Notices. Notice of meeting

14,126 words·~64 min read·/register/2006/03/31/06-2986

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

BILLING CODE 4165-16-M DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 concerning opportunity for public comment on proposed collections of information, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects. To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a copy of the information collection plans, call the SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer on

(240)276-1243. Comments are invited on:

(a)Whether the proposed collections of information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility;

(b)the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information;

(c)ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(d)ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Proposed Project: 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health—(OMB No. 0930-0110)—Revision The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), formerly the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) is a survey of the civilian, non-institutionalized population of the United States 12 years old and older. The data are used to determine the prevalence of use of tobacco products, alcohol, illicit substances, and illicit use of prescription drugs. The results are used by SAMHSA, ONDCP, Federal government agencies, and other organizations and researchers to establish policy, direct program activities, and better allocate resources. With the exception of the addition of several follow-up questions on methamphetamine use, no changes to the questionnaire are proposed for the 2007 NSDUH. The proposed additional questions (age at first use and frequency of use in the past 12 months) will be asked of respondents who denied use of methamphetamine in the “core” NSDUH because they didn't think of it as a prescription drug, but in a later series of questions admit to use (Respondents who report use of methamphetamine in the “core” already receive questions on age at first use and frequency of use). The additional burden associated with the new questions will be negligible because only a small subset of the sample will receive them. As with all NSDUH/NHSDA surveys conducted since 1999, the sample size of the survey for 2007 will be sufficient to permit prevalence estimates for each of the fifty states and the District of Columbia. The total annual burden estimate is shown below: Activity Number of respondents Number of responses per respondent Average burden hours per respondent Total burden hours Household Screening 182,250 1 .083 15,127 Interview 67,500 1 1.0 67,500 Screening Verification 5,559 1 .067 372 Interview Verification 10,125 1 .067 678 Total 182,250 83,677 Send comments to Summer King, SAMHSA Reports Clearance Officer, Room 7-1044, One Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, MD 20857. Written comments should be received within 60 days of this notice. Dated: March 24, 2006. Anna Marsh, Director, Office of Program Services. [FR Doc. E6-4705 Filed 3-30-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4162-20-P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Coast Guard [CGD08-06-008] Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. ACTION: Notice of meeting. SUMMARY: The Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee (LMRWSAC) will meet to discuss various issues relating to navigational safety on the Lower Mississippi River and related waterways. The meeting will be open to the public. DATES: The next meeting of LMRWSAC will be held on Tuesday, April 25, 2006, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. This meeting may adjourn early if all business is finished. Requests to make oral presentations or submit written materials for distribution at the meeting should reach the Coast Guard on or before April 11, 2006. Requests to have a copy of your material distributed to each member of the committee in advance of the meeting should reach the Coast Guard on or before April 11, 2006. ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in the New Orleans Board of Trade, 316 Board of Trade Place, First Floor, Main Trading Room, New Orleans, Louisiana 70130. This notice is available on the Internet at *http://dms.dot.gov.* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Assistant Committee Administrators ENS Ashana Hopson at e-mail *ahopson@msoneworleans.uscg.mil* or Lieutenant Junior Grade

(LTJG)Thao Nguyen at e-mail *TNugyen@grunola.uscg.mil.* Written materials and requests to make presentations should be mailed to Commander, USCG Sector New Orleans, Attn: WATERWAYS Dept, LMRWSAC Assistant Committee Administrator, 201 Hammond Highway, Metairie, LA 70005. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this meeting is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2. Agenda of Meeting *Lower Mississippi River Waterway Safety Advisory Committee (LMRWSAC).* The agenda includes the following:

(1)Introduction of committee members.

(2)Opening Remarks.

(3)Approval of the November 15, 2005 minutes.

(4)Old Business:

(a)Captain of the Port status report.

(b)VTS update report.

(c)Subcommittee/Working Group update reports.

(5)New Business.

(6)Adjournment. Procedural The meeting is open to the public. Please note that the meeting may close early if all business is finished. At the Chair's discretion, members of the public may make oral presentations during the meeting. If you would like to make an oral presentation at the meeting, please notify the Committee Administrator no later than April 11, 2006. Written material for distribution at the meeting should reach the Coast Guard no later than April 11, 2006. If you would like a copy of your material distributed to each member of the committee in advance of the meeting, please submit 25 copies to the Committee Administrator no later than April 11, 2006. Information on Services for Individuals With Disabilities For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities, or to request special assistance at the meetings, contact the Committee Administrator at the location indicated under Addresses as soon as possible. Dated: March 15, 2006. R.F. Duncan, Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, Eighth Coast Guard District. [FR Doc. E6-4717 Filed 3-30-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-15-P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement [DHS-2005-0050] Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records AGENCY: Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Department of Homeland Security ACTION: Notice of Privacy Act system of records. SUMMARY: The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the Department of Homeland Security is creating a new system of records to be used in the management of case and document information by attorneys working for the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor in the preparation and presentation of cases for a court or adjudicative body before which the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Department of Homeland Security is authorized or required to appear. DATES: The new system of records will be effective May 1, 2006, unless comments are received that result in a contrary determination. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number, by *one* of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: *http://www.regulations.gov.* Follow the instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: William C. Birkett, Chief, Knowledge Management Division, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 425 I Street, NW., Washington, DC 20536; Chief Privacy Officer, Department of Homeland Security, 601 South 12th Street, Arlington, VA 22202-4220. • Fax:

(202)514-0455 (not toll-free). • Hand Delivery/Courier: Department of Homeland Security, 245 Murray Lane, SW., Building 410, Washington, DC 20528. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William C. Birkett, Chief, Knowledge Management Division, Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 425 I Street, NW., Washington, DC 20536, at

(202)514-6761. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Interested persons are invited to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written data, views, or arguments on all aspects of this notice. Comments that will provide the most assistance to the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in developing these procedures will reference a specific portion of the notice, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include data, information, or authority that support such recommended change. *Instructions:* All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number for this rulemaking. All comments received will be posted without change to *http://www.regulations.gov* , including any personal information provided. *Docket:* For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to *http://www.regulations.gov.* In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 5 U.S.C. 552a, the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement

(ICE)of the Department of Homeland Security

(DHS)is giving notice that it proposes to implement a new system of records entitled “the General Counsel Electronic Management System” (GEMS). This system will consist of information that is created and used by attorneys working for ICE in the preparation and presentation of cases for a court or adjudicative body before which ICE or DHS is authorized or required to appear. The system will supplement and ultimately replace the current attorney work product paper files that are primarily stored and managed in the hardcopy alien file commonly known as the “A-file.” The ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor

(OPLA)is responsible for the prosecution and/or management of cases before the federal courts, immigration courts, and other tribunals where immigration case matters are presented. Because of its significant caseload, OPLA is presented with a tremendous data management problem. Recent changes to the immigration laws and increasing numbers of cases require changes and improved efficiency in the maintenance of case records and attorney work product regarding immigration matters. The proposed system will provide OPLA attorneys and other DHS and Department of Justice

