Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection. Originating Office: Bureau of Human Resources, Office of Recruitment, Examination, Employment (HR/REE). Form Number: DS-1950. Respondents: U.S. Citizens seeking entry into the Department of State Foreign Service and individuals, sophomore through graduate level college and university students, seeking participation in the Department's student programs. Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,000. Estimated Number of Responses: 20,000. Average Hours Per Response: \1/2\ hour. Total Estimated Burden: 12,000 hours. Frequency: On Occasion. Obligation To Respond: Required To Obtain a Benefit.

The Department of State has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Title of Information Collection: J Visa Waiver Recommendation Application. OMB Control Number: 1405-0135. Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection. Originating Office: CA/VO. Form Number: DS-3035. Respondents: All J visa waiver applicants. Estimated Number of Respondents: 10,000 per year. Estimated Number of Responses: 10,000 per year. Average Hours Per Response: 1 hour. Total Estimated Burden: 10,000 hours per year. Frequency: Once per respondent. Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.

Notice is hereby given of the following determinations: Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Act of October 19, 1965 (79 Stat. 985; 22 U.S.C. 2459), Executive Order 12047 of March 27, 1978, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2681, et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6501 note, et seq.), Delegation of Authority No. 234 of October 1, 1999, Delegation of Authority No. 236 of October 19, 1999, as amended, and Delegation of Authority No. 257 of April 15, 2003 [68 FR 19875], I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition ``The Perfect Medium: Photography and the Occult'', imported from abroad for temporary exhibition within the United States, are of cultural significance. The objects are imported pursuant to loan agreements with the foreign owners. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, from on or about September 26, 2005, until on or about December 31, 2005, and at possible additional venues yet to be determined, is in the national interest. Public Notice of these Determinations is ordered to be published in the Federal Register.

This proposed rule would amend the passport regulations to incorporate changes required by the electronic passport. The rule would define ``electronic passport,'' would include a damaged electronic chip as an additional basis for possible invalidation of a passport, would abolish the U.S. passport amendment process except for the convenience of the U.S. Government, and would enlarge the reasons for issuing a replacement passport at no fee. The rule would also add unpaid fees as a ground for invalidating a passport.

Notice is hereby given of the following determinations: Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Act of October 19, 1965 (79 Stat. 985; 22 U.S.C. 2459), Executive Order 12047 of March 27, 1978, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2681, et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6501 note, et seq.), Delegation of Authority No. 234 of October 1, 1999, Delegation of Authority No. 236 of October 19, 1999, as amended, and Delegation of Authority No. 257 of April 15, 2003 [68 FR 19875], I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition ``Death and the Afterlife in Ancient Egypt * * * Treasures from the British Museum'', imported from abroad for temporary exhibition within the United States, are of cultural significance. The objects are imported pursuant to loan agreements with the foreign owners. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at the Bowers Museum, from on or about April 17, 2005, until on or about April 18, 2010, and at possible additional venues yet to be determined, is in the national interest. Public Notice of these Determinations is ordered to be published in the Federal Register.

Notice is hereby given of the following determinations: Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Act of October 19, 1965 (79 Stat. 985; 22 U.S.C. 2459), Executive Order 12047 of March 27, 1978, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2681, et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6501 note, et seq.), Delegation of Authority No. 234 of October 1, 1999, Delegation of Authority No. 236 of October 19, 1999, as amended, and Delegation of Authority No. 257 of April 15, 2003 [68 FR 19875], I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition ``Thomas Demand,'' imported from abroad for temporary exhibition within the United States, are of cultural significance. The objects are imported pursuant to loan agreements with the foreign owners. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY, from on or about March 1, 2005, to on or about May 30, 2005, and at possible additional venues yet to be determined, is in the national interest. Public Notice of these Determinations is ordered to be published in the Federal Register.