Department of State June 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On May 14 2014, the Department of State certified, pursuant to Section 609 of Public Law 101-162, that 14 nations have adopted programs to reduce the incidental capture of sea turtles in their shrimp fisheries comparable to the program in effect in the United States. The Department also certified that the fishing environments in 26 other countries and one economy do not pose a threat of the incidental taking of sea turtles protected under Section 609.

The Department of State revises its regulations governing the classification of national security information that is under the control of the Department in order to reflect the provisions of a new executive order on national security information, E.O. 13526 and its implementing directive in Information Security Oversight Office regulations. This revision also reflects consequent changes in the Department's procedures since the last revision of the Department's regulations on this subject in 2004. These changes include some changes in the classification categories, in the rules governing the sharing of other-agency classified information, and in granting access to classified information to certain former government personnel. This regulation does not apply to information classified as Restricted Data (RD) or Formerly Restricted Data (FRD). Requirements for classifying and declassifying RD and FRD can be found in Department of Energy regulations on Nuclear Classification and Declassification, or in a Department of State regulation or internal order implementing those regulations.

The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

The Department of State (hereinafter, ``State'' or ``the Department'') is amending its debt collection regulations to permit debt notices to be sent by electronic mail to certain debtors and to reflect a change in federal law, which authorizes the offset of Federal non-tax payments to collect delinquent federal debt without regard to the amount of time the debt has been delinquent.

NuStar Logistics, L.P. (NuStar) has applied to the U.S. Department of State (Department) for a Presidential Permit to replace a 2003 Presidential Permit issued to Valero Logistics Operations L.P. to construct, connect, operate, and maintain pipeline facilities (the Dos Laredos Pipeline) crossing the international border between the United States and Mexico at a location on the Rio Grande River known as ``La Bota,'' approximately six miles northwest of downtown Laredo, Texas. Specifically, NuStar requests a Presidential Permit that: (1) Reflects NuStar's name change from Valero Logistics Operations, L.P. to NuStar Logistics, L.P., as the owner and operator of the Dos Laredos Pipeline crossing the international boundary; and (2) expands the types of products that may be transported through the pipeline. The 2003 Presidential Permit only allows shipment of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), while NuStar now proposes to transport other specifically defined petroleum products, including diesel. On December 30, 2003, the Department issued a ``Finding of No Significant Impact and Summary Environmental Assessment; Valero Logistics LP Pipeline in Webb County, TX,'' applicable to the Dos Laredos Pipeline (the 2003 Environmental Finding). In the 2003 Environmental Finding, the Department described the proposed Dos Laredos Pipeline as being designed to transport up to 32,400 barrels (1.36 million gallons) of LPG daily from the United States to Mexico. The Department concluded that issuance of a Presidential Permit authorizing the proposed Dos Laredos Pipeline would have no significant impact on the quality of the human environment within the United States, and further determined that granting a Presidential Permit for the Dos Laredos Pipeline would serve the national interest. In accordance with the 2003 Environmental Finding and the 2003 Presidential Permit, the Dos Laredos Pipeline was constructed and went into service in 2004. The owner, Valero Logistics Operations, L.P., changed its name to NuStar Logistics, L.P. on April 1, 2007. In June 2011, NuStar temporarily suspended transportation of LPG on the Dos Laredos Pipeline. NuStar has continued to maintain the pipeline with the intent to place the pipeline back into active service in 2014. On December 4, 2013, NuStar submitted an application to the Department requesting a new Presidential Permit for the Dos Laredos Pipeline. The Department has concluded, consistent with NEPA, that it will prepare a Supplemental EA to determine whether the proposed action may have a significant impact on the human environment. The purpose of this Notice of Intent is to inform the public about the proposed action, announce plans for determining the scope of the review, invite public participation in the scoping process, and solicit public comments for consideration in establishing the scope and content of the Supplemental EA.