(DOJ)attorneys, who have a need for this information in the performance of their duties representing the agency real time, access to documents and attorney notes concerning the status and processing of immigration matters to multiple authorized users at their desktops and greatly reduce their reliance on the need to access the paper A-file. GEMS consists of customized off-the-shelf software that has been developed to meet the growing needs for information management in the attorney field operations and attorney management offices of ICE. Although records will be maintained in GEMS by alien registration number, GEMS will provide attorneys and their supervisors with the ability to collect and locate case information without complete reliance on the physical A-file. In addition to maintaining investigative materials collected for the adjudication of immigration cases, GEMS will allow attorneys to store their case notes, other hearing related information, and briefs and memoranda related to cases. This should not only facilitate the work of the ICE attorneys involved in the case, but should also provide a legal resource for other attorneys who may be working on similar matters. The system will also provide management capabilities for tracking time and effort expended in the preparation and presentation of cases for a court or adjudicative body before which the ICE or DHS is authorized or required to appear. The Privacy Act embodies fair information principles in a statutory framework governing the means by which the United States Government collects, maintains, uses, and disseminates personally identifiable information. The Privacy Act applies to information that is maintained in a “system of records.” A “system of records” is a group of any records under the control of an agency from which information is retrieved by the name of the individual or by some identifying number, symbol, or other identifying particular assigned to the individual. The Privacy Act requires each agency to publish in the **Federal Register** a description denoting the type and character of each system of records that the agency maintains, and the routine uses that are contained in each system to make agency recordkeeping practices transparent, to notify individuals regarding the uses to which personally identifiable information is put, and to assist the individual to more easily find such files within the agency. Individuals may request their own records that are maintained in a system of records in the possession or under the control of DHS by complying with DHS Privacy Act regulations (6 CFR 5.21). ICE is hereby publishing the description of the GEMS system of records. In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552a(r), a report of this new system of records has been provided to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)and to the Congress. DHS/ICE/OPLA-001 SYSTEM NAME: General Counsel Electronic Management System (GEMS). SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: Unclassified and classified. SYSTEM LOCATION: This system of records is under the control of the Principal Legal Advisor, Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, in Washington, DC and in the field offices for the Office of Principal Legal Advisor located throughout the United States. CATEGORIES OF INDIVIDUALS COVERED BY THE SYSTEM: A. Individuals covered by provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. B. Individuals who are under investigation, or who were investigated by ICE in the past, or who are suspected of violating the criminal or civil provisions of statutes, treaties, Executive Orders, and regulations administered by ICE, and witnesses and informants or other third parties who may have knowledge of such violations. C. ICE attorneys and other employees who have been assigned to represent the agency in litigation relating to aliens and other individuals whose files are contained in the system. CATEGORIES OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM: A. The system will contain attorney work product consisting of pre-trial notes, trial notes, post-trial notes, memoranda stating positions for litigation in draft or final form, notes to investigators, and information from hardcopy and online research. B. The system will contain personal identification data such as the A-file number, date, and place of birth, date and port of entry, as well as the location of each official hardcopy paper file known as the “A-file.” C. The system will contain subsets or complete sets of information also contained in the hard copy A-file that may include the alien's official record material, such as naturalization certificates; various forms (and attachments such as photographs); applications and petitions for benefits under the immigration and nationality laws; reports of investigations; statements; arrest reports; correspondence; and memoranda on each individual for whom ICE has created a record under the Immigration and Nationality Act. PURPOSE: The system is for the benefit of ICE attorneys and attorney management to be used for the tracking, processing, and reporting on the preparation and presentation of cases for a court or adjudicative body before which the ICE or the DHS is authorized to appear. The system will enable ICE to carry out its assigned national security, law enforcement, immigration control, and other mission related functions and to provide associated management reporting, planning and analysis. ROUTINE USES OF RECORDS MAINTAINED IN THE SYSTEM, INCLUDING CATEGORIES OF USERS AND THE PURPOSES OF SUCH USES: In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, all or a portion of the records or information contained in this system may be disclosed outside DHS as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows: A. To other federal, state, tribal, and local government law enforcement and regulatory agencies and foreign governments, individuals and organizations during the course of an investigation or the processing of a matter, or during a proceeding within the purview of the immigration and nationality laws, to elicit information required by ICE to carry out its functions and statutory mandates. B. To the Department of Justice or other federal agency conducting litigation or in proceedings before any court, adjudicative or administrative body, when:

(a)DHS, or

(b)any employee of DHS in his/her official capacity, or

(c)any employee of DHS in his/her individual capacity where DOJ or DHS has agreed to represent the employee, or

(d)the United States or any agency thereof, is a party to the litigation or has an interest in such litigation, and DHS determines that disclosure is relevant and necessary to the litigation. C. To a Federal, state, tribal, local or foreign government agency in response to its request, in connection with the hiring or retention of an employee, the issuance of a security clearance, the reporting of an investigation of an employee, the letting of a contract, or the issuance of a license, grant, or other benefit by the requesting agency, to the extent that the information is relevant and necessary to the requesting agency's decision on the matter. D. To a Member of Congress or staff acting on the Member's behalf when the Member or staff requests the information on behalf of and at the request of the individual who is the subject of the record. E. To the news media and the public when there exists a legitimate public interest in the disclosure of the information or when disclosure is necessary to preserve confidence in the integrity of the Department or is necessary to demonstrate the accountability of the Department's officers, employees, or individuals covered by the system, except to the extent it is determined that release of the specific information in the context of a particular case would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. F. To the National Archives and Records Administration or other federal government agencies in records management inspections conducted under the authority of 44 U.S.C. 2904 and 2906. G. To contractors, grantees, experts, consultants, students, and others performing or working on a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other assignment for the Federal Government, when necessary to accomplish an agency function related to this system of records. H. To appropriate government agencies or organizations (regardless of whether they are Federal, state, territorial, local, foreign, international, or tribal), lawfully engaged in collecting law enforcement (whether civil, criminal, or administrative) or intelligence information and/or charged with investigating, prosecuting, enforcing, or implementing civil and/or criminal laws, related rules, regulations, or orders, to enable these entities to carry out their law enforcement and intelligence responsibilities. I. To a former employee of the Department for purposes of: Responding to an official inquiry by a federal, state, or local government entity or professional licensing authority, in accordance with applicable Department regulations; or facilitating communications with a former employee that may be necessary for personnel-related or other official purposes where the Department requires information and/or consultation assistance from the former employee regarding a matter within that person's former area of responsibility. POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR STORING, RETRIEVING, ACCESSING, RETAINING, AND DISPOSING OF RECORDS IN THE SYSTEM STORAGE: Records in the system will be stored in a central computer database. RETRIEVABILITY: Records in the system are indexed and retrieved by an individual's alien number, name, case information (such as hearing location and type of hearing), and other criteria that can identify an individual in proceedings in a court or adjudicative body before which ICE or the DHS is authorized to appear. SAFEGUARDS: ICE offices are located in buildings under security guard, and access to premises is by official identification. All electronic records are stored in systems that are in offices that are locked during non-duty office hours. Access to electronic records is controlled by passwords and name identification and access to this system is monitored. The system is protected through a multi-layer security approach. The protective strategies are physical, technical, administrative and environmental in nature and provide access control to sensitive data, physical access control to DHS facilities, confidentiality of communications, authentication of sending parties, and personnel screening to ensure that all personnel with access to data are screened through background investigations commensurate with the level of access required to perform their duties. RETENTION AND DISPOSAL: The retention and disposal requirements for the GEMS database are pending approval by the National Archives and Records Administration. SYSTEM MANAGER(S) AND ADDRESS: The System Manager is located in the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, Chief of the Knowledge Management Division, 425 I Street NW., Washington, DC 20536. NOTIFICATION PROCEDURE: Address all inquiries to the system manager identified above. RECORD ACCESS PROCEDURE: To determine whether this system contains records relating to you, you may write to the Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act (FOIA/PA) officer at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Information Disclosure Office, 425 I Street, NW., Washington, DC 20536. Requests should conform to the requirements of 6 CFR part 5, subpart B, which provides the rules for requesting access to Privacy Act records maintained by DHS, including the following: The envelope and letter should be clearly marked “Privacy Act Access Request.” The request should include a general description of the records sought and must include the requester's full name, current address, and date and place of birth. The request must be signed and either notarized or submitted under penalty of perjury. The envelope and letter shall be clearly marked Privacy Access Request. The request must include a description of the general subject matter, the related file number if known, and any other identifying information that may be of assistance in locating the record. CONTESTING RECORDS PROCEDURES: Same as “Record Notification Procedures” above. RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES: The information in this system is supplied by attorneys and others providing legal support to ICE for the adjudication of cases. Other information in this system is derived from the alien file maintained on individuals, and may include investigative material that provides the basis for the legal proceedings. EXEMPTIONS CLAIMED FOR THIS SYSTEM: The Secretary has exempted this system from subsections (c)(3) and (4), (d), (e)(1), (2), and (3), (e)(4)(G) and (H), (e)(5) and (8), and

