82 FR 61116 - Request for Information for the 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report
DEPARTMENT OF STATE Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 246 (December 26, 2017)
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 246 (December 26, 2017)
| Page Range | 61116-61120 | |
| FR Document | 2017-27647 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 26, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 61116-61120] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-27647] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice: 10237] Request for Information for the 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report SUMMARY: The Department of State (``the Department'') requests written information to assist in reporting on the degree to which the United States and foreign governments meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons (``minimum standards'') that are prescribed by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, as amended (``TVPA''). This information will assist in the preparation of the Trafficking in Persons Report (``TIP Report'') that the Department submits annually to the U.S. Congress on government efforts to meet the minimum standards. Foreign governments that do not meet the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so may be subject to restrictions on nonhumanitarian, nontrade-related foreign assistance from the United States, as defined by the TVPA. Submissions must be made in writing to the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the Department of State by January 31, 2018. Please refer to the Addresses, Scope of Interest, and Information Sought sections of this Notice for additional instructions on submission requirements. DATES: Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. on January 31, 2018. ADDRESSES: Written submissions and supporting documentation may be submitted by the following methods: Email (preferred): [email protected] for submissions related to foreign governments and [email protected] for submissions related to the United States.Facsimile (fax): 202-312-9637. Mail, Express Delivery, Hand Delivery and Messenger Service: U.S. Department of State, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP), 1800 G Street NW, Suite 2201, Washington, DC 20520. Please note that materials submitted by mail may be delayed due to security screenings and processing. Scope of Interest: The Department requests information relevant to assessing the United States' and foreign governments' efforts to meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons during the reporting period (April 1, 2017-March 31, 2018). The minimum standards are listed in the Background section. Submissions must include information relevant to efforts to meet the minimum standards and should include, but need not be limited to, answering the questions in the Information Sought section. Only those questions for which the submitter has direct professional experience should be answered and that experience should be noted. For any critique or deficiency described, please provide a recommendation to remedy it. Note the country or countries that are the focus of the submission. Submissions may include written narratives that answer the questions presented in this Notice, research, studies, statistics, fieldwork, training materials, evaluations, assessments, and other relevant evidence of local, state/provincial, and federal/central government efforts. To the extent possible, precise dates and numbers of officials or citizens affected should be included. Where applicable, written narratives providing factual information should provide citations of sources, and copies of the source material should be provided. If possible, send electronic copies of the entire submission, including source material. If primary sources are used, such as research studies, interviews, direct observations, or other sources of quantitative or qualitative data, provide details on the research or data-gathering methodology. The Department does not include in the TIP Report, and is therefore not seeking, information on prostitution, migrant smuggling, visa fraud, or child abuse, unless such conduct occurs in the context of trafficking in persons as defined in the TVPA. Confidentiality: Please provide the name, phone number, and email address of a single point of contact for any submission. It is Department practice not to identify in the TIP Report information concerning sources to safeguard those sources. Please note, however, that any information submitted to the Department may be releasable pursuant to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act or other applicable law. When applicable, portions of submissions relevant to efforts by other U.S. government agencies will be shared with those agencies. Response: This is a request for information only; there will be no response to submissions. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The TIP Report: The TIP Report is the most comprehensive worldwide report on governments' efforts to combat trafficking in persons. It represents an annually updated, global look at the nature and scope of trafficking in persons and the broad range of government actions to confront and eliminate it. The U.S. government uses the Report to engage in diplomacy, to encourage partnership in creating and implementing laws and policies to combat trafficking, and to target resources on prevention, protection, and prosecution programs. Worldwide, the Report is used by international organizations, foreign governments, and nongovernmental organizations as a tool to examine where resources are most needed. Prosecuting traffickers, protecting victims, and preventing trafficking are the ultimate goals of the Report and of the U.S government's anti-trafficking policy. The Department prepares the TIP Report using information from across the U.S. government, foreign government