Department of State July 8, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Department of State hereby gives notice that it has received an application for an amendment to the existing Presidential permit to allow the crossing of non-hazardous radioactive materials (HAZMAT) across the World Trade Bridge between the City of Laredo, Texas and Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico. This application has been filed by the City of Laredo, the original permittee for the World Trade Bridge. A Presidential permit for the World Trade Bridge crossing was issued by the Department of State on October 7, 1994. The Department of State's jurisdiction with respect to this application is based upon the International Bridge Act of 1972, 33 U.S.C. 535 et seq., and Executive Order 11423, dated August 16, 1968, as amended. The Department of State has determined that, under Executive Order 11423, an amended Presidential permit is required to allow the transit of HAZMATs as this constitutes a substantial change to the operations of the crossing as authorized by the existing Presidential permit. As provided in E.O. 11423, the Department is circulating the City of Laredo's application, along with the EA, to concerned agencies for comment. Under E.O. 11423, the Department has the responsibility to determine, taking into account input from these agencies and other stakeholders, whether issuance of an amendment to the Presidential Permit would serve the national interest. Interested members of the public are invited to submit written comments regarding this application on or before August 7, 2013 to MexicoCrossingComm@State.gov or to Peter Marigliano, Border Affairs Officer, WHA/MEX, HST Room 1329A, Department of State, 2201 C St. NW., Washington, DC 20520.

As part of the President's Export Control Reform (ECR) effort, the Department of State is amending the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to revise four more U.S Munitions List (USML) categories and provide new definitions and other changes. The revisions contained in this rule are part of the Department of State's retrospective plan under E.O. 13563.