(g)of the Privacy Act. These exemptions apply only to the extent that records in the system are subject to exemption pursuant to 5 U.S.C. Sections 552a (j)(2) and (k)(1) and (k)(2). Dated: March 23, 2006. Maureen Cooney, Acting Chief Privacy Officer. [FR Doc. E6-4699 Filed 3-30-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4410-10-P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [CIS No. 2374-05; USCIS-2006-0002] RIN 1615—ZA32 Extension of the Designation of Temporary Protected Status for Honduras; Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization Documentation for Honduras TPS Beneficiaries AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. ACTION: Notice of extension of temporary protected status for Honduras. SUMMARY: The designation of Honduras for Temporary Protected Status

(TPS)will expire on July 5, 2006. This Notice alerts the public that TPS for Honduras has been extended for 12 months, until July 5, 2007, and sets forth procedures necessary for nationals of Honduras (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Honduras) with TPS to re-register and to apply for an extension of their Employment Authorization Documents

(EADs)for the additional 12-month period. Re-registration is limited to persons who registered under the initial designation (which was announced on January 5, 1999) or who “late initial registered” and also timely re-registered under each subsequent extension of the designation. In accordance with the original designation, eligible aliens must also have maintained continuous physical presence in the United States since January 5, 1999, and continuous residence in the United States since December 30, 1998. Certain nationals of Honduras (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Honduras) who have not previously applied for TPS may be eligible to apply under the late initial registration provisions. Given the large number of Hondurans affected by this Notice, the Department of Homeland Security

(DHS)recognizes that many re-registrants may not receive an extension sticker or new EAD until after their current EADs expire on July 5, 2006. Accordingly, this Notice automatically extends the validity of EADs issued under the TPS designation of Honduras for 6 months until January 5, 2007, and explains how TPS beneficiaries and their employers may determine which EADs are automatically extended. DATES: The extension of TPS for Honduras is effective July 5, 2006, and will remain in effect until July 5, 2007. The 60-day re-registration period begins April 1, 2006, and will remain in effect until June 1, 2006. To facilitate processing of their applications, applicants are strongly encouraged to file as soon as possible after the start of the 60-day re-registration period (April 1, 2006). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan Crawford, Residence and Status Services, Office of Programs and Regulations Development, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, 111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20529, telephone

(202)272-8350. This is not a toll-free call. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Abbreviations and Terms Used in This Document Act—Immigration and Nationality Act ASC—USCIS Application Support Center DHS—Department of Homeland Security DOS—Department of State EAD—Employment Authorization Document Secretary—Secretary of Homeland Security TPS—Temporary Protected Status USCIS—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services What authority does the Secretary of Homeland Security have to extend the designation of TPS for Honduras? Under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act), 8 U.S.C. 1254a, the Secretary, after consultation with appropriate agencies of the Government, is authorized to designate a foreign state (or part thereof) for TPS. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1). The Secretary of DHS may then grant TPS to eligible nationals of that foreign state (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in that state). 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(1)(A). At least 60 days before the expiration of the TPS designation, or any extension thereof, the Secretary, after consultations with appropriate agencies of the Government, must review the conditions in a foreign state designated for TPS to determine whether the conditions for a TPS designation continue to be met and, if so, the length of an extension of the TPS designation. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A). If the Secretary determines that the foreign state no longer meets the conditions for the TPS designation, he must terminate the designation. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(B). Why did the Secretary of Homeland Security decide to extend the TPS designation for Honduras? On January 5, 1999, the Attorney General published a Notice in the **Federal Register** at 64 FR 524, designating Honduras for TPS due to the devastation resulting from Hurricane Mitch. Subsequent to that date, the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security have extended TPS for Honduras five times, determining in each instance that the conditions warranting the designation continued to be met. 65 FR 30438, 66 FR 23269, 67 FR 22451, 68 FR 23744, 69 FR 64084. To notify individuals of the current extension, the Secretary published a Notice in the **Federal Register** on November 3, 2004, at 69 FR 64084. That extension became effective on January 5, 2005, and is due to end on July 5, 2006. Since the date of the current extension, DHS and the Department of State

(DOS)have continued to review conditions in Honduras. In particular, the Secretary of Homeland Security considered whether there continues to be a substantial, but temporary, disruption of living conditions in Honduras resulting from Hurricane Mitch and that Honduras is unable, temporarily, to adequately handle the return of its nationals, as required for TPS designations based on environmental disasters. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(B)(i-iii). The DOS Recommendation of February 2006 (“DOS Recommendation”) reports that conditions that initially gave rise to the designation continue to exist and that Honduras cannot provide adequate housing for its nationals currently residing in the U.S. and has yet to recover fully from Hurricane Mitch. The USCIS Office of Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations Report of February 2006 (“ORAIO Report”) indicates that although a number of the reconstruction projects in Honduras have been completed, some of the projects are still incomplete. The housing shortage is a critical deficiency when considering whether Honduras could adequately handle the return of its nationals currently living in the United States under TPS (DOS Recommendation). Housing construction was not completed in many areas and in those cases that required relocation, infrastructure, and personnel for health and education services, as well as employment opportunities, was reported to be unavailable (ORAIO Report). More recently, Honduras was devastated by Hurricane Beta and other serious storms in 2005 (DOS Recommendation). Honduras' continuing vulnerability from Hurricane Mitch was evident when Hurricane Beta flooded the northeastern departments of Honduras in October 2005 (ORAIO Report). Roads and many key bridges have been destroyed, hampering additional recovery efforts (DOS Recommendation). Hurricane Beta affected approximately 50 communities, causing the displacement of 11,000 Hondurans, evacuation of 7,600 to temporary shelters (DOS Recommendation) and damage to bridges and crops (ORAIO Report). Based upon this review, the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consultation with appropriate Government agencies, determined that the conditions that prompted designation of Honduras for TPS continue to be met. *See* 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A) (describing procedures for periodic review of TPS designations). There continues to be a substantial, but temporary, disruption in living conditions in Honduras as the result of an environmental disaster, and Honduras continues to be unable, temporarily, to handle adequately the return of its nationals. *See* 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(B) (describing conditions that justify TPS designation). On the basis of these findings, the Secretary concluded that the TPS designation for Honduras should be extended for an additional 12-month period. *See* 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C) (providing the Secretary of Homeland Security with discretion to determine the length of an extension). If I currently have benefits through the TPS designation of Honduras for TPS, do I need to re-register for TPS? Yes. If you already have received TPS benefits through the TPS designation of Honduras, your benefits will expire on July 5, 2006. Accordingly, individual TPS beneficiaries must comply with the re-registration requirements described below in order to maintain TPS benefits through July 5, 2007. TPS benefits include temporary protection against removal from the United States, as well as employment authorization, during the TPS designation period. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(1) and 1254a(f). Failure to re-register without good cause will result in the withdrawal of your temporary protected status and possibly your removal from the United States. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(3)(C). If I am currently registered for TPS or have a pending application for TPS, how do I re-register to renew my benefits for the duration of the extension period? All persons previously granted TPS under the designation of Honduras who would like to maintain such status and those whose applications remain pending but who wish to renew their benefits must re-register by filing the following:

(1)Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, without fee;

(2)Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization (see the chart below to determine whether you must submit the one hundred and eighty dollar ($180) filing fee with Form I-765, or a fee waiver request);

(3)A biometric services fee of seventy dollars ($70) if you are 14 years of age or older, or if you are under 14 and requesting an EAD extension. The biometric services fee will not be waived. 8 CFR 103.2(e)(4)(i), (iii).