officials, nongovernmental and international organizations, published reports, and research trips to every region. The Report focuses on concrete actions that governments take to fight trafficking in persons, including prosecutions, convictions, and sentences for traffickers, as well as [[Page 61117]] victim protection measures and prevention efforts. Each Report narrative also includes recommendations for each country. These recommendations are used to assist the Department in measuring governments' progress from one year to the next and determining whether governments meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons or are making significant efforts to do so. The TVPA creates a four-tier ranking system. Tier placement is based principally on the extent of government action to combat trafficking. The Department first evaluates whether the government fully meets the TVPA's minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking. Governments that do so are placed on Tier 1. For other governments, the Department considers the extent of such efforts. Governments that are making significant efforts to meet the minimum standards are placed on Tier 2. Governments that do not fully meet the minimum standards and are not making significant efforts to do so are placed on Tier 3. Finally, the Department considers Special Watch List criteria and, when applicable, places countries on Tier 2 Watch List. For more information, the 2017 TIP Report can be found at http://www.state.gov/j/tip/rls/tiprpt/2017/index.htm. Since the inception of the TIP Report in 2001, the number of countries included and ranked has more than doubled; the 2017 TIP Report included 187 countries and territories. Around the world, the TIP Report and the promising practices reflected therein have inspired legislation, national action plans, policy implementation, program funding, protection mechanisms that complement prosecution efforts, and a stronger global understanding of this crime. Since 2003, the primary reporting on the United States' anti- trafficking activities has been through the annual Attorney General's Report to Congress and Assessment of U.S. Government Activities to Combat Human Trafficking (``AG Report'') mandated by section 105 of the TVPA (22 U.S.C. 7103(d)(7)). Since 2010, the TIP Report, through a collaborative interagency process, has included an analysis of U.S. government anti-trafficking efforts in light of the minimum standards to eliminate trafficking in persons set forth by the TVPA. II. Minimum Standards for the Elimination of Trafficking in Persons The TVPA sets forth the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking in persons as follows: (1) The government of the country should prohibit severe forms of trafficking in persons and punish acts of such trafficking. (2) For the knowing commission of any act of sex trafficking involving force, fraud, coercion, or in which the victim of sex trafficking is a child incapable of giving meaningful consent, or of trafficking which includes rape or kidnapping or which causes a death, the government of the country should prescribe punishment commensurate with that for grave crimes, such as forcible sexual assault. (3) For the knowing commission of any act of a severe form of trafficking in persons, the government of the country should prescribe punishment that is sufficiently stringent to deter and that adequately reflects the heinous nature of the offense. (4) The government of the country should make serious and sustained efforts to eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons. The following factors should be considered as indicia of serious and sustained efforts to eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons: (1) Whether the government of the country vigorously investigates and prosecutes acts of severe forms of trafficking in persons, and convicts and sentences persons responsible for such acts, that take place wholly or partly within the territory of the country, including, as appropriate, requiring incarceration of individuals convicted of such acts. For purposes of the preceding sentence, suspended or significantly reduced sentences for convictions of principal actors in cases of severe forms of trafficking in persons shall be considered, on a case-by-case basis, whether to be considered as an indicator of serious and sustained efforts to eliminate severe forms of trafficking in persons. After reasonable requests from the Department of State for data regarding investigations, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences, a government which does not provide such data, consistent with the capacity of such government to obtain such data, shall be presumed not to have vigorously investigated, prosecuted, convicted, or sentenced such acts. During the periods prior to the annual report submitted on June 1, 2004, and on June 1, 2005, and the periods afterwards until September 30 of each such year, the Secretary of State may disregard the presumption contained in the preceding sentence if the government has provided some data to the Department of State regarding such acts and the Secretary has determined that the government is making a good faith effort to collect such data. (2) Whether the government of the country protects victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons and encourages their assistance in the investigation and prosecution of such trafficking, including provisions for legal alternatives to their removal to countries in which they would face retribution or hardship, and ensures that victims are not inappropriately incarcerated, fined, or otherwise penalized solely for unlawful acts as a direct result of being trafficked, including by providing training to law enforcement and immigration officials regarding the identification and treatment of trafficking victims using approaches that focus on the needs of the victims. (3) Whether the government of the