Notice is hereby given that the Department of State has imposed administrative debarment pursuant to Section 127.7(a) of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (22 CFR parts 120 to 130) on Carlos Dominguez (individually and in his capacity as principal of the following entities); Elint, S.A.; Spain Night Vision, S.A.; and SNV, S.A. (including successors, assignees, and aliases).

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. 236-3 of August 28, 2000 (and, as appropriate, Delegation of Authority No. 257 of April 15, 2003), I hereby determine that the object to be included in the exhibition ``Magna Carta: Cornerstone of Liberty'' at the Museum of Fine Arts; the exhibition ``Radical Words: From the Magna Carta to the Constitution'' at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, and exhibition ``Magna Carta: Muse and Mentor'' at the Library of Congress, 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 Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA, from on or about July 2, 2014, until on or about September 1, 2014; the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, MA, from on or about September 6, 2014, until November 2, 2014, and the Library of Congress, Washington, DC, from November 6, 2014, until on or about January 19, 2015, and at possible additional exhibitions or venues yet to be determined, is in the national interest. I have ordered that Public Notice of these Determinations 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, and Delegation of Authority No. 236-3 of August 28, 2000 (and, as appropriate, Delegation of Authority No. 257 of April 15, 2003), I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition ``Ancient Luxury and the Roman Silver Treasure from Berthouville,'' 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 owner or custodian. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, California, from on or about November 19, 2014, until on or about August 17, 2015, and at possible additional exhibitions or venues yet to be determined, is in the national interest. I have ordered that Public Notice of these Determinations be published in the Federal Register.

The U.S. Department of State, in coordination with the National Ocean Council, requests expert review of the draft World Ocean Assessment. The United Nations (UN) has embarked on a regular process for global reporting on, and assessment of, the state of the marine environment, including socioeconomic aspects, the product of which is called the World Ocean Assessment (WOA). The projected completion date for the first WOA is December 2014. Subsequent WOAs are expected to be generated every five years in order to document trends in the state of the marine environment. The WOA includes more than fifty subjects grouped within four main themes: marine environment and understanding of the ocean's role in the global integrated Earth system; food security and food safety; human activities that influence the ocean or are influenced by the ocean; and marine biological diversity. A scientific and technical summary will integrate content to show linkages through interdisciplinary subjects such as human impacts, ecosystem services, and habitats. More information regarding the evolution and methodology of the WOA can be found at www.worldoceanassessment.org. This fall, UN Member States will have an opportunity to review the draft WOA, which is expected to be comprised of 50 chapters (approximately 15 pages each) and a 70-page technical summary; the outline illustrates the very wide range of expertise needed for such review. The Department of State invites experts in relevant fields of expertise to participate in the U.S. Government review of the draft WOA. Beginning on 1 August 2014, experts may register to review the draft WOA at review.globalchange.gov, a Web-based review and comment system. Registered experts will have access to the draft WOA on 2 September 2014 and will have until midnight 30 September 2014 to submit their review comments using the Web-based review and comment system. Detailed instructions for review and submission of comments are available at review.globalchange.gov. A Review Coordination Team comprised of Federal scientists and program managers will develop a consolidated U.S. Government review submission. Only comments received via the Web-based review and comment system within the comment period will be considered by the Review Coordination Team for inclusion in the U.S. Government review submission. This certification will be published in the Federal Register.

The Department of State has submitted the information collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 30 days for public comment.

Pursuant to the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005, the Department of State amends the immigrant visa classification table listed in the Department's regulations to add a symbol for an immigrant visa issued to to an alien who: is the parent of a current U.S.citizen, or the parent of a former U.S. citizen who, within the two-year period prior to filing the petition, lost or renounced U.S. citizenship status related to an incident of domestic violence or died; is a person of good moral character; is eligible to be classified as an immediate relative under the Immigration and Nationality Act; resides, or has resided, with the U.S. citizen daughter or son; demonstrates that he or she has been battered or subject to extreme cruelty by the U.S. citizen daughter or son; and has an approved petition from the Department of Homeland Security.