43458 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 150 / Monday, August 9, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

DEPARTMENT OF STATE 

22 CFR Part 51 

[Public Notice: 11457] 

RIN 1400–AE68 

Passports: Proposed Rule Allowing 

Passport Applicants Eligible To Apply 

By Mail for Renewal of Passports the 

Additional Option To Apply On-Line 

AGENCY: Department of State. 

ACTION: Proposed rule. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Department 

regulations, the renewal of a U.S. 

passport must meet certain 

requirements to qualify for submission 

of an application by mail. The 

Department proposes to amend this rule 

by allowing qualified applicants the 

option of submitting renewal 

applications by mail or online via the 

Department’s official website. This 

amendment will provide more 

flexibility for the renewal applicant, 

improve the customer experience, and 

eliminate the added burden, time, and 

cost to the customer by providing the 

on-line option as an alternative to the 

mail in process. 

DATES: The Department of State will 

accept comments until October 8, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: Interested parties may 

submit comments to the Department by 

any of the following methods: 

• Visit the Regulations.govwebsite at: 

http://www.regulations.gov and search 

for the docket number DOS–2021–0016. 

• Email: 

PassportOfficeofAdjudicationGeneral@

state.gov. You must include RIN 1400– 

AE68 in the subject line of your 

message. 

• Mail paper submissions: Office of 

Adjudication, Passport Services, U.S. 

Department of State, 44132 Mercure 

Circle, P.O. Box 1243, Sterling, VA 

20166–1243, ATTN: OPR. 

• All comments should include the 

commenter’s name, the organization the 

commenter represents, if applicable, 

and the commenter’s address. If the 

Department is unable to read your 

comment for any reason, and cannot 

contact you for clarification, the 

Department may not be able to consider 

your comment. After the conclusion of 

the comment period, the Department 

will publish a Final rule (in which it 

will address relevant comments) as 

expeditiously as possible. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Karen Pizza, Office of Adjudication, 

Passport Services, (202) 485–8800, or 

email 

PassportOfficeofAdjudicationGeneral@

state.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Currently 

when applying for a renewal of a U.S. 

passport, applicants must meet certain 

criteria to use the mail-in application 

form. These mail-in applications are 

processed through the Lockbox where 

fees, applicant data, and photo images 

are captured. The Lockbox transmits 

this data and the physical applications 

to a passport agency or center for further 

processing. 

The Department proposes to amend 

22 CFR 51.21(b), (b)(2), (b)(3); and 

51.8(a), (b), (c), (d) to allow eligible 

applicants the option to apply on-line 

via MyTravelGov, which can be found 

on the Department’s official website. 

Online Passport Renewal (OPR) refers to 

the electronic capability for processing 

renewal applications in a paperless 

environment. Applicants must meet all 

eligibility requirements for using OPR or 

will be referred to the paper application 

process. Applicants using OPR will 

enter their application information and 

upload their photos directly into the 

OPR system, and submit their payment 

through pay.gov. This process will 

improve efficiency and accessibility by 

offering online verification of renewal 

eligibility, electronic photo upload, and 

electronic payment. Applications 

received through OPR will 

automatically enter review queues at a 

passport agency or center, thus 

eliminating the physical application and 

processing at the Lockbox. The new 

OPR system will improve the customer 

experience, reduce operational and 

maintenance costs, and focus on data 

quality, protection, and traceability. The 

first release of the OPR system will 

apply to persons in the United States, 

with the intent for future releases 

applying to persons abroad. 

Regulatory Findings 

Administrative Procedure Act 

The Department is publishing this 

rule as a proposed rule and is providing 

60 days for public comments. 

Regulatory Flexibility Act 

The Department of State, in 

accordance with the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), has 

reviewed this regulation and, by 

approving it, certifies that this rule will 

not have a significant economic impact 

on a substantial number of small 

entities. This rule gives greater 

flexibility to applicants residing in the 

United States, who are applying to 

renew their U.S. passport. 

Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995 

This rule will not result in the 

expenditure by State, local, and tribal 

governments, in the aggregate, or by the 

private sector, of $100 million or more 

in any year and it will not significantly 

or uniquely affect small governments. 

