Search Results for agency_names:"Homeland Security Department"

The Coast Guard has announced a final rule regarding the Umpqua River railroad bridge in Reedsport, Oregon. This rule re-names the Central Oregon and Pacific railroad bridge to the Umpqua River railroad bridge and changes its operating schedule, allowing it to remain closed but opening for boats with a two-hour prior notice. The requirement for fog signals on the bridge has been removed, and updates to bridge names in regulations have been made to ensure accuracy. Despite these changes, the rule is not expected to significantly impact marine navigation or small businesses.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), part of the Department of Homeland Security, is proposing a new program to collect information for its ChemLock program, which aims to help facilities with dangerous chemicals. This program will provide services like consultations, assessments, and training to improve security measures. CISA has issued a 60-day notice asking for public comments by March 3, 2025, regarding this information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Public feedback will help ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed ChemLock services.

The Coast Guard is implementing a temporary safety zone in the Beaufort River, Beaufort, SC, to ensure safety during a barge-based fireworks display on December 31, 2024. The zone covers a 150-yard radius around the barge and will be enforced from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., or on January 1, 2025, if weather delays the event. This regulation aims to protect people, vessels, and the environment from potential hazards. Entry into the zone is prohibited without permission from the Captain of the Port or their designated representative.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a final rule to update regulations for temporary agricultural (H-2A) and nonagricultural (H-2B) workers. The rule aims to enhance the integrity of these programs and improve protections for workers. Key changes include strengthening rules against charging workers certain fees, providing increased flexibility and grace periods for H-2 workers, and enhancing whistleblower protections. The rule becomes effective on January 17, 2025.

The Coast Guard issued a temporary rule, effective from February 9, 2021, until March 15, 2021, establishing a safety zone on the Lower Mississippi River between mile markers 330 and 360. This safety zone prohibits entry to protect people and property from potential hazards due to the US Army Corps of Engineers' operations in the area. Entry is only allowed with permission from the Captain of the Port Sector Lower Mississippi River or a designated representative, and boaters can request access via VHF-FM radio or telephone. The Coast Guard will inform the public about the enforcement via notices and bulletins.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), is inviting public comments on a proposed extension of an existing information collection regarding the Application for Provisional Unlawful Presence Waiver of Inadmissibility (Form I-601A). This notice allows an additional 30 days for comments concerning the necessity and efficiency of this information collection, which aids USCIS in determining an applicant’s eligibility for the waiver. Public feedback is requested on matters such as the collection's estimated burden and any potential improvements, and comments must be submitted by March 29, 2021, via the Federal eRulemaking Portal. The submission of Form I-601A is crucial for individuals seeking to qualify for the provisional waiver process concerning unlawful presence inadmissibility, affecting about 63,000 respondents with a total estimated annual public burden of 168,210 hours and a cost burden of $3,212,390.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is inviting the public to comment on a revised data collection initiative related to the "Survivor Sheltering Assessment." This revision aims to streamline information sharing between FEMA and State, Tribal, and territorial governments to improve emergency sheltering efforts, particularly during events like the COVID-19 pandemic. Comments must be submitted by March 26, 2021. FEMA wants to assess if the data collection is necessary, accurate, and not burdensome, while enhancing its quality and usefulness.

The Coast Guard has implemented a new rule imposing a 48-hour time limit for vessels anchoring in Anchorage Area (B) at Bolivar Roads near Galveston, Texas, effective March 3, 2021. This rule aligns Anchorage Area (B) with the same time restrictions already applied to Areas (A) and (C). The change comes in response to extended anchoring times causing congestion and safety concerns, impacting commerce. Vessels can request longer anchoring permission from the Captain of the Port Houston-Galveston through the Coast Guard Vessel Traffic Service if needed due to bad weather or other circumstances.

The Coast Guard has implemented a temporary rule to maintain a modified schedule for operating the Florida East Coast Railroad Bridge over the Okeechobee Waterway in Stuart, Florida. This rule, effective until May 31, 2025, aims to keep train traffic moving efficiently while ensuring predictable and reliable drawbridge openings for boats. The Coast Guard is extending the temporary rule without a prior notice due to insufficient time to evaluate necessary data before the previous rule expired. Public comments regarding this temporary rule are welcome until March 10, 2025, and any necessary changes will be considered for a final decision.

The Coast Guard is implementing a temporary safety zone on Lake Erie around the Avon Lake Power Plant in Ohio due to potential hazards from demolition activities. This safety zone, which extends within a 750-yard radius of the plant, will be active on December 19, 2024, with a backup date of December 20, 2024, in case of bad weather. Only personnel and vessels with permission from the Captain of the Port, Eastern Great Lakes, are allowed to enter this area, ensuring the safety of people and the environment.