2011-29277. Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of the Northern Mississippi and Memphis, TN, 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 Northern Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee, appropriated fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage areas. The final rule redefines Panola County, MS, from the Northern Mississippi wage area to the Memphis wage area. This change is based on a consensus recommendation of the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC) to best match Panola County to a nearby FWS survey area. FPRAC did not recommend other changes for the Northern Mississippi and Memphis FWS wage areas at this time.

DATES:

This regulation is effective on December 14, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On June 2, 2011, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a proposed rule (76 FR 31885) to redefine Panola County, MS, from the Northern Mississippi wage area to the Memphis, TN, wage area. The proposed rule had a 30-day comment period during which OPM received no comments.

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 Northern Mississippi and Memphis wage areas.

CFR Correction

In addition, this final rule corrects the name of the Southern Colorado wage area in Appendix C to subpart B of part 532—Appropriated Fund Wage and Survey Areas, which was incorrectly entered as Southwestern Colorado in a final rule issued on July 22, 2011 (76 FR 43803).

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.

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

2. Appendix C to subpart B is amended as follows:

a. By removing, under the State of Colorado, “Southwestern Colorado” and adding in its place “Southern Colorado.”

b. By revising the wage area listings for the Northern Mississippi and Memphis, TN, wage areas to read as follows:

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MISSISSIPPI

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Northern Mississippi

Survey Area

Mississippi:

Clay

Grenada

Lee

Leflore

Lowndes

Monroe

Oktibbeha

Area of Application. Survey area plus:

Mississippi:

Alcorn

Bolivar

Calhoun

Carroll

Chickasaw

Choctaw

Coahoma

Itawamba

Lafayette (Does not include the Holly Springs National Forest portion)

Montgomery

Noxubee

Pontotoc (Does not include the Holly Springs National Forest portion)

Prentiss

Quitman

Sunflower

Tallahatchie

Tishomingo

Union (Does not include the Holly Springs National Forest portion)

Washington

Webster

Winston

Yalobusha

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TENNESSEE

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Memphis

Survey Area

Arkansas:

Crittenden

Mississippi

Mississippi:

De Soto

Tennessee:

Shelby

Tipton

Area of Application. Survey area plus:

Arkansas:

Craighead

Cross

Lee

Poinsett

St. Francis

Mississippi:

Benton

Lafayette (Holly Springs National Forest portion only)

Marshall

Panola

Pontotoc (Holly Springs National Forest portion only)

Tate

Tippah

Tunica

Union (Holly Springs National Forest portion only)

Missouri:

Dunklin

Pemiscot

Tennessee:

Carroll

Chester

Crockett

Dyer

Fayette

Gibson

Hardeman

Hardin

Haywood

Lake

Lauderdale

Madison

McNairy

Obion

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