Therefore, no actions were deemed 

necessary under the provisions of the 

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 

1995. 

Congressional Review Act 

This rule is not a major rule as 

defined by the Congressional Review 

Act. This rule will not result in an 

annual effect on the economy of $100 

million or more; a major increase in 

costs or prices; or significant adverse 

effects on competition, employment, 

investment, productivity, innovation, or 

on the ability of United States-based 

companies to compete with foreign 

based companies in domestic and 

import markets. 

Executive Order 12866 

This rule is not a ‘‘significant 

regulatory action’’ under Executive 

Order 12866, section 3(f), Regulatory 

Planning and Review. The Department 

does not anticipate that demand for 

passport services will change as a result 

of this rule change. 

Executive Orders 12372 and 13132— 

Federalism 

This regulation will not have 

substantial direct effects on the States, 

on the relationship between the national 

government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. Therefore, in 

accordance with section 6 of Executive 

Order 13132, it is determined that this 

rule does not have sufficient federalism 

implications to require consultations or 

warrant the preparation of a federalism 

summary impact statement. The 

regulations implementing Executive 

Order 12372 regarding 

intergovernmental consultation on 

Federal programs and activities do not 

apply to this regulation. 

Executive Order 13175—Consultation 

With Tribal Governments 

The Department has determined that 

this rulemaking will not have tribal 

implications, will not impose 

substantial direct compliance costs on 

Indian tribal governments, and will not 

pre-empt tribal law. Accordingly, the 

requirements of E.O. 13175 do not apply 

to this proposed rule. 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

This rule does not impose any new 

reporting or record-keeping 

requirements subject to the Paperwork 

Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 150 / Monday, August 9, 2021 / Proposed Rules 43459 

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 51 

Passports. 

Accordingly, for the reasons set forth 

in the preamble, 22 CFR part 51 is 

proposed to be amended as follows: 

PART 51—PASSPORTS 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 51 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1504; 18 U.S.C. 1621; 

22 U.S.C. 211a, 212, 212b, 213, 213n (Pub. L. 

106–113 Div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(7) [Div. A, Title 

II, Sec. 236], 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–430); 

214, 214a, 217a, 218, 2651a, 2671(d)(3), 2705, 

2714, 2714a, 2721, & 3926; 26 U.S.C. 6039E; 

31 U.S.C. 9701; 42 U.S.C. 652(k) [Div. B, Title 

V of Pub. L. 103–317, 108 Stat. 1760]; E.O. 

11295, Aug. 6, 1966, FR 10603, 3 CFR, 1966– 

1970 Comp., p. 570; Pub. L. 114–119, 130 

Stat. 15; Sec. 1 of Pub. L. 109–210, 120 Stat. 

319; Sec. 2 of Pub. L. 109–167, 119 Stat. 

3578; Sec. 5 of Pub. L. 109–472, 120 Stat. 

3554; Pub. L. 108–447, Div. B, Title IV, Dec. 

8, 2004, 118 Stat. 2809; Pub. L. 108–458, 118 

Stat. 3638, 3823 (Dec. 17, 2004). 

■ 2. Section 51.8 is revised to read as 

follows: 

§ 51.8 Submission of currently valid 

passport. 

(a) When applying for a new passport 

in person or by mail, an applicant must 

submit for cancellation any currently 

valid passport of the same type. 

(b) When applying for a new passport 

on-line, an applicant must have the 

currently valid passport of the same 

type available for cancellation via the 

on-line process. 

(c) If an applicant is unable to 

produce a passport under paragraph (a) 

or (b) of this section, he or she must 

submit a signed statement in the form 

prescribed by the Department setting 

forth the circumstances regarding the 

disposition of the passport. 

(d) The Department may deny or limit 

a passport if the applicant has failed to 

provide a sufficient and credible 

explanation for lost, stolen, altered or 

mutilated passport(s) previously issued 

to the applicant, after being given a 

reasonable opportunity to do so. 

