Department of State 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for grants that support exchanges and build relationships between U.S. non- profit organizations and civil society and cultural groups in Africa, East Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Central Asia and the Western Hemisphere. Pending availability of funds, it is anticipated that approximately $5,000,000 or more will be available to support this competition. ECA/PE/C expects to fund approximately 15-20 projects under this competition in FY 2008. U.S. public and non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals that support the goals of The Professional Exchange Program. Projects should promote mutual understanding and partnerships between key professional and cultural groups in the United States and counterpart groups in other countries through multi-phased exchanges taking place over one to two years. Proposals should encourage citizen engagement in current issues, with a particular focus on youth and those who influence them, and promote the development of democratic societies and institutions, with a view toward creating a more stable world. To the fullest extent possible, programs should be two-way exchanges supporting roughly equal numbers of participants from the U.S. and foreign countries. Proposed projects should transform institutional and individual understanding of key issues, foster dialogue, share expertise, and develop capacity. Through these people-to-people exchanges, the Bureau seeks to break down stereotypes that divide peoples, to promote good governance and economic growth, to contribute to conflict prevention and management, and to build respect for cultural expression and identity in the world. Projects should be structured to allow American professionals and their international counterparts in eligible countries to develop a common dialogue for dealing with shared challenges and concerns. Projects should include current or potential leaders who will effect positive change in their communities. Exchange participants may include community leaders, elected and professional government officials, religious leaders, educators, and proponents of democratic ideals and institutions, including for example, the media and judiciary, or others who influence the way in which different communities approach these issues. The Bureau is especially interested in engaging socially and economically diverse groups that may not have had extensive contact with counterpart institutions in the United States and particularly seeks proposals that engage educators or other groups that directly influence youth in innovative ways. Applicants may not submit proposals that address more than one region or that include countries not eligible under a specific theme designated in the RFGP. Proposals that do so will be declared technically ineligible and will receive no further consideration in the review process. For the purposes of this competition, eligible regions are Africa, East Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. No guarantee is made or implied that grants will be awarded in all themes and for all countries listed.

This proposed rule will add a contract clause to implement the requirements of Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors; Federal Information Processing Standards Publication (FIPS PUB) Number 201, Personal Identity Verification (PIV) of Federal Employees and Contractors; and associated OMB guidance M-05-24 (August 5, 2005).

This notice announces meetings of the International Telecommunication Advisory Committee (ITAC) to prepare advice on U.S. positions for working party meetings of the Organization for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD) and for the meeting of the Permanent Executive Committee of Organization of American States Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (COM/CITEL). The ITAC will meet to prepare for the OECD December 2007 meetings of the Working Parties on the Information Economy (WPIE) and Communication and Information Services Policy (CISP) on November 29, 2007, at the Harry S Truman building (Main State) of the Department of State, room 5804, 2-4 p.m. Eastern Time. A conference bridge will be provided. Meeting details will be posted on the mailing list iccp- ps@eblist.state.gov. People desiring to participate on this list may apply to the secretariat at minardje@state.gov. The ITAC will meet to prepare for the COM/CITEL December 2007 meeting on November 27, 2007, 2-4 p.m. Eastern Time at a location in the Washington Metro Area. A conference bridge will be provided if requested. Meeting details will be posted on the mailing list pcci- citel@eblist.state.gov. People desiring to participate on this list may apply to the secretariat at minardje@state.gov. The meetings are open to the public.

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: Foreign Service Officer Test Registration Form. OMB Control Number: 1405-0008. Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection. Originating Office: Human Resources, HR/REE/BEX. Form Number: DS-1998E. Respondents: Registrants for the Foreign Service Officer Test. Estimated Number of Respondents: 20,000. Estimated Number of Responses: 20,000. Average Hours Per Response: 3 hours. Total Estimated Burden: 60,000 hours. Frequency: On occasion. Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.

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 preceding submission to OMB. We are conducting this process in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Title of Information Collection: Affidavit Regarding a Change of Name. OMB Control Number: 1405-0133. Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved Collection. Originating Office: Bureau of Consular Affairs, CA/PPT/FO/ FC. Form Number: DS-60. Respondents: Individuals or households. Estimated Number of Respondents: 202,920 per year. Estimated Number of Responses: 202,920 per year. Average Hours Per Response: 15 minutes. Total Estimated Burden: 50,730. Frequency: On occasion. 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 ``Rhytons from Nysa'', 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 or custodians. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, from on or about December 17, 2007, until on or about December 3, 2008, and at possible additional exhibitions or 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 Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the Algeria Youth Leadership Program. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) will submit proposals to recruit and select high school students in Algeria, and conduct a program in Algeria and the United States approximately six weeks in length that will focus on themes of leadership development, respecting diversity, and civic education.