(4)A photocopy of the front and back of your EAD if you received an EAD during the most recent registration period. You do not need to submit photographs with your TPS application because a photograph will be taken, if needed, when you appear at a USCIS Application Support Center

(ASC)for collection of biometrics. Aliens who have previously registered for TPS but whose applications remain pending should follow these instructions if they wish to renew their TPS benefits. All TPS re-registration applications submitted without the required fees will be returned to the applicant. What edition of the Form I-821 should be submitted? Form I-821 has been revised. Only the Form I-821 with revision dates of November 5, 2004, or October 26, 2005, will be accepted. The bottom of each page of the revised form reads, “Form I-821 (Rev. 11/05/04)N” or “Form I-821 (Rev. 10/26/05)Y.” Submissions of older versions of Form I-821 will be rejected. You may obtain immigration forms on the Internet at *http://uscis.gov* or by calling the USCIS forms hotline at 1-800-870-3676. Who must submit the $180 filing fee for the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization? If Then You are applying for an extension of your EAD valid until July 31, 2007, regardless of your age You must complete and file the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with the $180 fee. You are not requesting an extension of your EAD You must complete and file Form I-765 (for data-gathering purposes only) with no fee. You are applying for a TPS-related EAD under the late initial registration provisions and are under age 14 or over age 65 You must complete and file Form I-765 (for data-gathering purposes only) with no fee. You are applying for an extension of your EAD and are requesting a fee waiver You must complete and file:

(1)Form I-765 and

(2)a fee waiver request and affidavit (and any other supporting information) in accordance with 8 CFR 244.20. Who must submit the $70 biometric services fee? The $70 biometric services fee must be submitted by all aliens 14 years of age and older who

(1)have previously been granted TPS and are now re-registering for TPS;

(2)have an initial application for TPS currently pending, have an EAD bearing the notification “C-19” on the face of the card under “Category” or “274a.12(c)(19)” on the face of the card under “Provision of Law,” and wish to renew temporary treatment benefits; or

(3)are applying for TPS under the late initial registration provisions. In addition, any alien, including one who is under the age of 14, choosing to apply for a new EAD or an extension of an EAD must submit the $70 biometric services fee. This biometric services fee will not be waived. 8 CFR 103.2(e)(4)(i), (iii). When should an applicant submit his or her application for TPS? Applications must be filed during the 60-day re-registration period from April 1, 2006 to June 1, 2006. Applicants are strongly encouraged to file the application as soon as possible after the start of the 60-day re-registration period. Where should an applicant submit his or her application for TPS? USCIS has designated two post office (P.O.) boxes with the Chicago Lockbox for the filing of TPS applications under this extension in order to facilitate efficient processing. Please note that applications should only be filed at the appropriate P.O. Box and should not be filed with a USCIS Service Center or District Office. Failure to submit a TPS application to the correct P.O. Box may result in a delay of adjudication. In addition, applicants will not be able to file their applications electronically (“E-file”) for this designation. The type of TPS filing the applicant has to submit will determine the P.O. Box he or she must use to file; see below for instructions as to which of the two P.O. Boxes to utilize. Failure to file your application with the correct P.O. Box may result in a delay of the processing of your application. 1. Applications for re-registration that do not require the submission of additional documentation or a renewal of temporary treatment benefits must be filed at this address: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, P.O. Box 6943, Chicago, IL 60680-6943. Or, for non-United States Postal Service

(USPS)deliveries: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Attn: TPS—Honduras, 427 S. LaSalle—3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60605. 2. Aliens who are filing applications for re-registration that require the submission of supporting documentation or are filing for the first time as a late initial registrant must use the address below. Applications for re-registration require the submission of supporting documentation under the following circumstances:

(A)If one or more of the questions listed in Part 4, Question 2 of Form I-821 apply to the alien, then the submission of an explanation, on a separate sheet(s) of paper, and/or additional documentation must be provided.

(B)If the alien was granted TPS by an Immigration Judge or the Board of Immigration Appeals, then the alien must include evidence of the grant of TPS (such as an order from the Immigration Judge) with his or her application package. Aliens who are filing a re-registration application that requires the submission of additional documentation or for the first time as a late initial registrant should file at the P.O. Box listed below: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, P.O. Box 8631, Chicago, IL 60680-8631. Or, for non-United States Postal Service

(USPS)deliveries: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Attn: TPS—Honduras—[EOIR/Additional Documents] or [Late Initial Registrant], 427 S. LaSalle—3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60605. Note: Make sure to use either EOIR/Additional Documents or Late Initial Registrant on the “Attn:” line, after Honduras, above. Are certain aliens ineligible for TPS? Yes. There are certain criminal and terrorism-related inadmissibility grounds that render an alien ineligible for TPS. 8 U.S.C. 1254a (c)(2)(A)(iii). Further, aliens who have been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors committed in the United States are ineligible for TPS under section 244(c)(2)(B)(i) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(2)(B)(i), as are aliens described in the bars to asylum in section 208(b)(2)(A) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(2)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(2)(B)(ii). Aliens should also note that an individual granted TPS will have his/her TPS withdrawn if the alien is not in fact eligible for TPS, if an alien fails to timely re-register for TPS without good case, or if the alien fails to maintain continuous physical presence in the United States. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(3)(A)-(C). Who is eligible to receive an automatic extension of his or her EAD from July 5, 2006 to January 5, 2007? To receive an automatic extension of his or her EAD, an individual must be a national of Honduras (or an alien having no nationality who last habitually resided in Honduras) who has applied for and received an EAD under the TPS designation of Honduras and who has not had TPS withdrawn or denied. This automatic extension is limited to EADs issued on Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document, bearing an expiration date of July 5, 2006. The EAD must also be a Form I-766 bearing the notation “A-12” or “C-19” on the face of the card under “Category”. If I am currently registered for TPS under the designation of Honduras and am re-registering for TPS, how do I receive an extension of my EAD after the 6 months granted by the automatic extension? As a TPS re-registrant you will receive a notice in the mail with instructions to appear at an ASC for biometrics collection. When you report to the ASC, you must bring your receipt notice for your re-registration application, ASC appointment notice, and current EAD. When you appear at an ASC for biometrics collection, USCIS will either affix a sticker to your current EAD extending the validity of the card through the end of July 2007 or advise you that your case requires further resolution. If your case requires further resolution, USCIS will contact you in writing to explain what additional information, if any, is necessary to resolve your case. If those issues are resolved and your re-registration application is approved, you will receive a new EAD in the mail with an expiration date of July 31, 2007. Because the extension stickers include only the month and year, rather than a specific date, all EADS extended by sticker or issued anew pursuant to this extension of the TPS designation for Honduras will be valid through July 31, 2007. Will I receive a new EAD in the mail if I am given an extension sticker at the ASC? No. Because the sticker affixed to your card at the ASC will extend the validity of your current EAD through July 2007 there will be no need for you to obtain additional employment authorization documentation during the remainder of this extension of the designation of Honduras for TPS. If I am not eligible to receive a sticker extending my EAD, can I receive an interim EAD at my local District Office? No. USCIS will not be issuing interim EADs to TPS applicants and re-registrants at District Offices. How may employers determine whether an EAD has been automatically extended for six months through January 5, 2007, and is therefore acceptable for completion of the Form I-9? For purposes of verifying identity and employment eligibility or re-verifying employment eligibility on the Form I-9 until January 5, 2007, employers of Honduran TPS beneficiaries whose EADs have been automatically extended by this Notice must accept the EAD if presented. An EAD that has been automatically extended for six months by this Notice to January 5, 2007, will actually contain an expiration date of July 5, 2006, and must be a Form I-766 bearing the notation “A-12” or “C-19” on the face of the card under “Category.” New EADs or extension stickers showing the January 5, 2007, expiration date of the six-month auto-extension will not be issued. Employers should not request proof of Honduran citizenship. Employers presented with an EAD that has been extended pursuant to this **Federal Register** Notice, if it reasonably appears on its face to be genuine and appears to relate to the employee, should accept the EAD as a valid “List A” document and should not ask for additional Form I-9 documentation. This action by the Secretary of Homeland Security through this **Federal Register** Notice does not affect the right of an applicant for employment or an employee to present any legally acceptable document as proof of identity and eligibility for employment. Employers are reminded that the laws requiring employment eligibility verification and prohibiting unfair immigration-related employment practices remain in full force. This Notice does not supersede or in any way limit applicable employment verification rules and policy guidance, including those setting forth re-verification requirements, see 8 CFR 274a.2(b)(1)(vii) . For questions, employers may call the USCIS Office of Business Liaison Employer Hotline at 1-800-357-2099 to speak to a USCIS representative. Also, employers may call the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices

(OSC)Employer Hotline at 1-800-255-8155 or 1-800-362-2735 (TDD). Employees or applicants may call the OSC Employee Hotline at 1-800-255-7688 or 1-800-237-2515

(h). When a country's TPS designation is terminated, TPS beneficiaries will maintain the same immigration status they held prior to TPS (unless that status has since expired or been terminated), or any other status they may have acquired while registered for TPS. Accordingly, if an alien held no lawful immigration status prior to being granted TPS and did not obtain any other status during the TPS period, he or she will revert to unlawful status upon the termination of the TPS designation. Once the Secretary determines that a TPS designation should be terminated, aliens who had TPS under that designation are expected to plan for their departure from the United States and may wish to apply for immigration benefits for which they may be eligible. May I apply for another immigration benefit while registered for TPS? Yes. Registration for TPS does not prevent you from applying for another non-immigrant status, from filing for adjustment of status based on an immigrant petition, or from applying for any other immigration benefit or protection. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(5). For the purposes of change of status and adjustment of status, an alien is considered as being in, and maintaining, lawful status as a nonimmigrant during the period in which the alien is granted TPS. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(f)(4). How does an application for TPS affect my application for asylum or other immigration benefits? An application for TPS does not affect an application for asylum or any other immigration benefit. Denial of an application for asylum or any other immigration benefit does not affect an applicant's TPS eligibility, although the grounds for denying one form of relief may also be grounds for denying TPS. For example, a person who has been convicted of a particularly serious crime is not eligible for asylum or TPS. 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(2)(A)(ii) ; 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(2)(B)(ii). Does this extension allow nationals of Honduras (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Honduras) who entered the United States after December 30, 1998, to file for TPS? No. This is a Notice of an extension of TPS, not a Notice of re-designation of TPS for Honduras. An extension of TPS does not change the required dates of continuous residence and continuous physical presence in the United States. This extension does not expand TPS availability to those beyond the current TPS eligibility requirements of Honduras. To be eligible for benefits under this extension, nationals of Honduras (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Honduras) must have continuously resided in the United States since December 30, 1998, and been continuously physically present in the United States since January 5, 1999, the date of the most recent designation of TPS for Honduras. What is late initial registration? Some persons may be eligible for late initial registration under 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(1)(A)(iv) and 8 CFR 244.2(f)(2) and (g). In order to be eligible for late initial registration an applicant must:

(1)Be a national of Honduras (or alien who has no nationality and who last habitually resided in Honduras);

(2)Have continuously resided in the United States since December 30, 1998;

(3)Have been continuously physically present in the United States since January 5, 1999; and

(4)Be both admissible as an immigrant, except as provided under section 244(c)(2)(A) of the Act, and not ineligible under section 244(c)(2)(B) of the Act. Additionally, the applicant must be able to demonstrate that during the initial registration period (from January 5, 1999 to August 20, 1999), he or she:

(1)Was a nonimmigrant or had been granted voluntary departure status or any relief from removal;

(2)Had an application for change of status, adjustment of status, asylum, voluntary departure, or any relief from removal or change of status pending or subject to further review or appeal;

(3)Was a parolee or had a pending request for reparole; or

(4)Is the spouse or child of an alien currently eligible to be a TPS registrant. An applicant for late initial registration must file an application for late registration no later than 60 days after the expiration or termination of the conditions described above. 8 CFR 244.2(g). All late initial registration applications for TPS, pursuant to the TPS designation of Honduras, should be submitted to the aforementioned Lockbox address in Chicago, Illinois. What happens when this extension of TPS expires on July 5, 2007? At least 60 days before this extension of TPS designation of Honduras expires on July 5, 2007, the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consultation with appropriate agencies of the Government, will review conditions in Honduras and determine whether the conditions for TPS designation continue to be met at that time, or whether the TPS designation should be terminated. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3). Notice of that determination, including the basis for the determination, will be published in the **Federal Register** . Notice of Extension of Designation of TPS for Honduras By the authority vested in DHS under sections 244(b)(1)(B), (b)(3)(A), and (b)(3)(C) of the Act, DHS has determined, after consultation with the appropriate Government agencies, that the conditions that prompted designation of Honduras for TPS continue to be met. Accordingly, DHS orders as follows:

(1)The designation of Honduras under section 244(b)(1)(B) of the Act is extended for an additional 12-month period from July 5, 2006, to July 5, 2007. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C).

(2)There are approximately 75,000 nationals of Honduras (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Honduras) who have been granted TPS and who may be eligible for re-registration.

(3)To maintain TPS, a national of Honduras (or an alien having no nationality who last habitually resided in Honduras) who was granted TPS during the initial designation period and the subsequent extensions of this designation, or who was granted TPS during late initial registration, must re-register for TPS during the 60-day re-registration period from April 1, 2006 until June 1, 2006.

(4)To re-register, aliens must follow the aforementioned filing procedures set forth in this Notice.

(5)At least 60 days before this extension ends on July 5, 2007, the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consultation with appropriate agencies of the Government, will review the designation of Honduras for TPS and determine whether the conditions for designation continue to be met. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A). Notice of that determination, including the basis for the determination, will be published in the **Federal Register.** *Id.*

(6)Information concerning the extension of designation of Honduras for TPS will be available at local USCIS offices upon publication of this Notice and on the USCIS Web site at *http://uscis.gov.* Dated: March 22, 2006. Michael Chertoff, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6-4685 Filed 3-30-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4410-10-P DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services [CIS No. 2373-05; USICS-2006-0001] RIN 1615-ZA33 Extension of the Designation of Temporary Protected Status for Nicaragua; Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization Documentation for Nicaragua TPS Beneficiaries AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. ACTION: Notice of extension of temporary protected status for Nicaragua. SUMMARY: The designation for Nicaragua for Temporary Protected Status

(TPS)will expire on July 5, 2006. This Notice alerts the public that TPS for Nicaragua has been extended for 12-months, until July 5, 2007, and sets forth procedures necessary for nationals of Nicaragua (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Nicaragua) with TPS to re-register and to apply for an extension of their Employment Authorization Documents

(EADs)for the additional 12-month period. Re-registration is limited to persons who registered under the initial designation (which was announced on January 5, 1999) or who “late initial registered” and also timely re-registered under each subsequent extension of the designation. In accordance with the original designation, eligible aliens must also have maintained continuous physical presence in the United States since January 5, 1999, and continuous residence in the United States since December 30, 1998. Certain nationals of Nicaragua (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Nicaragua) who have not previously applied for TPS may be eligible to apply under the late initial registration provisions. Given the large number of Nicaraguans affected by this Notice, the Department of Homeland Security

(DHS)recognizes that many re-registrants may not receive an extension sticker or new EAD until after their current EADs expire on July 5, 2006. Accordingly, this Notice automatically extends the validity of EADs issued under the TPS designation of Nicaragua for 6 months until January 5, 2007, and explains how TPS beneficiaries and their employers may determine which EADs are automatically extended. EFFECTIVE DATES: The extension of TPS for Nicaragua is effective July 5, 2006, and will remain in effect until July 5, 2007. The 60-day re-registration period begins April 1, 2006, and will remain in effect until June 1, 2007. To facilitate processing of their applications, applicants are strongly encouraged to file as soon as possible after the start of the 60-day re-registration period (April 1, 2006). FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathan Crawford, Residence and Status Services, Office of Programs and Regulations Development, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, 111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20529, telephone

