Department of State 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Secretary of State's designation of ``countries of particular concern'' for religious freedom violations. Pursuant to Section 408(a) of the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-292), as amended (the Act), notice is hereby given that, on February 29, 2016, the Secretary of State, under authority delegated by the President, has designated each of the following as a ``country of particular concern'' (CPC) under sec. 402(b) of the Act, for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The Secretary simultaneously designated the following Presidential Actions for these CPCs: For Burma, the existing ongoing arms embargo referenced in 22 CFR 126.1(a), pursuant to sec. 402(c)(5) of the Act; For China, the existing ongoing restriction on exports to China of crime control and detection instruments and equipment, under the Foreign Relations Authorization Act of 1990 and 1991 (Pub. L. 101-246), pursuant to sec. 402(c)(5) of the Act; For Eritrea, the existing ongoing arms embargo referenced in 22 CFR 126.1(a), pursuant to sec. 402(c)(5) of the Act; For Iran, the existing ongoing travel restrictions based on serious human rights abuses under sec. 221(a)(1)(C) of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012, pursuant to sec. 402(c)(5) of the Act; For the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the existing ongoing restrictions to which the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is subject, pursuant to sec. 402 and 409 of the Trade Act of 1974 (the Jackson-Vanik Amendment), pursuant to sec. 402(c)(5) of the Act; For Saudi Arabia, a waiver as required in the ``important national interest of the United States,'' pursuant to sec. 407 of the Act; For Sudan, the restriction in the annual Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act on making certain appropriated funds available for assistance to the Government of Sudan, currently set forth in sec. 7042(k) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2015 (Div. J, Pub. L. 113-235), and any provision of law that is the same or substantially the same as this provision, pursuant to sec. 402(c)(5) of the Act; For Tajikistan, a waiver as required in the ``important national interest of the United States,'' pursuant to sec. 407 of the Act; For Turkmenistan, a waiver as required in the ``important national interest of the United States,'' pursuant to sec. 407 of the Act; For Uzbekistan, a waiver as required in the ``important national interest of the United States,'' pursuant to sec. 407 of the Act.

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), E.O. 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. 257-1 of December 11, 2015), I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition ``Turner's Whaling Pictures,'' 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 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York, from on or about May 10, 2016, until on or about August 7, 2016, 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), E. O. 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. 257-1 of December 11, 2015), I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition ``Slavery and Freedom,'' 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 Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington, District of Columbia, from on or about September 24, 2016, until on or about July 1, 2026, 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 (Department) is issuing this Notice of Intent (NOI) to inform the public that it will prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality regulations found at 40 CFR parts 1500-1508), to evaluate potential impacts from the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of a proposed new 20-inch diameter pipeline and associated infrastructure in North Dakota that would export crude oil from the United States to Canada. The Upland Pipeline EIS will address potential direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts from the proposed action and will evaluate a range of reasonable alternatives, including a no action alternative. The Department also plans to host a public scoping meeting on Tuesday, May 10, 2016 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at the Farm Festival Building in Tioga, North Dakota to solicit public comments for consideration in establishing the scope of the EIS.

The Department of State has submitted the information collection request described below 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 (5 CFR 1320.13). The purpose of this notice is to allow for public comment from all interested individuals and organizations. Emergency review and approval of this collection has been requested from OMB by April 29, 2016. If granted, the emergency approval is only valid for 180 days. The Department plans to follow this emergency request with a submission for a 3 year approval through OMB's normal PRA clearance process (5 CFR 1320.10).

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), E.O. 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. 257-1 of December 11, 2015), I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition ``Court and Cosmos: The Great Age of the Seljuqs,'' 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, New York, from on or about April 27, 2016, until on or about July 24, 2016, 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 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.

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.

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), E.O. 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. 257-1 of December 11, 2015), I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition ``High Society: The Portraits of Franz X. Winterhalter,'' 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 Fine Arts, Houston, Houston, Texas, from on or about April 17, 2016, until on or about August 14, 2016, 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 invites submission of comments from the public and relevant industries on influenza surveillance and response, related to the implementation of the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework (PIP-FW) (https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA64/A64_8-en.pdf). Comments are specifically requested on the PIP-FW Review areas of virus sharing and benefits sharing, and on governance and linkages with other international programs or instruments.

The U.S. Department of State (Department) announces availability of the ``Draft Supplemental Environmental Assessment'' (Draft SEA) and ``Draft Finding of No Significant Impact for the NuStar Dos Laredos Pipeline Presidential Permit Application Review'' (Draft FONSI) for public review and comment. These documents analyze the potential environmental effects of issuing a Presidential Permit to NuStar Logistics, L.P. (NuStar) to amend the 2003 Presidential Permit issued to Valero Logistics Operations, L.P. to construct, connect, operate, and maintain transboundary pipeline facilities (Dos Laredos Pipeline). The Dos Laredos Pipeline Draft SEA and Draft FONSI were prepared consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. Section 4321, et seq.), the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and the Department's implementing regulations (22 CFR part 161). They evaluate the potential environmental impacts of a change in operations of the existing 10.6 miles of 8 and 5/8 inch outer diameter pipeline and associated facilities (e.g., mainline valves) near Laredo, TX.

The Department of State informs all existing and prospective U.S. Sector Members of the ITU that the Department of State serves as the ITU membership approval authority for U.S. entities and reminds U.S. Sector Members and prospective members of their responsibilities for paying their membership fees and keeping their accounts current.

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. 257-1 of December 11, 2015), I hereby determine that the object to be included in the exhibition ``A Portrait of Antinous: In Two Parts,'' 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 Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, from on about April 2, 2016, until on or about August 28, 2016, 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.

On January 25, 2016, the Department of State (Department) published a Notice of Re-Consideration Concerning the Scope of Authorizations in a Presidential Permit Issued to Plains LPG Services, L.P. in May 2014 for Existing Pipeline Facilities on the Border of the United States and Canada under the St. Clair River (Notice 81 FR 4081). The Department requested comment within 30 days of the publication date of the Notice, i.e., February 24, 2016. The Department is reopening the public comment period for the Notice for an additional 30 days. The Department's consideration of the Presidential Permit for the St. Clair pipeline facilities is pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13337, which delegates to the Secretary of State the President's authority to receive applications for permits for the construction, connection, operation, or maintenance of a range of facilities at the borders of the United States, including pipelines for liquid petroleum products, and to issue or deny such Presidential Permits upon a national interest determination. The Department also is soliciting the views of concerned federal agencies. Consistent with E.O. 13337, the Department will determine whether issuance of a new Presidential Permit for pipeline border facilities, as discussed in the Notice (81 FR 4081), would serve the U.S. national interest.