[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 103 (Thursday, May 29, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 28978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14008]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Office of Personnel Management
5 CFR Part 532
RIN 3206-AH88
Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of Lubbock, TX,
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 abolish the Lubbock, Texas, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal
Wage System (FWS) wage area and to establish a new Curry, New Mexico,
NAF wage area. The Lubbock NAF wage area is presently composed of one
survey area county (Lubbock, TX) and two area of application counties
(Curry, NM, and Potter, TX). The new Curry NAF wage area will be
composed of one survey area county (Curry, NM) and two area of
application counties (Lubbock, TX, and Potter, TX).
DATES: This interim rule becomes effective on June 2, 1997. Comments
must be received by June 30, 1997. Employees currently paid rates from
the Lubbock, TX, NAF wage schedule will continue to be paid from that
schedule until their conversion to the Curry NAF wage schedule on the
effective date of the first wage schedule for the Curry NAF wage area.
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) 606-4264.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Derby, (202) 606-2848.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Because the pending closure of the Lubbock,
TX, nonappropriated fund (NAF) wage area host activity, Reese Air Force
Base, has left Lubbock County without an activity having the capability
to conduct an NAF wage survey, the Department of Defense (DOD)
recommended that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) abolish the
Lubbock, TX, NAF wage area and establish a new Curry, NM, NAF wage
area. The Lubbock wage area is presently composed of one survey area
county (Lubbock, TX) and two area of application counties (Curry, NM,
and Potter, TX). The new Curry wage area will be composed of one survey
area county (Curry, NM) and two area of application counties (Lubbock,
TX, and Potter, TX).
Curry County meets the minimum regulatory requirements in section
532.219 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, to be an NAF survey
area. Cannon Air Force Base, located in Curry County, has more than the
minimum required number of NAF employees paid under the FWS and has the
capability to conduct a local wage survey. Also, Curry County has more
than the required minimum number of private enterprise employees in
establishments within survey specifications.
5 CFR 532.219 lists the following regulatory criteria that OPM
considered when redefining the Lubbock wage area:
(1) Proximity of largest activity in each county;
(2) Transportation facilities and commuting patterns; and
(3) Similarities of the counties in:
(i) Overall population;
(ii) Private employment in major industry categories; and
(iii) Kinds and sizes of private industrial establishments.
Another relevant factor that OPM weighed is the continuity of the
historical composition of the Lubbock NAF wage area. Also, the
willingness of DOD and its wage committee to establish a new wage area
and conduct a new survey in this case furthers the concepts of wage
rates based on local prevailing rates and of effective partnership in
this period of wage area realignments necessitated by downsizing of the
NAF workforce.
Full-scale wage surveys will be ordered in the Curry wage area in
June of odd numbered fiscal years--e.g., in June 1997. 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 1997 Curry, NM, 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.
James B. King,
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.
Appendix B to Subpart B--[Amended]
2. Appendix B to subpart B of part 532 is amended for the State of
Texas by removing the entry for Lubbock and by adding in alphabetical
order for the State of New Mexico a new entry for Curry with a
beginning month of survey of ``June'' and a fiscal year of full-scale
survey of ``Odd.''
3. Appendix D to subpart B is amended by removing the wage area
listing of Lubbock, Texas, and by adding in alphabetical order a new
entry of Curry, New Mexico, to read as follows:
Appendix D to Subpart B of Part 532--Nonappropriated Fund Wage and
Survey Areas
* * * * *
New Mexico
* * * * *
Curry
Survey Area:
New Mexico:
Curry
Area of application. Survey area plus:
Texas:
Lubbock
Potter
* * * * * *
[FR Doc. 97-14008 Filed 5-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-01-P