(202)272-8350. This is not a toll-free call. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Abbreviations and Terms Used in This Document Act—Immigration and Nationality Act ASC—USCIS Application Support Center DHS—Department of Homeland Security DOS—Department of State EAD—Employment Authorization Document Secretary—Secretary of Homeland Security TPS—Temporary Protected Status USCIS—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services What authority does the Secretary of Homeland Security have to extend the designation of TPS for Nicaragua? Under section 244 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act), 8 U.S.C. 1254a, the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consultation with appropriate agencies of the Government, is authorized to designate a foreign state (or part thereof) for TPS. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1). The Secretary may then grant TPS to eligible nationals of that foreign state (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in that state). 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(1)(A). At least 60 days before the expiration of the TPS designation, or any extension thereof, the Secretary, after consultations with appropriate agencies of the Government, must review the conditions in a foreign state designated for TPS to determine whether the conditions for a TPS designation continue to be met and, if so, the length of an extension of the TPS designation. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A). If the Secretary determines that the foreign state no longer meets the conditions for the TPS designation, he must terminate the designation. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(B). Why did the Secretary of Homeland Security Decide to Extend the TPS Designation for Nicaragua? On January 5, 1999, the Attorney General published a Notice in the **Federal Register** at 64 FR 526, designating Nicaragua for TPS due to the devastation resulting from Hurricane Mitch. Subsequent to that date, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security, have extended TPS for Nicaragua five times, determining in each instance that the conditions warranting the designation continued to be met. 65 FR 30440, 66 FR 23271, 67 FR 22454, 68 FR 23748, 69 FR 64088. To notify individuals of the current extension, the Secretary published a Notice in the **Federal Register** on November 3, 2004, at 69 FR 64088. That extension became effective on January 5, 2005, and is due to end on July 5, 2006. Since the date of the current extension, DHS and the Department of State

(DOS)have continued to review conditions in Nicaragua. In particular, the Secretary of Homeland Security considered whether there continues to be a substantial, but temporary, disruption of living conditions in Nicaragua resulting from Hurricane Mitch and that Nicaragua is unable, temporarily, to adequately handle the return of its nationals, as required for TPS designations based on environmental disasters. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(B)(i-iii). While progress has been made in reconstruction from Hurricane Mitch, Nicaragua has not been able to fully recover, in part due to follow-on natural disasters that have severely undermined progress towards an economic recovery that would enable Nicaragua to adequately handle the return of its nationals. (DOS Recommendation, February 2006). Continuing high rates of unemployment and underemployment estimated at 40 percent and coupled with scarce government resources spread thin by Hurricane Mitch recovery severely limit current employment opportunities for returning migrants. *Id.* According to the USCIS Office of Refugee, Asylum, and International Operations Report of February 2006 (“ORAIO Report”), agriculture remained devastated, housing projects had not been completed, and parts of the country continued to suffer. For example, at a July 2005 news briefing, a U.S. Department of State representative reported that two provinces in northwest Nicaragua, Leon and Chinandega, continued to suffer from the devastating effects of Hurricane Mitch. *Id.* To help address that situation, a U.S. $175 million, five-year aid pact was announced. *Id.* Living conditions in Nicaragua have worsened since the United States last extended TPS on November 3, 2004 due to Hurricane Beta and another serious storm. *Id.* Flooding from Hurricane Beta and Tropical Storm Stan in October 2005 exacerbated Nicaragua's continuing vulnerability. *Id.* Thousands of people were severely affected and houses, churches, medical centers, and schools in several communities were destroyed. *Id.* According to one source, 80 percent of the buildings on the central Atlantic coast, where Hurricane Beta hit, were heavily damaged or destroyed. *Id.* Based upon this review, the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consultation with appropriate Government agencies, determined that the conditions that prompted designation of Nicaragua for TPS continue to be met. *See* 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A) (describing procedures for periodic review of TPS designations). There continues to be a substantial, but temporary, disruption in living conditions in Nicaragua as the result of an environmental disaster, and Nicaragua continues to be unable, temporarily, to handle adequately the return of its nationals. *See* 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(B) (describing conditions that justify TPS designation). On the basis of these findings, the Secretary concluded that the TPS designation for Nicaragua should be extended for an additional 12-month period. *See* 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C) (providing the Secretary of Homeland Security with discretion to determine the length of an extension). If I Currently Have Benefits Through the TPS Designation of Nicaragua for TPS, do I Need to Re-Register for TPS? Yes. If you already have received TPS benefits through the designation of Nicaragua, your benefits will expire on July 5, 2006. Accordingly, individual TPS beneficiaries must comply with the re-registration requirements described below in order to maintain TPS benefits through July 5, 2007. TPS benefits include temporary protection against removal from the United States, as well as employment authorization, during the TPS designation period. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(1) and 1254a(f). Failure to re-register without good cause will result in the withdrawal of your temporary protected status and possibly your removal from the United States. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(3)(C). If I am Currently Registered for TPS or Have a Pending Application for TPS, how do I Re-Register to Renew my Benefits for the Duration of the Extension Period? All persons previously granted TPS under the designation of Nicaragua who would like to maintain such status and those whose applications remain pending but who wish to renew their benefits must re-register by filing the following:

(1)Form I-821, Application for Temporary Protected Status, without fee;

(ASC)for collection of biometrics. Aliens who have previously registered for TPS but whose applications remain pending should follow these instructions if they wish to renew their TPS benefits. All TPS re-registration applications submitted without the required fees will be returned to the applicant. What Edition of the Form I-821 Should be Submitted? Form I-821 has been revised. Only the Form I-821 with revision dates of November 5, 2004, or October 26, 2005, will be accepted. The bottom of each page of the revised form reads, “Form I-821 (Rev. 11/05/04)N” or “Form I-821 (Rev. 10/26/05)Y.” Submissions of older versions of Form I-821 will be rejected. You may obtain immigration forms on the Internet at http://uscis.gov or by calling the USCIS forms hotline at 1-800-870-3676. Who Must Submit the $180 Filing fee for the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization? If Then You are applying for an extension of your EAD valid until July 31, 2007, regardless of your age You must complete and file the Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with the $180 fee. You are not requesting an extension of your EAD You must complete and file Form I-765 (for data-gathering purposes only) with no fee. You are applying for a TPS-related EAD under the late initial registration provisions and are under age 14 or over age 65 You must complete and file Form I-765 (for data-gathering purposes only) with no fee. You are applying for an extension of your EAD and are requesting a fee waiver You must complete and file: 1) Form I-765 and 2) a fee waiver request and affidavit (and any other supporting information) in accordance with 8 CFR 244.20. Who Must Submit the $70 Biometric Services fee? The $70 biometric services fee must be submitted by all aliens 14 years of age and older who

(1)have previously been granted TPS and are now re-registering for TPS;

(3)are applying for TPS under the late initial registration provisions. In addition, any alien, including one who is under the age of 14, choosing to apply for a new EAD or an extension of an EAD must submit the $70 biometric services fee. This biometric services fee will not be waived. 8 CFR 103.2(e)(4)(i), (iii). When Should an Applicant Submit his or her Application for TPS? Applications must be filed during the 60-day re-registration period from April 1, 2006 to June 1, 2006. Applicants are encouraged to file the application as soon as possible after the start of the 60-day re-registration period. Where should an applicant submit his or her application for TPS? USCIS has designated two post office (P.O.) boxes with the Chicago Lockbox for the filing of TPS applications under this extension in order to facilitate efficient processing. Please note that applications should only be filed at the appropriate P.O. Box and should not be filed with a USCIS Service Center or District Office. Failure to submit a TPS application to the correct P.O. Box may result in a delay of adjudication. In addition, applicants will not be able to file their applications electronically (“E-file”) for this designation. The type of TPS filing the applicant has to submit will determine the P.O. Box he or she must use to file; see below for instructions as to which of the two P.O. Boxes to utilize. Failure to file your application with the correct P.O. Box may result in a delay of the processing your application. 1. Applications for re-registration that do not require the submission of additional documentation or a renewal of temporary treatment benefits must be filed at this address: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, P.O. Box 6943, Chicago, IL 60680-6943. Or, for non-United States Postal Service