The Youth Programs Division of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the placement component of the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) program. 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 recruit and select host families and schools for high school students between the ages of 15 and 17 from countries of the former Soviet Union, hereafter referred to as Eurasia. This solicitation and the activities to which it refers, applies only to FLEX students from the following Eurasian countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. In addition to identifying schools and screening, selecting, and orienting families, organizations will be responsible for: (1) Providing English language enhancement activities for a small percentage of students who are specially identified; (2) orienting all students at the local level; (3) providing support services for students; (4) arranging enhancement activities and skill-building opportunities; (5) assessing student performance and progress; (6) providing mid-year programming and re-entry training; and (7) evaluating project success. Preference will be given to those organizations that offer participants opportunities to develop leadership skills and raise their awareness of tolerance and social justice through community activities and networks. The award of grants and the number of students who will participate is subject to the availability of funding in fiscal year 2008.

This rule amends Department of State regulations to provide for intercountry adoptions that will occur pursuant to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) and the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA). This rule addresses consular officer processing of immigration petitions, visas, and Convention certificates in cases of children immigrating to the United States in connection with an adoption covered by the Convention.

The Advisory Committee on Historical Diplomatic Documentation will meet in the Department of State, 2201 ``C'' Street, NW., Washington, DC, December 3-4, 2007, in Conference Room 1498. Prior notification and a valid government-issued photo ID (such as driver's license, passport, U.S. government or military ID) are required for entrance into the building. Members of the public planning to attend must notify Steven Galpern, Office of the Historian (202-663-1130) no later than November 29, 2007 to provide date of birth, valid government-issued photo identification number and type (such as driver's license number/state, passport number/country, or U.S. government ID number/agency or military ID number/branch), and relevant telephone numbers. If you cannot provide one of the enumerated forms of ID, please consult with Steven Galpern for acceptable alternative forms of picture identification. The Committee will meet in open session from 1:30 p.m. through 3 p.m. on Monday, December 3, 2007, in the Department of State, 2201 ``C'' Street, NW., Washington, DC, in Conference Room 1498, to discuss declassification and transfer of Department of State records to the National Archives and Records Administration and the status of the Foreign Relations series. The remainder of the Committee's sessions from 3:15 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, December 3, 2007, and 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. on Tuesday, December 4, 2007, will be closed in accordance with Section 10(d) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463). The agenda calls for discussions of agency declassification decisions concerning the Foreign Relations series and other declassification issues. These are matters not subject to public disclosure under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(1) and the public interest requires that such activities be withheld from disclosure. Questions concerning the meeting should be directed to Marc J. Susser, Executive Secretary, Advisory Committee on Historical Diplomatic Documentation, Department of State, Office of the Historian, Washington, DC 20520, telephone (202) 663-1123, (e-mail history@state.gov).

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 Mentor- Prot[eacute]g[eacute] Program Application. OMB Control Number: OMB 1405-0161. Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved Collection. Originating Office: Bureau of Administration, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business UtilizationA/SDBU. Form Number: DS-4053. Respondents: Small and large for-profit companies planning to team together in an official mentor-prot[eacute]g[eacute] capacity to improve the likelihood of winning DOS contracts. Estimated Number of Respondents: 14 respondents per year. Estimated Number of Responses: 14 per year. Average Hours Per Response: 21. Total Estimated Burden: 294. Frequency: On occasion. Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain Benefit.

The Branch for the Study of the United States, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, invites proposal submissions for the design and implementation of five Study of the United States Institutes to take place over the course of six weeks beginning in June 2008. These institutes should provide a multinational group of experienced educators with a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, values and institutions. Four of these institutes will be for groups of 18 foreign university level faculty each, focusing on American Politics and Political Thought, Contemporary American Literature, U.S. Foreign Policy, and Religious Pluralism in the United States. The fifth institute will be a general survey course on the study of the United States, for a group of 30 foreign secondary educators. Applicants may only propose to host one institute listed under this competition.

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 ``Lucien Freud: The Painter's Etchings,'' 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 or custodians. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, from on or about December 16, 2007, until on or about March 10, 2008, and at possible additional exhibitions or 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 rule makes final the Department's proposed rule published on June 20, 2007. The rule revises the regulations on fees to be charged for searching for information responsive to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act. The existing regulations proved to be unworkable, particularly in terms of ascertaining the costs of electronic searches.