Department of State January 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of State is revising the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services to reflect an increase in the surcharge related to consular services in support of enhanced border security and a reduction in the execution fee for the passport book. The Secretary of State is authorized to collect the border security surcharge by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (Pub. L. 108-447). In 2007, Congress authorized the Secretary of State to administratively amend the surcharge amount in the Department of State Authorities Act of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-472). The Secretary is also authorized to set and collect a fee for executing passport applications by 22 U.S.C. 214.

The Department of State hereby gives notice that, on January 14, 2008, it received an application for a Presidential Permit to authorize the construction, operation, and maintenance of a new border crossing facility on the U.S.-Mexico border at San Diego, California and Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. The new crossing would be approximately two miles east of the current Otay Mesa port of entry, and would connect to existing roads via a proposed new State highway. The California Department of Transportation (``Caltrans''), a branch of the California State government, filed this application and is acting as the project's sponsor. The Department of State's jurisdiction over this application is based upon Executive Order 11423 of August 16, 1968, as amended. As provided in E.O. 11423, the Department is circulating this application to relevant Federal and State agencies for review and comment. Under E.O. 11423, the Department has the responsibility to determine, taking into account input from these agencies and other stakeholders, whether this proposed border crossing is in the U.S. national interest.

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 ``Khatchkar of Lori'', 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 or custodian. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit object at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York, from on or about September 15, 2008, until on or about February 15, 2009, 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.

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 in the exhibition ``Rococo: The Continuing Curve, 1730-2008, 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 owner or custodian. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, Smithsonian Institution, New York, NY, from on or about March 7, 2008, until on or about July 7, 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 U.S. National Commission for UNESCO will meet via telephone conference on Friday, February 1, 2008, from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. Eastern Time. The purpose of the teleconference meeting is to consider the recommendations of the Commission's National Committee for the International Hydrological Program (IHP). The U.S. National Committee for the IHP was asked to provide recommendations to the Commission on proposals received to establish a U.S. water-related UNESCO Category II Center. (For more information see https:// www.state.gov/p/io/unesco/c21083.htm). The call will also be an opportunity to provide an update on recent and upcoming Commission and UNESCO activities. The Commission will accept brief oral comments during a portion of this conference call. This public comment period will last 15 minutes, and comments are limited to two minutes per person. Members of the public who wish to present oral comments or to listen to the conference call must make arrangements with the Executive Secretariat of the National Commission by January 30, 2008. For more information or to arrange to participate in the teleconference meeting, contact Alex Zemek, Deputy Executive Director of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO, Washington, DC 20037. Telephone: (202) 663-0026; Fax: (202) 663-0035; E-mail: DCUNESCO@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: NEA/PI Online Performance Reporting System (PRS). OMB Control Number: none. Type of Request: New collection. Originating Office: NEA/PI. Form Number: DS-4127. Respondents: Recipients of NEA/PI grants. Estimated Number of Respondents: 70 respondents annually. Estimated Number of Responses: 280 per year. Average Hours Per Response: 20. Total Estimated Burden: 5600 hours per year. Frequency: Quarterly. Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit.

This notice announces meetings of the International Telecommunication Advisory Committee (ITAC) to prepare advice on U.S. positions for the April 2008 meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) Permanent Consultative Committee II (Radiocommunication including broadcasting) (PCC.II) and on various matters associated with the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). The ITAC will meet to prepare advice for the U.S. on positions for the April 2008 meeting of the OAS CITEL PCC.II on Tuesday February 5, 10 a.m.-noon EST in Room 6B516 at the Federal Communications Commission, 445 12th Street, SW., Washington DC. Meeting details and detailed agendas will be posted on the mailing list pcc.ii- citel@eblist.state.gov. People desiring to participate on this list may apply to the secretariat at minardje@state.gov. The ITAC will meet to elicit private sector and industry input on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Telecommunications Ministerial in April 2008 and on the APEC Telecommunications Working Group future work goals and planning. The meeting will be held on Thursday February 7, 2-4 p.m. EST hosted by Verizon Communications, 1300 Eye Street, Washington, DC. Meeting details and detailed agendas 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 meetings are open to the public.

The Advisory Committee on Persons With Disabilities of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Agency for International Development will conduct its fifth public meeting on Monday, February 4, 2008 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20004. For directions, see https://www.itcdc.com/index.php. Attendees must have valid, government-issued identification, such as a Driver's License or passport, in order to enter the building. Attendees requiring reasonable accommodation should indicate their requirements one week prior to the event to Stephanie Ortoleva at ortolevas@state.gov. The agenda of this meeting will include presentations by the following: 1. Eric Rosenthal, Executive Director, Mental Disability Rights International, will discuss MDRI reports on the situation of persons with mental disabilities in Serbia and in Argentina. The Serbia report can be found at: https://www.mdri.org/projects/serbia/Serbia-rep- english.pdf. The Argentina report can be found at: https://www.mdri.org/ projects/americas/Argentina/MDRI.ARG.ENG.NEW.pdf. 2. Mary Keogh, International Coordinator, International Disability Rights Monitor, of the Center for International Rehabilitation, will discuss the Center's most recent report on the human rights situation of persons with disabilities in Europe. The European IDRM report can be found at: https://www.idrmnet.org/pdfs/IDRMEurope2007.pdf. 3. Ann Cody, Vice President for Government Affairs with B&D Consulting and a leader in the international sports movement, will discuss sports as a convening mechanism for promoting democracy, peace and human rights and leadership development for persons with disabilities. 4. Veda Engel, U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Human Resources, will discuss Department efforts to increase the recruitment of persons with disabilities. 5. Stephanie Ortoleva, Esq., U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Foreign Affairs Officer and Advisory Committee Executive Director, will discuss her recent assessment trip to Morocco for a Department grant and to meet with disability groups. She will also discuss other Department activities with respect to the human rights of persons with disabilities. 6. Robert Horvath, Senior Technical Advisor, U.S. Agency for International Development, will give an update on USAID activities, including discussion of funding programs and examples of recent accomplishments and successes in integrating disability within USAID field programs. 7. The Advisory Committee will discuss its plans for the forthcoming year. The Advisory Committee is made up of the Secretary of State, the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development and an Executive Director (all ex officio members); and eight members from outside the United States Government: Senda Benaissa, Joni Eareckson Tada, Vail Horton, John Kemp, Albert H. Linden, Jr., Kathleen Martinez, John Register and James E. Vermillion. Established on June 23, 2004, the Advisory Committee serves the Secretary and the Administrator in an advisory capacity with respect to the consideration of the interests of persons with disabilities in formulation and implementation of U.S. foreign policy and foreign assistance. The Committee is established under the general authority of the Secretary and the Department of State as set forth in Title 22 of the United States Code, sections 2656 and 2651a, and in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended.