(USPS)deliveries: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Attn: TPS—Nicaragua, 427 S. LaSalle—3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60605. 2. Aliens who are filing applications for re-registration that require the submission of supporting documentation or are filing for the first time as a late initial registrant must use the address below. Applications for re-registration require the submission of supporting documentation under the following circumstances:

(USPS)deliveries: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Attn: TPS—Nicaragua—[EOIR/Additional Documents] *or* [Late Initial Registrant], 427 S. LaSalle—3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60605. Note: Make sure to use either EOIR/Additional Documents or Late Initial Registrant on the “Attn:” line, after Nicaragua, above. Are certain aliens ineligible for TPS? Yes. There are certain criminal and terrorism-related inadmissibility grounds that render an alien ineligible for TPS. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(2)(A)(iii). Further, aliens who have been convicted of any felony or two or more misdemeanors committed in the United States are ineligible for TPS under section 244(c)(2)(B)(i) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(2)(B)(i), as are aliens described in the bars to asylum in section 208(b)(2)(A) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(2)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(2)(B)(ii). Aliens should also note that an individual granted TPS will have his/her TPS withdrawn if the alien is not in fact eligible for TPS, if an alien fails to timely re-register for TPS without good case, or if the alien fails to maintain continuous physical presence in the United States. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(3)(A)-(C). Who is eligible to receive an automatic extension of his or her EAD from July 5, 2006 to January 5, 2007? To receive an automatic extension of his or her EAD, an individual must be a national of Nicaragua (or an alien having no nationality who last habitually resided in Nicaragua) who has applied for and received an EAD under the TPS designation of Nicaragua and who has not had TPS withdrawn or denied. This automatic extension is limited to EADs issued on Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document, bearing an expiration date of July 5, 2006. The EAD must also be a Form I-766 bearing the notation “A-12” or “C-19” on the face of the card under “Category”. If I am currently registered for TPS under the designation for Nicaragua and am re-registering for TPS, how do I receive an extension of my EAD after the 6 months granted by the automatic extension? As a TPS re-registrant you will receive a notice in the mail with instructions to appear at an ASC for biometrics collection. When you report to the ASC, you must bring your receipt notice for your re-registration application, ASC appointment notice, and current EAD. When you appear at an ASC for biometrics collection, USCIS will either affix a sticker to your current EAD extending the validity of the card through the end of July 2007 or advise you that your case requires further resolution. If your case requires further resolution, USCIS will contact you in writing to explain what additional information, if any, is necessary to resolve your case. If those issues are resolved and your re-registration application is approved, you will receive a new EAD in the mail with an expiration date of July 31, 2007. Because the extension stickers include only the month and year, rather than a specific date, all EADS extended by sticker or issued anew pursuant to this extension of the TPS designation for Nicaragua will be valid through July 31, 2007. Will I receive a new EAD in the mail if I am given an extension sticker at the ASC? No. Because the sticker affixed to your card at the ASC will extend the validity of your current EAD through July 2007 there will be no need for you to obtain additional employment authorization documentation during the remainder of this extension of the designation of Nicaragua for TPS. If I am not eligible to receive a sticker extending my EAD, can I receive an interim EAD at my local District Office? No. USCIS will not be issuing interim EADs to TPS applicants and re-registrants at District Offices. How may employers determine whether an EAD has been automatically extended for six months through January 5, 2007, and is therefore acceptable for completion of the Form I-9? For purposes of verifying identity and employment eligibility or re-verifying employment eligibility on the Form I-9 until January 5, 2007, employers of Nicaraguan TPS beneficiaries whose EADs have been automatically extended by this Notice must accept the EAD if presented. An EAD that has been automatically extended for six months by this Notice to January 5, 2007, will actually contain an expiration date of July 5, 2006, and must be a Form I-766 bearing the notation “A-12” or “C-19” on the face of the card under “Category.” New EADs or extension stickers showing the January 5, 2007, expiration date of the six-month auto-extension will not be issued. In the alternative to the aforementioned options, any legally acceptable documentation or combination of documents listed in List A, List B, or List C of the Form I-9 may be presented as proof of identity and employment eligibility; it is the choice of the employee. Employers should not request proof of Nicaraguan citizenship. Employers presented with an EAD that has been extended pursuant to this **Federal Register** Notice, if it reasonably appears on its face to be genuine and appears to relate to the employee, should accept the EAD as a valid “List A” document and should not ask for additional Form I-9 documentation. This action by the Secretary of Homeland Security through this **Federal Register** Notice does not affect the right of an applicant for employment or an employee to present any legally acceptable document as proof of identity and eligibility for employment. Employers are reminded that the laws requiring employment eligibility verification and prohibiting unfair immigration-related employment practices remain in full force. This Notice does not supersede or in any way limit applicable employment verification rules and policy guidance, including those setting forth re-verification requirements, see 8 CFR 274a.2(b)(1)(vii). For questions, employers may call the USCIS Office of Business Liaison Employer Hotline at 1-800-357-2099 to speak to a USCIS representative. Also, employers may call the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Special Counsel for Immigration Related Unfair Employment Practices

(OSC)Employer Hotline at 1-800-255-8155 or 1-800-362-2735 (TDD). Employees or applicants may call the OSC Employee Hotline at 1-800-255-7688 or 1-800-237-2515

(TDD)for information regarding the automatic extension. Additional information is available on the OSC Web site at *http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/osc/index.html.* How may employers determine an employee's eligibility for employment once the automatic extension has expired, between January 6, 2007, and the end of the TPS extension on July 5, 2007? Eligible TPS aliens will possess either an EAD with an expiration date of July 31, 2007, or an EAD with an expiration date of July 5, 2006 and a sticker affixed to it extending the validity of the EAD through July 2007. In either case, the EAD will be a Form I-766 bearing the notation “A-12” or “C-19” on the face of the card under “Category.” Either of these EADs must be accepted for the purposes of verifying identity and employment authorization. Employers are reminded that the laws requiring employment eligibility verification and prohibiting unfair immigration-related employment practices remain in full force, as described above. What documents may a qualified individual show to his or her employer as proof of employment authorization and identity when completing Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification? During the first 6 months of this extension of the TPS designation for Nicaragua, employees may submit the following to their employer for completion of the Form I-9 at the time of hire or re-verification. Qualified individuals who have received a 6-month extension of their EADs by virtue of this **Federal Register** Notice may present a TPS-based EAD to their employer, as described above as proof of identity and employment authorization until January 5, 2007. To minimize confusion over this extension at the time of hire or re-verification, qualified individuals may also present a copy of this **Federal Register** Notice regarding the automatic extension of employment authorization documentation to January 5, 2007. After the first six months of TPS employment authorization for this designation extension, and continuing until the end of the extension period, July 5, 2007, a qualified individual will receive one of the following as evidence of employment authorization: A sticker affixed to the EAD extending the validity of the EAD through July 2007, or a new EAD valid through July 31, 2007. Either an EAD with the extension sticker or a newly issued EAD may be presented as evidence of employment authorization. In the alternative, to the aforementioned options, any legally acceptable document or combination of documents listed in List A, List B, or List C of the Form I-9 may be presented as proof of identity and employment eligibility; it is the choice of the employee. Does TPS lead to lawful permanent residence? No. TPS is a temporary benefit that does not lead to lawful permanent residence by itself or confer any other immigration status. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(e), (f)(1), (h). When a country's TPS designation is terminated, TPS beneficiaries will maintain the same immigration status they held prior to TPS (unless that status has since expired or been terminated), or any other status they may have acquired while registered for TPS. Accordingly, if an alien held no lawful immigration status prior to being granted TPS and did not obtain any other status during the TPS period, he or she will revert to unlawful status upon the termination of the TPS designation. Once the Secretary determines that a TPS designation should be terminated, aliens who had TPS under that designation are expected to plan for their departure from the United States and may wish to apply for immigration benefits for which they may be eligible. May I apply for another immigration benefit while registered for TPS? Yes. Registration for TPS does not prevent you from applying for another non-immigrant status, from filing for adjustment of status based on an immigrant petition, or from applying for any other immigration benefit or protection. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(5). For the purposes of change of status and adjustment of status, an alien is considered as being in, and maintaining, lawful status as a nonimmigrant during the period in which the alien is granted TPS. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(f)(4). How does an application for TPS affect my application for asylum or other immigration benefits? An application for TPS does not affect an application for asylum or any other immigration benefit. Denial of an application for asylum or any other immigration benefit does not affect an applicant's TPS eligibility, although the grounds for denying one form of relief may also be grounds for denying TPS. For example, a person who has been convicted of a particularly serious crime is not eligible for asylum or TPS. 8 U.S.C. 1158(b)(2)(A)(ii) ; 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(2)(B)(ii). Does this extension allow nationals of Nicaragua (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Nicaragua) who entered the United States after December 30, 1998, to file for TPS? No. This is a Notice of an extension of TPS, not a Notice of re-designation of TPS for Nicaragua. An extension of TPS does not change the required dates of continuous residence and continuous physical presence in the United States. This extension does not expand TPS availability to those beyond the current TPS eligibility requirements of Nicaragua. To be eligible for benefits under this extension, nationals of Nicaragua (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Nicaragua) must have continuously resided in the United States since December 30, 1998, and been continuously physically present in the United States since January 5, 1999, the date of the most recent designation of TPS for Nicaragua. What is late initial registration? Some persons may be eligible for late initial registration under 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(1)(A)(iv) and 8 CFR 244.2(f)(2) and (g). In order to be eligible for late initial registration an applicant must:

