95-28051. Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of Philadelphia, PA, Nonappropriated Fund Wage Area  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 14, 1995)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 57145-57146]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-28051]
    
    
    
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    Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 219 / Tuesday, November 14, 1995 / 
    Rules and Regulations
    
    [[Page 57145]]
    
    
    OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
    
    5 CFR Part 532
    
    RIN 3206-AH22
    
    
    Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of Philadelphia, PA, 
    Nonappropriated Fund Wage Area
    
    agency: Office of Personnel Management.
    
    action: Interim rule with request for comments.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    summary: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing interim 
    regulations to abolish the Philadelphia, PA, nonappropriated fund (NAF) 
    Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area and redefine the five counties 
    having continuing FWS employment as areas of application to nearby NAF 
    wage areas for pay-setting purposes. No employee's wage rate will be 
    reduced as a result of this change.
    
    dates: This interim rule becomes effective on November 14, 1995. 
    Comments must be received by December 14, 1995. Employees currently 
    paid rates from the Philadelphia, PA, NAF wage schedule will continue 
    to be paid from that schedule until their conversion to the schedules 
    of the wage areas to which their counties of employment are being 
    redefined by this rule on December 1, 1995, the first day of the month 
    in which their new wage schedule would have been effective.
    
    addresses: Send or deliver comments to Donald J. Winstead, Assistant 
    Director for Compensation Policy, Human Resources Systems Service, 
    Office of Personnel Management, room 6H31, 1900 E Street NW., 
    Washington, DC 20415, or FAX: (202) 606-0824.
    
    for further information contact: Paul Shields, (202) 606-2848.
    
    supplementary information: The Department of Defense recommended to the 
    Office of Personnel Management that the Philadelphia, PA, FWS NAF wage 
    area be abolished and that the five counties having continuing FWS 
    employment be redefined as areas of application to nearby NAF wage 
    areas. Philadelphia County and Chester County, PA, are being redefined 
    to the Montgomery, PA, wage area. New Castle County, DE; Cape May 
    County, NJ; and Salem County, NJ; are being redefined to the 
    Burlington, NJ, wage area. The remaining Philadelphia wage area 
    counties (Camden and Gloucester, NJ) have no FWS employees and are 
    being deleted. This change is necessary because the pending closure of 
    Naval Station Philadelphia leaves the Philadelphia wage area without an 
    activity having the capability to conduct a wage survey.
        As required in regulation, 5 CFR 532.219, the following criteria 
    were considered in redefining these wage areas:
        (1) Proximity of largest activity in each county;
        (2) Transportation facilities and commuting patterns; and
        (3) Similaries of the counties in:
        (i) Overall population;
        (ii) Private employment in major industry categories; and
        (iii) Kinds and sizes of private industrial establishments.
        All regulatory factors favor redefinition of Philadelphia County to 
    the adjacent Montgomery, PA, wage area.
        For Chester County, population and industrial patterns more closely 
    resemble Burlington, NJ. However the remaining regulatory factors, 
    proximity and commuting patterns, both favor redefinition to the 
    Montgomery, PA, wage area. Overall, redefinition to the Montgomery, PA, 
    wage area is favored.
        Regulatory factors for New Castle County, DE, are mixed but on 
    balance favor redefinition to the Burlington, NJ, wage area. While New 
    Castle County is closest to Harford, MD, population and industrial 
    patterns are very similar to Burlington, NJ, and bear little 
    resemblance to Harford, MD. The highest commuting rate is to 
    Montgomery, PA, but this is not a determining factor in that commuting 
    rates to the various candidate survey areas are very similar.
        Regulatory factors are mixed for Salem County, NJ, but on balance 
    favor redefinition to the Burlington, NJ, wage area. The closest survey 
    area is Montgomery, PA. However, Burlington is fairly close to Salem, 
    and Salem geographically falls between New Castle (being redefined to 
    Burlington) and the Burlington survey area. Commuting patterns favor 
    Burlington, PA. Although population and industrial patterns favor 
    Lebanon, PA, Lebanon County is about double the size of Salem County in 
    terms of population and industry.
        Regulatory factors are mixed for Cape May County, NJ, but on 
    balance favor redefinition to the Burlington, NJ, wage area. Proximity 
    and commuting patterns favor Burlington, NJ. Population and industrial 
    patterns favor Lebanon, PA. However, Lebanon County is very far removed 
    from coastal Cape May County, with intervening wage areas.
        The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee reviewed this 
    recommendation and by consensus recommended approval.
        Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), I find that good cause exists 
    for waiving the general notice of proposed rulemaking. Also, pursuant 
    to section 553(d)(3) of title 5, United States Code, I find that good 
    cause exists for making this rule effective in less than 30 days. The 
    notice is being waived and the regulation is being made effective in 
    less than 30 days because preparations for the 1995 Philadelphia, PA, 
    NAF wage area survey must otherwise begin immediately.
    
    Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        I certify that these regulations will not have a significant 
    economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because they 
    affect only Federal agencies and employees.
    
    List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 532
    
        Administrative practice and procedure, Freedom of information, 
    Government employees, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Wages.
    
    Office of Personnel Management.
    Lorraine A. Green,
    Deputy Director.
    
        Accordingly, OPM is amending 5 CFR part 532 as follows:
    
    [[Page 57146]]
    
    
    PART 532--PREVAILING RATE SYSTEMS
    
        1. The authority citation for part 532 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5343, 5346; Sec. 532.707 also issued under 5 
    U.S.C. 552.
    
    
    Appendix B to Subpart B of Part 532 [Amended]
    
        2. In appendix B to subpart B, the listing for the State of 
    Pennsylvania is amended by removing the entry for Philadelphia.
        3. Appendix D to subpart B is amended by removing the wage area 
    list for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and by revising the lists for 
    Burlington, New Jersey, and Montgomery, Pennsylvania, to read as 
    follows:
    
    Appendix D to Subpart B of Part 532--Nonappropriated Fund Wage and 
    Survey Areas
    
    * * * * *
    New Jersey
    Burlington
    Survey Area
    New Jersey:
        Burlington
        Area of application. Survey area plus:
    Delaware:
        New Castle
    New Jersey:
        Atlantic
        Cape May
        Ocean
        Salem
    * * * * *
    
    Pennsylvania
    
    * * * * *
        Montgomery
        Survey area
    Pennsylvania:
        Montgomery
        Area of Application. Survey area plus:
    Pennsylvania:
        Bucks
        Chester
        Luzerne
        Philadelphia
    * * * * *
    [FR Doc. 95-28051 Filed 11-13-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 6325-01-M
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
11/14/1995
Published:
11/14/1995
Department:
Personnel Management Office
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Interim rule with request for comments.
Document Number:
95-28051
Dates:
This interim rule becomes effective on November 14, 1995. Comments must be received by December 14, 1995. Employees currently paid rates from the Philadelphia, PA, NAF wage schedule will continue to be paid from that schedule until their conversion to the schedules of the wage areas to which their counties of employment are being redefined by this rule on December 1, 1995, the first day of the month in which their new wage schedule would have been effective.
Pages:
57145-57146 (2 pages)
RINs:
3206-AH22: Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of Philadelphia, PA, Nonappropriated Fund Wage Area
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/3206-AH22/prevailing-rate-systems-abolishment-of-philadelphia-pa-nonappropriated-fund-wage-area
PDF File:
95-28051.pdf
CFR: (1)
5 CFR 532