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 ``Rembrandt: Three Faces of the Master'', 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 Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, Ohio, from on or about March 7, 2008, until on or about May 21, 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 English Language Programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the Chilean English as a Foreign Language (EFL) Student Teacher Program. Accredited, U.S. post-secondary educational institutions meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to administer this semester-long program for Chilean pre-service teachers. Post-secondary educational institutions may apply independently or in a consortium with other post-secondary institutions. The program will include academic coursework and practicum/student teaching for Chilean EFL student teachers in their penultimate year of undergraduate study. ECA plans to award two grants for the administration of this program under which a total of approximately thirty EFL student teachers will be placed in two groups at two different U.S. universities. The program will take place during the fall semester of 2008 and will, in addition to teaching participants about student-centered methodology, give them an in-depth experience of U.S. life and culture and contribute to mutual understanding between Chile and the United States. The program should include both a theoretical component, provided through courses and professional development seminars in an academic setting, and a practical component, provided through practice teaching under the guidance of experienced mentor teachers in local school districts. Interested post-secondary educational institutions should indicate strong contacts with local U.S. school districts in order to provide the practical student-teaching component, as well as a demonstrated ability to conduct a substantive academic program. Host schools for student teaching may be public, magnet or charter schools, and should exemplify best practices. The total funding available for program and administrative purposes is anticipated to be approximately $450,000, and will be awarded in two separate grants of $225,000. This exchange program will be funded in FY-2008 pending the availability of funds.

This report is submitted in compliance with Appendix I to OMB Circular Number A-130 entitled ``Federal Agency Responsibilities for Maintaining Records about Individuals.'' The Department of State (``Department'') intends to alter an existing system of records, ``Passport Records'' (STATE-26), to reflect additional routine uses for the information maintained in the Passport Records System. Purpose: The information collected and maintained in the system of records entitled ``Passport Records'' is in keeping with the Department's responsibility to adjudicate applications for U.S. passports. Proposed alterations appear in the routine uses section of the system description. The purpose in granting access to other entities varies, but principally encompasses the following functions: To support national defense, border security, and foreign policy activities; To ensure the proper functioning and integrity of law enforcement, counterterrorism, and fraud-prevention activities by supporting law enforcement personnel in the conduct of their duties; To support the investigatory process; and To assist with verification of passport validity to support employment eligibility and identity corroboration for public and private employment. This Systems of Records Notice (SORN) documents an updated list of routine uses for records maintained in the passport records system to include disclosure to the following entities: Department of Homeland Security for law enforcement; counterterrorism; border patrol, screening, and security purposes; fraud prevention activities; and verification of passport validity to support employment eligibility and identity corroboration for public and private employment; Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, and other components, for law enforcement, counterterrorism, border security, fraud prevention, and criminal and civil litigation activities; INTERPOL and other international organizations for law enforcement, counterterrorism, fraud prevention, criminal activities related to lost and stolen passports; National Counterterrorism Center to support strategic operational planning and counterterrorism intelligence activities; Office of Personnel Management (OPM), other federal agencies, or contracted outside entities to support the investigations that OPM, other federal agencies, and contractor personnel conduct for the federal government in connection with verification of employment eligibility and/or the issuance of a security clearance; Social Security Administration to support employment- eligibility verification for public and private employers, and for support in verification of social security numbers used in processing U.S. passport applications; Federal, state, local or other agencies for use in legal proceedings as government counsel deems appropriate, in accordance with any understanding reached by the agency with the U.S. Department of State. Foreign governments, to permit such governments to fulfill passport control and immigration duties and their own law enforcement, counterterrorism, and fraud prevention functions, and to support U.S. law enforcement, counterterrorism, and fraud prevention activities. Public and private employers seeking to confirm the authenticity of the U.S. passport when it is presented as evidence of identity and eligibility to work in the United States; Contractor personnel conducting data entry, scanning, corrections, and modifications, or conducting other authorized functions related to passport records.

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 exhibited include assorted objects of Greek and Roman art, 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 Greek and Roman Art galleries of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY, from on or about January 14, 2008, until on or about January 31, 2012, 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.

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 ``Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul'', 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 National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC from on or about May 25, 2008, until on or about September 7, 2008; the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco from on or about October 17, 2008, to on or about January 25, 2009; The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, from on or about February 22, 2009, to on or about May 17, 2009: and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, from on or about June 15, 2009, to on or about September 20, 2009, 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.

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 ``Gustave Courbet,'' 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 February 25, 2008, until on or about May 18, 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.