[Federal Register: January 31, 1996 (Volume 61, Number 21)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 3175-3176] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr31ja96-1] ======================================================================== Rules and Regulations Federal Register ________________________________________________________________________ This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510. The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of new books are listed in the first FEDERAL REGISTER issue of each week. ======================================================================== [[Page 3175]] OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT 5 CFR Part 532 RIN 3206-AH29 Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of Franklin, OH, Nonappropriated Fund Wage Area AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management. ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing an interim rule to abolish the Franklin, OH, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area and redefine the five counties having continuing FWS employment as areas of application to the Greene-Montgomery, OH, NAF wage area for pay-setting purposes. Those five counties include three Ohio counties (Franklin, Licking, and Ross) and two West Virginia counties (Raleigh and Wayne). DATES: This interim rule becomes effective on January 31, 1996. Comments must be received by March 1, 1996. Employees currently paid rates from the Franklin, OH, NAF wage schedule will continue to be paid from that schedule until their conversion to the Greene-Montgomery, OH, NAF wage schedule 1 day prior to the effective date of the next Greene- Montgomery, OH, wage schedule. ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Donald J. Winstead, Assistant Director for Compensation Policy, Human Resources Systems Service, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Room 6H31, 1900 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20415, or FAX: (202) 606-0824. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Shields, (202) 606-2848. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Defense (DOD) recommended to the Office of Personnel Management that the Franklin, OH, FWS NAF wage area be abolished and that the five counties having continuing FWS employment be added as areas of application to the Greene-Montgomery, OH, NAF wage area. Those five counties include three Ohio counties (Franklin, Licking, and Ross) and two West Virginia counties (Raleigh and Wayne). The remaining Franklin wage area county (Cabell County, WV) is being deleted because it has no FWS employment. This change is necessary because the pending closure of the wage area host activity, Newark Air Force Base, leaves the Franklin wage area without an activity having the capability to conduct a wage survey. As required in regulation, 5 CFR 532.219, the following criteria were considered in redefining these wage areas: (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. For Franklin County, proximity and transportation facilities and commuting patterns strongly favor Greene-Montgomery. The third criterion, similarities of the counties, is not definitive. For each of the three factors in this criterion, Franklin falls between the more populous Allegheny, PA, and the two less populous areas, Greene- Montgomery and Hardin-Jefferson, KY. For Ross County, all three criteria favor Greene-Montgomery. For Licking County, proximity and similarities of the counties strongly favor Greene-Montgomery. Transportation facilities and commuting patterns slightly favor Allegheny (23 commuters to Allegheny versus 20 commuters to Greene-Montgomery). Raleigh County is a little closer to Allegheny, 372 kilometers (231 miles), than it is to Greene-Montgomery, 433 kilometers (269 miles). With no commuters to the survey areas under consideration, the second criterion does not distinguish between them. The third criterion, similarities of the counties, strongly favors Greene-Montgomery. For Wayne County, both proximity and similarities of the counties favor Greene-Montgomery. The transportation facilities and commuting patterns criterion does not distinguish among the options because there are no commuters to the counties in question. 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 1996 Franklin, OH, 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 Lorraine A. Green, Deputy 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 of Part 532--[Amended] 2. In Appendix B to subpart B, the listing for the State of Ohio is amended by removing the entry for Franklin. 3. Appendix D to subpart B is amended by removing the wage area list for Franklin, Ohio, and by revising the list for Greene- Montgomery, Ohio, to read as follows: [[Page 3176]] Appendix D to Subpart B of Part 532--Nonappropriated Fund Wage and Survey Areas * * * * * Ohio * * * * * Greene-Montgomery Survey Area Ohio: Greene Montgomery Area of application. Survey area plus: Ohio: Clinton Franklin (Effective date March 8, 1996) Hamilton Licking (Effective date March 8, 1996) Ross (Effective date March 8, 1996) West Virginia: Raleigh (Effective date March 8, 1996) Wayne (Effective date March 8, 1996) * * * * * [FR Doc. 96-1836 Filed 1-30-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6325-01-M