country has adopted measures to prevent severe forms of trafficking in persons, such as measures to inform and educate the public, including potential victims, about the causes and consequences of severe forms of trafficking in persons, measures to establish the identity of local populations, including birth registration, citizenship, and nationality, measures to ensure that its nationals who are deployed abroad as part of a diplomatic, peacekeeping, or other similar mission do not engage in or facilitate severe forms of trafficking in persons or exploit victims of such trafficking, a transparent system for remediating or punishing such public officials as a deterrent, measures to prevent the use of forced labor or child labor in violation of international standards, effective bilateral, multilateral, or regional information sharing and cooperation arrangements with other countries, and effective policies or laws regulating foreign labor recruiters and holding them civilly and criminally liable for fraudulent recruiting. (4) Whether the government of the country cooperates with other governments in the investigation and prosecution of severe forms of trafficking in persons and has entered into bilateral, multilateral, or regional law enforcement cooperation and coordination arrangements with other countries. (5) Whether the government of the country extradites persons charged with acts of severe forms of trafficking in persons on substantially the same terms and to substantially the same extent as persons charged with other serious crimes (or, to the extent such extradition would be inconsistent with the laws of such country or with international agreements to which the country is a [[Page 61118]] party, whether the government is taking all appropriate measures to modify or replace such laws and treaties so as to permit such extradition). (6) Whether the government of the country monitors immigration and emigration patterns for evidence of severe forms of trafficking in persons and whether law enforcement agencies of the country respond to any such evidence in a manner that is consistent with the vigorous investigation and prosecution of acts of such trafficking, as well as with the protection of human rights of victims and the internationally recognized human right to leave any country, including one's own, and to return to one's own country. (7) Whether the government of the country vigorously investigates, prosecutes, convicts, and sentences public officials, including diplomats and soldiers, who participate in or facilitate severe forms of trafficking in persons, including nationals of the country who are deployed abroad as part of a diplomatic, peacekeeping, or other similar mission who engage in or facilitate severe forms of trafficking in persons or exploit victims of such trafficking, and takes all appropriate measures against officials who condone such trafficking. A government's failure to appropriately address public allegations against such public officials, especially once such officials have returned to their home countries, shall be considered inaction under these criteria. After reasonable requests from the Department of State for data regarding such investigations, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences, a government which does not provide such data consistent with its resources shall be presumed not to have vigorously investigated, prosecuted, convicted, or sentenced such acts. During the periods prior to the annual report submitted on June 1, 2004, and June 1, 2005, and the periods afterwards until September 30 of each such year, the Secretary of State may disregard the presumption contained in the preceding sentence if the government has provided some data to the Department of State regarding such acts and the Secretary has determined that the government is making a good faith effort to collect such data. (8) Whether the percentage of victims of severe forms of trafficking in the country that are non-citizens of such countries is insignificant. (9) Whether the government has entered into effective, transparent partnerships, cooperative arrangements, or agreements that have resulted in concrete and measurable outcomes with (A) domestic civil society organizations, private sector entities, or international nongovernmental organizations, or into multilateral or regional arrangements or agreements, to assist the government's efforts to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and punish traffickers; or (B) the United States toward agreed goals and objectives in the collective fight against trafficking. (10) Whether the government of the country, consistent with the capacity of such government, systematically monitors its efforts to satisfy the criteria described in paragraphs (1) through (8) and makes available publicly a periodic assessment of such efforts. (11) Whether the government of the country achieves appreciable progress in eliminating severe forms of trafficking when compared to the assessment in the previous year. (12) Whether the government of the country has made serious and sustained efforts to reduce the demand for (A) commercial sex acts; and (B) participation in international sex tourism by nationals of the country. III. Information Sought Relevant to the Minimum Standards Submissions should include, but need not be limited to, answers to relevant questions below for which the submitter has direct professional experience. Citations to source material should also be provided. Note the country or countries that are the focus of the submission. Please see the Scope of Interest section for detailed information regarding submission requirements. 