Department of State 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of State is holding a public meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2009 at 1 p.m. at the Department of State, 2201 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20520, in the Loy Henderson Auditorium. The purpose of the meeting is to allow non-governmental organizations, and others with expertise on the legal rights of workers and victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons, to provide their expertise and input into the development and distribution of an information pamphlet on the legal rights and resources for aliens applying for employment- or education-based nonimmigrant visas. This is pursuant to the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, specifically section 202, Protections for domestic workers and other nonimmigrants. This Act defines ``employment- or education-based nonimmigrant visa'' as a nonimmigrant visa issued under subparagraph (A)(iii), (G)(v), (H), or (J) of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)); and any nonimmigrant visa issued to a personal or domestic servant who is accompanying or following to join an employer. Organizations or individuals may also submit written comments to be considered by the Department of State as it develops this information pamphlet.

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.

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 ``Telescopes: Through the Looking Glass,'' 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 Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL, from on or about May 22, 2009, until on or about December 31, 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.

The United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, announces revisions to the original RFGP announced in the Federal Register on Thursday, April 16, 2009 (Federal Register Volume 74, Number 72):

The Exchange Visitor Skills List is a list of specialized knowledge and skills that are deemed necessary for the development of an exchange visitor's home country. It is used by Consular Officers to determine whether an exchange visitor applying for a J-visa is subject to Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended.

The Department of State announces, in consultation with relevant Federal agencies, that it will include an expiration date among the conditions it establishes in Presidential permits that it issues for the construction, operation, and maintenance of border crossing facilities. Based on the Department's experience and on interagency consultations, the Department intends to provide for the expiration of permits for vehicular border crossings (i.e., crossings for cars, trucks, buses, and trains) ten (10) years after issuance unless the permittee notifies the Department within that timeframe that construction has begun, and for the expiration of permits for all other border crossing facilities (e.g., pipelines, conveyor belts, pedestrian crossings, etc.) five (5) years after issuance unless the permittee notifies the Department within that timeframe that construction has begun. The Department believes that this provision provides sufficient time for viable projects to move forward while preventing unexecuted permits from creating needless uncertainty and/or hindering the development of worthy projects that would better serve the national interest.

The Department of State published a final rule in the Federal Register on May 21, 2004 (69 FR 29222), revising Category XII(c) of the United States Munitions List. A technical error in that rule resulted in the unintended removal of language in a note after Category XII paragraph (c). This document corrects the final regulations by restoring the language in the note.

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.

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 ``William Holman Hunt and the Pre-Raphaelite Vision,'' 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 Minneapolis Institute of Arts, from on or about June 14, 2009, until on or about September 6, 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.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State seeks an organization to assist the Cultural Programs Division of the Office of Citizen Exchanges in all logistical and administrative aspects related to its support of U.S. Embassy sponsored visual arts programs. The visual arts programs to be supported are intended to foster good will, engage foreign audiences, and provide insight into American culture and values. The Visual Arts Initiative (VAI) program will provide funding on a competitive basis for posts to showcase American talent overseas. Over a period of two years, grantee will be responsible for one-way exchanges in the visual arts, providing support to ECA to include cyclical solicitation and review of proposals received from U.S. Missions abroad using ECA-established criteria; packaging and submitting proposals to ECA for final decision; extending financial support to selected U.S. partners, and; to reporting on program results. The Bureau anticipates that approximately $500,000 will be available to support this program.

The Fulbright Teacher Exchange Branch in the Office of Global Educational Programs of the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA/A/S/X) announces an open competition for the U.S.-French Teachers-in-Training 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 a three-month teacher exchange program for U.S. and French beginning teachers. The program will provide approximately 25 French pre-service teachers with a three- week orientation to American history, culture and society, provided through seminars in an academic setting, and a nine-week practical component, provided through practice teaching experience under the guidance of experienced mentor teachers at a U.S. secondary school. The program will also integrate a professional development seminar with other program activities throughout the practical teaching period. Proposals should document strong contacts with local school districts in the United States to demonstrate the ability to provide the practical student-teaching component for French pre-service teachers. Proposals should also demonstrate the ability to conduct a substantive professional development seminar in an academic setting.