■ 3. Section 51.21 is amended by 

revising paragraph (b) subject heading 

and paragraph (b)(2), and adding 

paragraph (b)(3) to read as follows: 

§ 51.21 Execution of passport application. 

* * * * * 

(b) Application by mail or on-line— 

persons in the United States. 

* * * * * 

(2) A person in the United States who 

previously has been issued a passport 

valid for 10 years in their own name 

may apply for a new passport by filling 

out, signing, and submitting an on-line 

application via the Department’s official 

website if: 

(i) The applicant’s most recently 

issued passport of the same type was 

issued when the applicant was 16 years 

of age or older, and has one year or less 

of validity remaining; 

(ii) The application is submitted not 

more than 15 years following the issue 

date of the most recently issued 

passport of the same type; 

(iii) The first release of the OPR 

system will require that the application 

be submitted in the same name, sex 

marker, date of birth, and place of birth 

as the most recently issued passport of 

the same type with the intent that future 

releases will permit changes; and 

(iv) The most recently issued passport 

of the same type is available for 

verification via the on-line process. 

(3) The applicant must also provide 

photographs as prescribed by the 

Department and pay the applicable fees 

prescribed in the Schedule of Fees for 

Consular Services (22 CFR 22.1). 

* * * * * 

Rachel Arndt, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of 

Consular Affairs, Department of State. 

[FR Doc. 2021–16928 Filed 8–6–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4710–06–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

40 CFR Part 52 

[EPA–R07–OAR–2021–0474; FRL–8755–01– 

R7] 

Air Plan Approval; Missouri; Control of 

Emissions From Batch Process 

Operations 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Proposed rule. 

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) is proposing approval of 

a State Implementation Plan (SIP) 

revision submitted by Missouri on 

January 19, 2021. Missouri requests that 

the EPA approve into Missouri’s SIP 

revisions to its rule related to control of 

emissions from batch process 

operations. These revisions update 

references to the appropriate state rule 

for New Source Performance 

Regulations. These revisions are 

administrative in nature and do not 

reduce the stringency of the SIP or have 

an adverse impact to air quality. The 

EPA’s proposed approval of this rule 

revision is being done in accordance 

with the requirements of the Clean Air 

Act (CAA). 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before September 8, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R07– 

OAR–2021–0474 to https://

www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 

instructions for submitting comments. 

Instructions: All submissions received 

must include the Docket ID No. for this 

rulemaking. Comments received will be 

posted without change to https://

www.regulations.gov/, including any 

personal information provided. For 

detailed instructions on sending 

comments and additional information 

on the rulemaking process, see the 

‘‘Written Comments’’ heading of the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of 

this document. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Robert F. Webber, Environmental 

Protection Agency, Region 7 Office, Air 

Permitting and Standards Branch, 11201 

Renner Boulevard, Lenexa, Kansas 

66219; telephone number: (913) 551– 

7251; email address: webber.robert@

epa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Throughout this document ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ 

and ‘‘our’’ refer to the EPA. 

Table of Contents 

I. Written Comments 

II. What is being addressed in this document? 

III. Have the requirements for approval of a 

SIP revision been met? 

IV. What action is the EPA proposing to take? 

V. Incorporation by Reference 

VI. Statutory and Executive Order Reviews 

I. Written Comments 

Submit your comments, identified by 

Docket ID No. EPA–R07–OAR–2021– 

0474, at https://www.regulations.gov. 

Once submitted, comments cannot be 

edited or removed from Regulations.gov. 

The EPA may publish any comment 

received to its public docket. Do not 

submit electronically any information 

you consider to be Confidential 

Business Information (CBI) or other 

information whose disclosure is 

restricted by statute. Multimedia 

submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be 

accompanied by a written comment. 

The written comment is considered the 

official comment and should include 

discussion of all points you wish to 

make. The EPA will generally not 

consider comments or comment 

contents located outside of the primary 

submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or 

other file sharing system). For 

additional submission methods, the full 

EPA public comment policy, 

information about CBI or multimedia 

submissions, and general guidance on 

making effective comments, please visit 


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