2012-7728. Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of the Austin, TX and Waco, TX, 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 Austin, TX, and Waco, TX, appropriated fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage areas. The final rule redefines Burleson and Lampasas Counties, TX, from the Austin wage area to the Waco wage area. These changes are based on recent consensus recommendations of the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee to best match the counties proposed for redefinition to a nearby FWS survey area. This final rule makes an additional correction to add the entire Syracuse-Utica-Rome, NY, wage area to Appendix C to Subpart B of Part 532—Appropriated Fund Wage and Survey Areas, which was inadvertently deleted when the CFR was published in January 2004.

DATES:

This regulation is effective on May 2, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Madeline Gonzalez, [phone]; email [e-mail]; or Fax: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On November 14, 2011, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a proposed rule (76 FR 70365) to redefine Burleson and Lampasas Counties, TX, from the Austin wage area to the Waco wage area. These changes are based on recent consensus recommendations of the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC) to best match the above counties to a nearby FWS survey area. FPRAC did not recommend other changes for the Austin and Waco wage areas at this time. In addition, this final rule adds the entire Syracuse-Utica-Rome, NY, FWS wage area to Appendix C to Subpart B of Part 532—Appropriated Fund Wage and Survey Areas. The Syracuse-Utica-Rome wage area was inadvertently deleted when the CFR was published in January 2004. This correction does not affect the pay of any FWS employees. 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.

John Berry,

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 for the State of New York by adding “Syracuse-Utica-Rome” and its constituent counties after “Rochester” and revising for the State of Texas the wage area listings of the Austin, TX, and Waco, TX, wage areas to read as follows:

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

*    *    *    *    *

NEW YORK

*    *    *    *    *

Syracuse-Utica-Rome

Survey Area

New York:

Herkimer

Madison

Oneida

Onondaga

Oswego

*    *    *    *    *

Area of Application. Survey area plus:

New York:

Broome

Cayuga

Chenango

Cortland

Hamilton

Otsego

Tioga

Tompkins

*    *    *    *    *

TEXAS

Austin

Survey Area

Texas:

Hays

Milam

Travis

Williamson

Area of Application. Survey area plus:

Texas:

Bastrop

Blanco

Burnet

Caldwell

Fayette

Lee

Llano

Mason

San Saba

*    *    *    *    *

Waco

Survey Area

Texas:

Bell

Coryell

McLennan

Area of Application. Survey area plus:

Texas:

Anderson

Bosque

Brazos

Burleson

Falls

Freestone

Hamilton

Hill

Lampasas

Leon

Limestone

Mills

Robertson

*    *    *    *    *