2013-12068. Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, and Southwestern Wisconsin Appropriated Fund Federal Wage System Wage Areas

AGENCY:

U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is issuing a final rule to redefine the geographic boundaries of the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, and Southwestern Wisconsin appropriated fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage areas. The final rule redefines Wabasha County, MN, from the Southwestern Wisconsin wage area to the Minneapolis-St. Paul wage area. This change is based on a recent consensus recommendation of the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee to best match Wabasha County to a nearby FWS survey area.

DATES:

This regulation is effective on May 21, 2013.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Madeline Gonzalez, by telephone at [phone], or by email at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On December 21, 2012, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a proposed rule (77 FR 75589) to redefine the geographic boundaries of the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, and Southwestern Wisconsin appropriated fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage areas. The final rule redefines Wabasha County, MN, from the Southwestern Wisconsin wage area to the Minneapolis-St. Paul wage area. The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC), the national labor-management committee responsible for advising OPM on matters concerning the pay of FWS employees, recommended this change by consensus. FPRAC recommended no other changes in the geographic definitions of the Minneapolis-St. Paul and Southwestern Wisconsin wage areas. This change would be effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after 30 days following publication of the final regulations. The proposed rule had a 30-day comment period, during which OPM received no comments.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

I certify that these regulations will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because they will 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

U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Elaine Kaplan,

Acting Director.

Accordingly, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management amends 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; § 532.707 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 552.

2. Appendix C to subpart B is amended by revising the wage area listings for the Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, and Southwestern Wisconsin wage areas to read as follows:

Appendix C to Subpart B of Part 532—Appropriated Fund Wage and Survey Areas

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MINNESOTA

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Minneapolis-St. Paul

Survey Area

Minnesota:

Anoka

Carver

Chisago

Dakota

Hennepin

Ramsey

Scott

Washington

Wright

Wisconsin:

St. Croix

Area of Application. Survey area plus:

Minnesota:

Benton

Big Stone

Blue Earth

Brown

Chippewa

Cottonwood

Dodge

Douglas

Faribault

Freeborn

Goodhue

Grant

Isanti

Kanabec

Kandiyohi

Lac Qui Parle

Le Sueur

McLeod

Martin

Meeker

Mille Lacs

Morrison

Mower

Nicollet

Olmsted

Pope

Redwood

Renville

Rice

Sherburne

Sibley

Stearns

Steele

Stevens

Swift

Todd

Traverse

Wabasha

Wadena

Waseca

Watonwan

Yellow Medicine

Wisconsin:

Pierce

Polk

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WISCONSIN

Southwestern Wisconsin

Survey Area

Wisconsin:

Chippewa

Eau Claire

Monroe

Trempealeau

Area of Application. Survey area plus:

Minnesota:

Fillmore

Houston

Winona

Wisconsin:

Barron

Buffalo

Clark

Crawford

Dunn

Florence

Forest

Jackson

Juneau

Langlade

Lincoln

Marathon

Marinette

Menominee

Oneida

Pepin

Portage

Price

Richland

Rusk

Shawano

Taylor

Vernon

Vilas

Waupaca

Wood

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