The Office of International Visitors, Division of Professional and Cultural Exchanges, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA/PE/V), United States Department of State (DoS) announces an open competition for two assistance awards to develop and implement International Visitor Leadership Programs (IVLP). The IVLP seeks to increase mutual understanding between the U.S. and foreign publics through carefully designed professional programs for approximately 4,500 foreign visitors per year from all regions of the world. The two awards will fund programming for a minimum of 251 and a maximum of 712 International Visitors (IVs). Subject to availability of funds, Award A will fund: (1) Up to approximately 593 visitors ($1,939,113), of which approximately 75 visitors will be funded, if required, through seasonal administrative funding for one 7-month and one 4-month program team included in this total or (2) up to approximately 712 visitors ($2,326,936), of which 75 visitors will be funded, if required, through seasonal administrative funding for one 7- month and one 4-month program team included in this total. Award B will fund: (1) Up to approximately 251 visitors ($684,657) or (2) up to approximately 301 visitors ($821,588). Applicant organizations must include two separate proposed budgets at the two different projected funding levels described above for each award for which they apply. For Award A, each of the proposed budgets should also include a separate budget spreadsheet for the one 7-month and one 4- month supplemental program team described above. Applicant organizations may bid on one or both awards. Pending availability of funds, one assistance award will be made for each category described above. If an organization is interested in bidding on more than one award, a separate proposal and budget is required for each award. See Project Objectives, Goals, and Implementation (POGI) for definitions of program-related terminology.

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 ``Pen and Parchment: Drawing in the Middle Ages,'' 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 June 2, 2009, until on or about August 23, 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: ``Judith Leyster,'' 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, from on or about June 21, 2009, until on or about November 29, 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 ``An Antiquity of Imagination: Tullio Lombardo and Venetian High Renaissance Sculpture,'' 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 July 4 until on or about October 31, 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.

The Cultural Programs Division of the Office of Citizen Exchanges in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for two Cooperative Agreements to support programs for short residency and training programs in the United States for emerging and mid-career documentary filmmakers from around the world and museum specialists from Iraq. The Bureau anticipates that approximately $900,000 will be available to support this competition. Grantees will design, develop, and implement 30-60 day programs in the United States for the selected participants, individually or in small groups. Each program should be built around a residency experience, which may be supplemented by other program elements designed to enhance and expand upon the activities of the residency.

The Youth Programs Division, Office of Citizen Exchanges, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for the Global Connections and Exchange (GCE) program. Public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 USC 501(c)(3) may submit proposals to administer the following GCE programs: Program One: GCE Kyrgyzstan; and/or Program Two: GCE in countries in the Middle East/North Africa (see https://www.state.gov/p/nea/), South and Central Asia (see https://www.state.gov/p/sca/), and Sub-Saharan Africa (see https://www.state.gov/p/af). Countries of interest include: Kazakhstan, Maldives, South Africa, Tanzania, Algeria and Yemen. GCE programs are currently being funded in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Turkmenistan, and the West Bank; therefore, they are disqualified from this competition. While all other countries in the regions mentioned above qualify, proposals focusing on countries of interest will be deemed more competitive under the Quality of Program Idea review element (see V.1. REVIEW PROCESS). The Bureau will award one grant for the Kyrgyzstan program and one grant for the multi-country program. The grantee organizations and/or their partners will select overseas schools and develop collaborative school partnerships with U.S. schools. Thematic online projects will enhance learning, research and cross-border communication among participating schools. If feasible, a small number of U.S. and/or foreign participants may travel to partner schools for a minimum of three weeks in order to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen online relationships. All Global Connections and Exchange activities will be undertaken in regular and consistent consultation with the Youth Programs Division and the Public Affairs Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in each participating country.

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 ``Wine, Worship and Sacrifice: The Golden Graves of Ancient Vani,'' 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. The objects were originally exhibited in the United States in 2007 and 2008, went on to an international tour, and are now returning. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at the Getty Villa, Los Angeles, CA, from on or about July 16, 2009, until on or about October 5, 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.

The Office of Citizen Exchanges, Youth Programs Division, of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for two Youth Leadership Programs, one for 21 exchange participants from three countries in South Asia (Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives) and one for 50-60 participants from countries in Southeast Asia that are members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam). 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 conduct 25-day U.S.-based exchanges program for high school students and teachers from one of these regions. The activities will focus on civic education, leadership, diversity, and community activism, which will prepare participants to conduct projects at home that serve a community need.

The Department of State hereby gives notice that, on March 16, 2009, it received from the chairman of the Anzalduas Bridge Board, acting on behalf of the mayors of McAllen, Hidalgo, and Mission, Texas, a request to amend the Presidential permit that the Department issued in 1999 for the Anzalduas international bridge on the U.S.-Mexico border near McAllen, Texas and Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Mexico. The permittee proposes the removal of article 17 of the permit. Article 17 states that ``[t]he permittee shall limit the initial hours of operation of the Anzalduas International Crossing to twelve hours per day, seven days per week for vehicular traffic.''