(1)Be a national of Nicaragua (or alien who has no nationality and who last habitually resided in Nicaragua);

(2)Have continuously resided in the United States since December 30, 1998;

(3)Have been continuously physically present in the United States since January 5, 1999; and

(1)Was a nonimmigrant or had been granted voluntary departure status or any relief from removal;

(2)Had an application for change of status, adjustment of status, asylum, voluntary departure, or any relief from removal or change of status pending or subject to further review or appeal;

(3)Was a parolee or had a pending request for reparole; or

(4)Is the spouse or child of an alien currently eligible to be a TPS registrant. An applicant for late initial registration must file an application for late registration no later than 60 days after the expiration or termination of the conditions described above. 8 CFR 244.2(g). All late initial registration applications for TPS, pursuant to the TPS designation of Nicaragua, should be submitted to the aforementioned Lockbox address in Chicago, Illinois. What happens when this extension of TPS expires on July 5, 2007? At least 60 days before this extension of TPS designation of Nicaragua expires on July 5, 2007, the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consultation with appropriate agencies of the Government, will review conditions in Nicaragua and determine whether the conditions for TPS designation continue to be met at that time, or whether the TPS designation should be terminated. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3). Notice of that determination, including the basis for the determination, will be published in the **Federal Register** . Notice of extension of designation of TPS for Nicaragua. By the authority vested in DHS under sections 244(b)(1)(B), (b)(3)(A), and (b)(3)(C) of the Act, DHS has determined, after consultation with the appropriate Government agencies, that the conditions that prompted designation of Nicaragua for TPS continue to be met. Accordingly, DHS orders as follows:

(1)The designation of Nicaragua under section 244(b)(1)(B) of the Act is extended for an additional 12-month period from July 5, 2006, to July 5, 2007. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C).

(2)There are approximately 4,000 nationals of Nicaragua (or aliens having no nationality who last habitually resided in Nicaragua) who have been granted TPS and who may be eligible for re-registration.

(3)To maintain TPS, a national of Nicaragua (or an alien having no nationality who last habitually resided in Nicaragua) who was granted TPS during the initial designation period and the subsequent extensions of this designation, or who was granted TPS during late initial registration, must re-register for TPS during the 60-day re-registration period from April 1, 2006 until June 1, 2006.

(4)To re-register, aliens must follow the aforementioned filing procedures set forth in this Notice.

(5)At least 60 days before this extension ends on July 5, 2007, the Secretary of Homeland Security, after consultation with appropriate agencies of the Government, will review the designation of Nicaragua for TPS and determine whether the conditions for designation continue to be met. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A). Notice of that determination, including the basis for the determination, will be published in the **Federal Register** . *Id.*

(6)Information concerning the extension of designation of Nicaragua for TPS will be available at local USCIS offices upon publication of this Notice and on the USCIS Web site at *http://uscis.gov.* Dated: March 22, 2006. Michael Chertoff, Secretary. [FR Doc. E6-4686 Filed 3-30-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4410-10-P DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR-5041-N-09] Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Comment Request; Budget-Based Rent Increases AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner, HUD. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The proposed information collection requirement described below will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget

(OMB)for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The Department is soliciting public comments on the subject proposal. DATES: Comments Due Date: May 30, 2006. ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments regarding this proposal. Comments should refer to the proposal by name and/or OMB Control Number and should be sent to: Lillian Deitzer, Reports Management Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., L'Enfant Plaza Building, Room 8001, Washington, DC 20410 or *Lillian_L._Deitzer@hud.gov.* FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Munson, Office of Multifamily Asset Management, Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410, telephone number

(202)708-1320 (this is not a toll-free number) for copies of the proposed forms and other available information. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department is submitting the proposed information collection to OMB for review, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35, as amended). This Notice is soliciting comments from members of the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of information to:

(1)Evaluate whether the proposed collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(2)Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information;

(3)Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(4)Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond; including the use of appropriate automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. This Notice also lists the following information: *Title of Proposal:* Budget-Based Rent Increases. *OMB Control Number, if Applicable:* 2502-0324. *Description of the Need for the Information and Proposed Use:* This information is necessary to allow certain owners of multifamily housing projects to plan for expected increases in expenditures. The information will be used to determine the reasonableness of expense increases. *Agency Form Numbers, if Applicable:* HUD-92547-A. *Estimation of the total numbers of hours needed to prepare the information collection including number of respondents, frequency of response, and hours of response:* The estimated number of respondents is 14,493 generating approximately 14,493 annual responses; the frequency of responses is annually; the estimated time to prepare the response is estimated at 5 hours, and the estimated total number of hours needed to prepare the information collection is 72,466. *Status of the proposed information collection:* This is an extension of a currently approved collection. Authority: The Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C., Chapter 35, as amended. Dated: March 24, 2006. Frank L. Davis, General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing-Deputy Federal Housing Commissioner. [FR Doc. E6-4721 Filed 3-30-06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4210-67-P DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT [Docket No. FR-5045-N-13] Federal Property Suitable as Facilities to Assist the Homeless AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, HUD. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: This Notice identifies unutilized, underutilized, excess, and surplus Federal property reviewed by HUD for suitability for possible use to assist the homeless. DATES: *Effective Date:* March 31, 2006. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathy Ezzell, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Room 7262, 451 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20410; telephone

(202)708-1234; TTY number for the hearing- and speech-impaired

(202)708-2565, (these telephone numbers are not toll-free), or call the toll-free title V information line at 1-800-927-7588. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with the December 12, 1988 court order in *National Coalition for the Homeless* v. *Veterans Administration* , No. 88-2503-OG (D.D.C.), HUD publishes a Notice, on a weekly basis, identifying unutilized, underutilized, excess and surplus Federal buildings and real property that HUD has reviewed for suitability for use to assist the homeless. Today's Notice is for the purpose of announcing that no additional properties have been determined suitable or unsuitable this week. Dated: March 23, 2006. Mark R. Johnston, Acting Deputy Assistant, Secretary for Special needs. [FR Doc. 06-2986 Filed 3-30-06; 8:45 am]

Connectionstraces to 4

Traces to 4 documents

U.S. Code

7 references not yet in our index