### 74735 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 16, 2014 / Notices

eligible for submission for other generic mechanisms that are designed to yield quantitative results.

The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in comments which:

1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information 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, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

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 through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology,

e.g., permitting electronic submissions of responses. Analysis

Agency: The Department of Homeland Security.

Title: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery.

OMB Number: 1601–0014. Frequency: One per Request. Affected Public: Individuals and households, businesses and organizations, State, Local or Tribal Government.

Number of Respondents: 500,000. Estimated Time Per Respondent: 10 minutes.

Total Burden Hours: 83,350 Hours.

Dated: December 9, 2014. Carlene C. Ileto, Executive Director, Enterprise Business Management Office.

[FR Doc. 2014–29351 Filed 12–15–14; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 9110–9B–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY** 

**[Docket No. DHS–2011–0108]**

**RIN 1601–ZA11**

**Identification of Foreign Countries Whose Nationals Are Eligible To**  **Participate in the H–2A and H–2B Nonimmigrant Worker Programs** 

**AGENCY :**  Office of the Secretary, DHS.

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  Under Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may approve petitions for H–2A and H–2B nonimmigrant status only for nationals of countries that the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, has designated by notice published in the Federal Register. That notice must be renewed each year. This notice announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, is identifying 68 countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H–2A and H–2B programs for the coming year.

**DATES :**  Effective Date: This notice is effective January 18, 2015, and shall be without effect at the end of one year after January 18, 2015.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Francis Cissna, Office of Policy, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528, (202) 447–3835.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Background

Generally, USCIS may approve H–2A and H–2B petitions for nationals of only those countries that the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, has designated as participating countries. Such designation must be published as a notice in the Federal Register and expires after one year. USCIS, however, may allow a national from a country not on the list to be named as a beneficiary of an H–2A or H–2B petition based on a determination that such participation is in the U.S. interest. See 8 CFR 214.2(h)(5)(i)(F) and 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(i)(E).

In designating countries to include on the list, the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, will take into account factors including, but not limited to: (1) The country’s cooperation with respect to issuance of travel documents for citizens, subjects, nationals, and residents of that country who are subject to a final order of removal; (2) the number of final and unexecuted orders of removal against citizens, subjects, nationals, and residents of that country; (3) the number of orders of removal executed against citizens, subjects, nationals, and residents of that country; and (4) such other factors as may serve the U.S. interest. See 8 CFR 214.2(h)(5)(i)(F)(1)(i) and 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(i)(E)(1). Examples of factors serving the U.S. interest that could result in the non-inclusion of a country or the removal of a country from the list include, but are not limited to, fraud, abuse, and non-compliance with the terms and conditions of the H–2 programs by nationals of that country.

In December 2008, DHS published in the Federal Register two notices, ‘‘Identification of Foreign Countries Whose Nationals Are Eligible to Participate in the H–2A Visa Program,’’ and ‘‘Identification of Foreign Countries Whose Nationals Are Eligible to Participate in the H–2B Visa Program,’’ which designated 28 countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H–2A and H–2B programs. See 73 FR 77,043 (Dec. 18, 2008); 73 FR 77,729 (Dec. 19, 2008). The notices ceased to have effect on January 17, 2010 and January 18, 2010, respectively. See 8 CFR 214.2(h)(5)(i)(F)(2) and 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(i)(E)(3). In implementing these regulatory provisions, the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, has published a series of notices on a regular basis. See 75 FR 2,879 (Jan. 19, 2010) (adding 11 countries); 76 FR 2,915 (Jan. 18, 2011) (removing Indonesia and adding 15 countries); 77 FR 2,558 (Jan. 18, 2012) (adding 5 countries); 78 FR 4,154 (Jan. 18, 2013) (adding 1 country); FR 79 3,214 (Jan.17, 2014) (adding 4 countries).