1. How have trafficking methods changed in the past 12 months? For example, are there victims from new countries of origin? Have new vulnerable groups at risk of human trafficking emerged? Is internal trafficking or child trafficking increasing? Has sex trafficking changed, for example from brothels to private apartments? Is labor trafficking now occurring in additional types of industries or agricultural operations? Have new methods of traffickers emerged? Is forced begging a problem? Does child sex tourism occur in the country or involve its nationals abroad, and if so, what are their destination countries? 2. What were the government's major accomplishments in addressing human trafficking? 3. What were the greatest deficiencies in the government's anti- trafficking efforts? What were the limitations on the government's ability to address human trafficking problems in practice? 4. In what ways has the government's efforts to combat trafficking in persons changed in the past year? What new laws, regulations, policies, and implementation strategies exist (e.g., substantive criminal laws and procedures, mechanisms for civil remedies, and victim-witness security, generally and in relation to court proceedings)? 5. Please provide observations regarding the implementation of existing laws and procedures. Are there laws criminalizing those who knowingly solicit or patronize a trafficking victim to perform a commercial sex act and what are the prescribed penalties? 6. Are the anti-trafficking laws and sentences strict enough to reflect the nature of the crime (e.g., commensurate with crimes such as rape or kidnapping)? 7. Please provide observations on overall anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts and the efforts of police and prosecutors to pursue trafficking cases. Were any trafficking cases investigated and/or prosecuted, and any traffickers convicted during the reporting period? Is the government equally vigorous in pursuing labor trafficking and sex trafficking? Please note any efforts to investigate and prosecute suspects for knowingly soliciting or patronizing a sex trafficking victim to perform a commercial sex act. 8. Do government officials understand the nature of trafficking? If not, please provide examples of misconceptions or misunderstandings. 9. Do judges appear appropriately knowledgeable and sensitized to trafficking cases? What sentences have courts imposed upon traffickers? How common are suspended sentences and prison time of less than one year for convicted traffickers? 10. What was the extent of official complicity in trafficking crimes? Were officials operating as traffickers (whether subjecting persons to forced labor and/or sex trafficking offenses) or taking actions that may facilitate trafficking (including accepting bribes to allow undocumented border crossings or suspending active investigations of suspected traffickers, etc.)? Were there examples of trafficking occurring in state institutions (e.g., prisons, child foster homes, institutions for mentally or physically disabled persons)? What proactive measures did the government take to prevent official complicity in trafficking in persons crimes? How did the government respond to reports of complicity that arose during the reporting period? Has the government [[Page 61119]] made efforts to prosecute, convict, and sentence complicit officials? 11. Has the government vigorously investigated, prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced nationals of the country deployed abroad as part of a diplomatic, peacekeeping, or other similar mission who engage in or facilitate trafficking, including domestic servitude? 12. Has the government investigated, prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced members of organized crime groups that are involved in trafficking? 13. Please provide observations regarding government efforts to address the issue of unlawful child soldiering. Describe the government's efforts to disarm and demobilize child soldiers, to reintegrate former child soldiers, and to monitor the wellbeing of such children after reintegration. 14. Did the government make a coordinated, proactive effort to identify victims of all forms of trafficking? Did officials effectively coordinate among one another and with relevant nongovernmental organizations to refer victims to care? Is there any screening conducted before deportation or when detaining migrants, including unaccompanied minors, to determine whether individuals were subjected to trafficking? Does the government also partner with nongovernmental organizations to conduct screenings? 15. What victim services are provided (legal, medical, food, shelter, interpretation, mental health care, employment, training, etc.)? Who provides these services? If nongovernment organizations provide the services, does the government support their work either financially or otherwise? 16. What was the overall quality of victim care? How could victim services be improved? Was government funding for trafficking victim protection and assistance adequate? Are there gaps in access to victim services? 17. Are services provided adequately to victims of both labor and sex trafficking? Adults and children, including men and boys? Citizens and noncitizens? LGBTI persons? Persons with disabilities? Were such benefits linked to whether a victim assisted law enforcement or participated in a trial, or whether a trafficker was convicted? Could adult victims leave shelters at will? Could victims seek employment and work while receiving assistance? 18. Do service providers and law enforcement work together cooperatively, for instance to share information about trafficking trends or to plan for services after a raid? What is the level of cooperation, communication, and trust between service providers and law enforcement? 19. Were there means by which victims could obtain restitution from the government or file civil suits against traffickers for restitution, and did this happen in practice? Did prosecutors request restitution for victims? 