[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 246 (Tuesday, December 23, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 66973]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-33435]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 23, 1997 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 66973]]
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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
5 CFR Part 532
RIN 3206-AI10
Prevailing Rate Systems; Removal of Umatilla County, OR, From
Spokane, WA, Nonappropriated Fund Wage Area
AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.
ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing an interim
rule to remove Umatilla County, OR, from the area of application of the
Spokane, WA, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System (FWS) wage
area.
DATES: This interim rule becomes effective on January 1, 1998. Comments
must be received by January 22, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Donald J. Winstead, Assistant
Director for Compensation Administration, Workforce Compensation and
Performance Service, Office of Personnel Management, Room 7H31, 1900 E
Street NW., Washington, DC 20415, or FAX: (202) 606-4264.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Allen at (202) 606-2848, or send
an e-mail message to maallen@opm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Spokane wage area is presently composed
of one survey area county (Spokane, WA) and three area of application
counties (Adams County, WA; Walla Walla County, WA; and Umatilla
County, OR). The removal of Umatilla County from the area of
application of the Spokane wage area is appropriate because there are
no NAF FWS employees stationed in Umatilla County and no Federal agency
anticipates future employment in the county. Under section
5343(a)(1)(B)(I) of title 5, United States Code, NAF wage areas ``shall
not extend beyond the immediate locality in which the particular
prevailing rate employees are employed.''
The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee, the statutory
national-level labor-management committee responsible for advising OPM
on matters concerning the pay of FWS employees, has reviewed and
concurred by consensus with this change.
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 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), 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 it is
not in the public interest for Umatilla County to remain in the Spokane
wage area after December 31, 1997. Under section 532.205 of title 5,
Code of Federal Regulations, the highest minimum wage applicable within
a wage area must be applied to the entire wage area. The current
Federal minimum wage is $5.15 an hour, and the minimum wage in the
State of Oregon will increase to $6.00 an hour on January 1, 1998. If
Umatilla County is not removed from the Spokane wage area by January 1,
1998, the pending increase in the minimum wage for the State of Oregon
would require that pay rates for NAF FWS employees who are stationed in
Adams, Spokane, and Walla Walla Counties, WA, be increased to account
for the higher minimum wage in the State of Oregon even though none of
the NAF FWS employees who are stationed in the Spokane wage area work
in Oregon.
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.
Janice R. Lachance,
Director.
Accordingly, OPM is amending 5 CFR part 532 as follows:
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.
2. Appendix D to subpart B of part 532 is amended by revising the
wage area listing for the Spokane, Washington, nonappropriated fund
Federal Wage System wage area to read as follows:
Appendix D to Subpart B of Part 532--Nonappropriated Fund Wage and
Survey Areas
* * * * *
Washington
* * * * *
Spokane
Survey Area
Washington:
Spokane
Area of Application. Survey Area Plus
Washington:
Adams
Walla Walla
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 97-33435 Filed 12-22-97; 8:45 am]
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