The Secretary of Homeland Security has determined, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, that 63 countries previously designated in the January 17, 2014 notice continue to meet the standards identified in that notice for eligible countries and therefore should remain designated as countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H–2A and H–2B programs. Further, the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, has determined that it is now appropriate to add 5 countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H–2A and H–2B programs. This determination is made taking into account the four regulatory factors identified above. The Secretary of Homeland Security also considered other pertinent factors including, but not limited to, evidence of past usage of the H–2A and H–2B programs by nationals of the country to be added, as well as evidence relating to the economic impact on particular U.S. industries or regions resulting from the addition or continued non-inclusion of specific countries. In consideration of all of the above, this notice designates for the first time the Czech Republic, Denmark, Madagascar, Portugal, and Sweden as countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H–2A and H–2B programs.


### 74736 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 16, 2014 / Notices

Designation of Countries Whose Nationals Are Eligible To Participate in the H–2A and H–2B Nonimmigrant Worker Programs

Pursuant to the authority provided to the Secretary of Homeland Security under sections 214(a)(1), 215(a)(1), and 241 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(a)(1), 1185(a)(1), and 1231), I am designating, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, nationals from the following countries to be eligible to participate in the H–2A and H–2B nonimmigrant worker

programs: Argentina Australia Austria Barbados Belize Brazil Bulgaria Canada Chile Costa Rica Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Dominican Republic Ecuador El Salvador Estonia Ethiopia Fiji Grenada Guatemala Haiti Honduras Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Kiribati Latvia Lithuania Macedonia Madagascar Mexico Moldova Montenegro Nauru The Netherlands Nicaragua New Zealand Norway Panama Papua New Guinea Peru The Philippines Poland Portugal Romania Samoa Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands South Africa South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Thailand Tonga Turkey Tuvalu Ukraine United Kingdom Uruguay Vanuatu

This notice does not affect the status of aliens who currently hold valid H–2A or H–2B nonimmigrant status. Persons currently holding such status, however, will be affected by this notice should they seek an extension of stay in H–2 classification, or a change of status from one H–2 status to another. Similarly, persons holding nonimmigrant status other than H–2 status are not affected by this notice unless they seek a change of status to H–2 status.

Nothing in this notice limits the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security or his or her designee or any other federal agency to invoke against any foreign country or its nationals any other remedy, penalty, or enforcement action available by law.

Jeh Charles Johnson, Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2014–29353 Filed 12–15–14; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 9110–9M–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY** 

**Office of the Secretary**

**[Docket No. DHS–2014–0068]**

**Privacy Act of 1974; Department of Homeland Security/United States**  **Coast Guard—002 Employee Assistance Program Records System**  **of Records**

**AGENCY :**  Privacy Office, Department of Homeland Security.

**ACTION :**  Notice of Privacy Act System of Records.

**SUMMARY :**  In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of Homeland Security proposes to update and reissue a current Department of Homeland Security system of records titled, ‘‘Department of Homeland Security/United States Coast Guard Employee Assistance Program Records System of Records.’’ This system of records allows the Department of Homeland Security/United States Coast Guard to administer the United States Coast Guard Employee Assistance Program for military personnel. As a result of the biennial review of this system, the system manager and address category has been updated.Additionally, this notice includes nonsubstantive changes to simplify the formatting and text of the previously published notice. This updated system will be included in the Department of Homeland Security’s inventory of record systems.

**DATES :**  Submit comments on or before January 15, 2015. This updated system will be effective January 15, 2015.

**ADDRESSES :**  You may submit comments, identified by docket number DHS– 2014–0068 by one of the following methods:

• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: http:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

• Fax: 202–343–4010.

• Mail: Karen L. Neuman, Chief Privacy Officer, Privacy Office, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528.

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, please visit http:// www.regulations.gov.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  For general questions, please contact: Marilyn Scott-Perez (202) 475–3515, Privacy Officer, Commandant (CG–61), United States Coast Guard, Mail Stop 7710, Washington, DC 20593. For privacy questions, please contact: Karen L. Neuman, (202) 343–1717, Chief Privacy Officer, Privacy Office, Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  I. Background

In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) United States Coast Guard (USCG) proposes to update and reissue a current DHS system of records titled, ‘‘DHS/United States Coast Guard—002 Employee Assistance Program Records System of Records.’’ The collection and maintenance of this information will allow the DHS/USCG to administer the United States Coast Guard Employee Assistance Program for military personnel. As a result of a biennial review of the system, the system manager and address category