20. How did the government encourage victims to assist in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking? How did the government protect victims during the trial process? If a victim was a material witness in a court case, was the victim permitted to obtain employment, move freely about the country, or leave the country pending trial proceedings? How did the government work to ensure victims were not re- traumatized during participation in trial proceedings? Can victims provide testimony via video or written statements? Were victims' identities kept confidential as part of such proceedings? 21. Did the government provide, through a formal policy or otherwise, temporary or permanent residency status, or other relief from deportation, for foreign victims of human trafficking who may face retribution or hardship in the countries to which they would be deported? Were victims given the opportunity to seek legal employment while in this temporary or permanent residency? Were such benefits linked to whether a victim assisted law enforcement, participated in a trial or whether there was a successful prosecution? Does the government repatriate victims who wish to return home? Does the government assist with third country resettlement? Are victims awaiting repatriation or third country resettlement offered services? Are victims indeed repatriated or are they deported? 22. Does the government effectively assist its nationals exploited abroad? Does the government work to ensure victims receive adequate assistance and support for their repatriation while in destination countries? Does the government provide adequate assistance to repatriated victims after their return to their countries of origin, and if so, what forms of assistance? 23. Does the government inappropriately detain or imprison identified trafficking victims? Does the government punish, penalize, or detain trafficking victims for unlawful acts committed as a result of being subjected to trafficking, such as forgery of documents, illegal immigration, unauthorized employment, prostitution, theft, or drug production or transport? Does law enforcement screen for trafficking victims when arresting individuals in prostitution? 24. What efforts has the government made to prevent human trafficking? Are there laws prohibiting employers or labor agents from confiscating workers' passports or travel documents, switching contracts without the workers' consent, or withholding payment of salaries as a means of keeping workers in a state of compelled service? Are these laws implemented to hold violators accountable and/or are such crimes investigated by law enforcement as potential indicators of trafficking? Do authorities conduct criminal investigations when indicators of trafficking are identified in the context of labor inspections? 25. Does the government operate a hotline for potential victims? If so, how many calls did the hotline receive? What are the hours of operation? What languages are spoken? How many victims were identified as a result of calls to the hotline? Were any investigations initiated as a result of calls to the hotline? 26. Has the government entered into effective bilateral, multilateral, or regional information-sharing and cooperation arrangements that have resulted in concrete and measureable outcomes? 27. Did the government provide assistance to other governments in combating trafficking in persons through trainings or other assistance programs? 28. Does the country have effective policies or laws regulating foreign labor recruiters? What efforts did the government make to punish labor recruiters or brokers involved in the recruitment of workers through knowingly fraudulent offers of employment and/or excessive fees for migration or job placement? What steps did the government take to minimize the trafficking risks faced by migrant workers departing from or arriving in the country and to raise awareness among potential labor migrants about limits on recruitment fees or their rights while abroad? 29. What measures has the government taken to reduce the participation by nationals of the country in international and domestic child sex tourism? If any of the country's nationals are perpetrators of child sex tourism, do the country's child sexual abuse laws allow the prosecution of suspected sex tourists for crimes committed abroad? 30. What measures did the government take to establish the identity of local populations, including birth registration and issuance of [[Page 61120]] documentation, citizenship, and nationality? 31. Did the government fund any anti-trafficking information, education, or awareness campaigns? Were these campaigns targeting potential trafficking victims and/or the demand for commercial sex or goods produced with forced labor? Does the government provide financial support to nongovernment organizations working to promote public awareness? 32. What efforts did the government make to ensure that its policies, regulations, and agreements relating to migration, labor, trade, and investment did not facilitate forced labor? 33. Please provide additional recommendations to improve the government's anti-trafficking efforts. 34. Please highlight effective strategies and practices that other governments could consider adopting. Kari Johnstone, Acting Director, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Department of State. [FR Doc. 2017-27647 Filed 12-22-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710-17-P
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Commission and any person, other than Submissions must be made in writing to sources are used, such as research
those that may be withheld from the the Office to Monitor and Combat studies, interviews, direct observations,
public in accordance with the Trafficking in Persons at the Department or other sources of quantitative or
provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be of State by January 31, 2018. Please refer qualitative data, provide details on the
available for website viewing and to the Addresses, Scope of Interest, and research or data-gathering methodology.
printing in the Commission’s Public Information Sought sections of this The Department does not include in the
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE, Notice for additional instructions on TIP Report, and is therefore not seeking,
Washington, DC 20549, on official submission requirements. information on prostitution, migrant
business days between the hours of DATES: Submissions must be received by smuggling, visa fraud, or child abuse,
10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of such 5 p.m. on January 31, 2018. unless such conduct occurs in the
filing also will be available for ADDRESSES: Written submissions and
context of trafficking in persons as
inspection and copying at the principal defined in the TVPA.
supporting documentation may be
office of OCC and on OCC’s website at Confidentiality: Please provide the
submitted by the following methods:
https://www.theocc.com/components/ name, phone number, and email address
Email (preferred): tipreport@state.gov
docs/legal/rules_and_bylaws/sr_occ_17_ of a single point of contact for any
for submissions related to foreign
020.pdf. submission. It is Department practice
governments and tipreportUS@state.gov
All comments received will be posted not to identify in the TIP Report
for submissions related to the United information concerning sources to
without change. Persons submitting States.
comments are cautioned that we do not safeguard those sources. Please note,
• Facsimile (fax): 202–312–9637.
redact or edit personal or identifying however, that any information
• Mail, Express Delivery, Hand
information from comment submissions. submitted to the Department may be
Delivery and Messenger Service: U.S.
You should submit only information releasable pursuant to the provisions of
Department of State, Office to Monitor the Freedom of Information Act or other
that you wish to make available and Combat Trafficking in Persons
publicly. applicable law. When applicable,
(J/TIP), 1800 G Street NW, Suite 2201, portions of submissions relevant to
All submissions should refer to File Washington, DC 20520. Please note that
Number SR–OCC–2017–020 and should efforts by other U.S. government
materials submitted by mail may be agencies will be shared with those
be submitted on or before January 16, delayed due to security screenings and
2018. agencies.
processing. Response: This is a request for
For the Commission by the Division of Scope of Interest: The Department information only; there will be no
Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated requests information relevant to
authority.58
response to submissions.
assessing the United States’ and foreign SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Eduardo A. Aleman, governments’ efforts to meet the
Assistant Secretary. minimum standards for the elimination I. Background
[FR Doc. 2017–27691 Filed 12–22–17; 8:45 am] of trafficking in persons during the The TIP Report: The TIP Report is the
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P reporting period (April 1, 2017–March most comprehensive worldwide report
31, 2018). The minimum standards are on governments’ efforts to combat
listed in the Background section. trafficking in persons. It represents an
DEPARTMENT OF STATE Submissions must include information annually updated, global look at the
relevant to efforts to meet the minimum nature and scope of trafficking in
[Public Notice: 10237] standards and should include, but need persons and the broad range of
not be limited to, answering the government actions to confront and
Request for Information for the 2018
questions in the Information Sought eliminate it. The U.S. government uses
Trafficking in Persons Report
section. Only those questions for which the Report to engage in diplomacy, to
SUMMARY: The Department of State (‘‘the the submitter has direct professional encourage partnership in creating and
Department’’) requests written experience should be answered and that implementing laws and policies to
information to assist in reporting on the experience should be noted. For any combat trafficking, and to target
degree to which the United States and critique or deficiency described, please resources on prevention, protection, and
foreign governments meet the minimum provide a recommendation to remedy it. prosecution programs. Worldwide, the
standards for the elimination of Note the country or countries that are Report is used by international
trafficking in persons (‘‘minimum the focus of the submission. organizations, foreign governments, and
standards’’) that are prescribed by the Submissions may include written nongovernmental organizations as a tool
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of narratives that answer the questions to examine where resources are most
2000, as amended (‘‘TVPA’’). This presented in this Notice, research, needed. Prosecuting traffickers,
information will assist in the studies, statistics, fieldwork, training protecting victims, and preventing
preparation of the Trafficking in Persons materials, evaluations, assessments, and trafficking are the ultimate goals of the
Report (‘‘TIP Report’’) that the other relevant evidence of local, state/ Report and of the U.S government’s
Department submits annually to the provincial, and federal/central anti-trafficking policy.
U.S. Congress on government efforts to government efforts. To the extent The Department prepares the TIP
meet the minimum standards. Foreign possible, precise dates and numbers of Report using information from across
governments that do not meet the officials or citizens affected should be the U.S. government, foreign
minimum standards and are not making included. government officials, nongovernmental
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
significant efforts to do so may be Where applicable, written narratives and international organizations,
subject to restrictions on providing factual information should published reports, and research trips to
nonhumanitarian, nontrade-related provide citations of sources, and copies every region. The Report focuses on
foreign assistance from the United of the source material should be concrete actions that governments take
States, as defined by the TVPA. provided. If possible, send electronic to fight trafficking in persons, including
copies of the entire submission, prosecutions, convictions, and
58 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). including source material. If primary sentences for traffickers, as well as
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documentation, citizenship, and Bridgeport, West Virginia 26330, (304) Airport Revenue published in the
nationality? 842–3400 and at the FAA Beckley Federal Register on February 16, 1999.
31. Did the government fund any anti- Airports Field Office: The 5.5 acres to be released are part
trafficking information, education, or Matthew DiGiulian, Manager, Beckley of previous purchases totaling
awareness campaigns? Were these Airports Field Office, 176 Airport approximately 120 acres for reasons
campaigns targeting potential trafficking Circle, Room 101, Beaver, WV 25813, associated with Runway Extension. The
victims and/or the demand for (304) 252–6216 subject area to be released is located
commercial sex or goods produced with FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: between the taxiway and West Virginia
forced labor? Does the government Connie Boley-Lilly, Airports Program State Route 131, north of airport
provide financial support to Specialist, Beckley Airports Field terminal, however, is located
nongovernment organizations working Office, location listed above. (304) 252– approximately 200 feet lower in
to promote public awareness? 6216 ext. 125. elevation that the active runway. It is
32. What efforts did the government The land release request for the sale also completely segregated from the
make to ensure that its policies, and disposal of 5.5 acres of federally terminal area and the facilities that
regulations, and agreements relating to obligated airport property at North serve airport users, such as Terminal
migration, labor, trade, and investment Central West Virginia Airport, Parking and Fixed Base Operator (FBO)
did not facilitate forced labor? Clarksburg, WV may be reviewed in services. The elevation difference and
33. Please provide additional person at the Beckley Airports Field location of the property make if
recommendations to improve the Office located at 176 Airport Circle, unusable for aeronautical purposes. The
government’s anti-trafficking efforts. Room 101 Beaver, WV 25813. property is not located within the RPZ,
34. Please highlight effective will not result in any obstructions to
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
strategies and practices that other part 77 surfaces, and has not been
The following is a brief overview of
governments could consider adopting. identified as needed for current or
the request:
Kari Johnstone, The Benedum Airport Authority has future airport development in the
submitted a land release request seeking current Airport Master Plan or ALP.
Acting Director, Office to Monitor and Combat
Trafficking in Persons, Department of State. FAA approval for the sale and disposal Any person may inspect the request
of approximately 5.5 acres of federally by appointment at the FAA office
[FR Doc. 2017–27647 Filed 12–22–17; 8:45 am]
obligated airport property, to the City of address listed above. Interested persons
BILLING CODE 4710–17–P
Bridgeport. The purpose of the project is are invited to comment. All comments
for the airport to sell excess property will be considered by the FAA to the
that does not have an aeronautical use extent practicable.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
to the City. The City will use the Issued in Beaver, West Virginia.
Federal Aviation Administration property to construct additional needed Dated: December 14, 2017.
storage for city equipment, storage of Matthew DiGiulian,
Notice of Intent To Rule on a Land road salt, and a car wash for Manager, Beckley Airports Field Office.
Release Request at North Central West maintaining city vehicles. The sporting [FR Doc. 2017–27675 Filed 12–22–17; 8:45 am]
Virginia Airport (CKB), Clarksburg, WV complex, which is adjacent to the
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
airport, is in need of additional off road
AGENCY: Federal Aviation
parking. This property will provide 80
Administration (FAA) DOT.
additional parking spots. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
ACTION: Notice and request for comment. The parcel for this project is known
SUMMARY: The FAA is requesting public as Tax Map 290 Parcel 9. This property Federal Railroad Administration
comment for a land release and sale of consists of 5.5 Acres with seven (7)
[Docket Number FRA–2017–0123]
5.5 acres of federally obligated airport structures. The City of Bridgeport’s
property at North Central West Virginia proposed redevelopment includes Petition for Waiver of Compliance
Airport (CKB), Clarksburg, WV, to demolishing (6) six of the seven (7)
accommodate the construction of two structures, construction of one (1) 60′ × Under part 211 of Title 49 Code of
160′ four (4) bay building, one (1) 156′ Federal Regulations (CFR), this provides
(2) storage buildings and an 80 space
parking lot. This acreage was originally × 30′ twelve (12) bay garage, renovation the public notice that on November 27,
of one (1) extant building into a car 2017, the Canadian National Railway
purchased with federal financial
wash, and construction of an 80 space (CN) petitioned the Federal Railroad
assistance through the AIP program
parking lot. Administration (FRA) for relief from the
under Grant Agreements 3–54–0005–
The 5.5 acres of land to be released requirements of 49 CFR 236.23, Aspects
16–1996, and 3–54–0005–10–1993. In
was originally purchased with federal and indications, to allow CN to display
accordance with federal regulations, this
financial assistance through the AIP a dark aspect as a ‘‘stop.’’ FRA assigned
notice is required to be published in the
program under Grant Agreements 3–54– the petition Docket Number FRA–2017–
Federal Register 30 days before
0005–16–1996 and 3–54–0005–10–1993. 0123.
releasing the grant assurances that
Therefore, the portion of the proceeds of The regulation requires that a red
require the property to be used for an
the sale of this acreage, which is signal aspect must be displayed for a
aeronautical purpose.
proportionate to the United States’ share ‘‘stop’’ indication. In its petition, CN
DATES: Comments must be received on of the cost of acquisition of such land, requests relief from this requirement,
ethrower on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
or before January 25, 2018. will be used consistent with the and explains that with the use of
ADDRESSES: Comments on this requirements of 49 U.S.C. 47107(c). The advanced processor technology in the
application may be mailed or delivered remaining portion of the proceeds of the railway signaling field, failsafe checks
to the following address: sale, is considered airport revenue, and that have never before been
Mr. Rick Rock, Airport Director, North will be used in accordance with 49 incorporated into the wayside signal
Central West Virginia Regional U.S.C. 47107(b) and the FAA’s Policy system can now economically be
Airport, 2000 Aviation Way, and Procedures Concerning the Use of provided. In CN’s particular case, the
VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:21 Dec 22, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00173 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\26DEN1.SGM 26DEN1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_61362/page/5.svg)
Document Created: 2017-12-23 03:08:29
Document Modified: 2017-12-23 03:08:29
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Dates | Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. on January 31, 2018. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 61116 |
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