[Federal Register: May 3, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 84)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 23531-23532] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr03my99-2] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT 5 CFR Part 532 RIN 3206-AI68 Prevailing Rate Systems; Change in Survey Cycle for the Southwestern Michigan Appropriated 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 change the full-scale survey cycle of the Southwestern Michigan appropriated fund Federal Wage System wage area from odd to even- numbered fiscal years. This change is being made to help even out the local wage survey workload of the Department of Defense (DOD), which recently assumed responsibility for conducting all Federal Wage System surveys. DATES: This interim rule is effective on June 2, 1999. Comments must be received on or before June 2, 1999. ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Donald J. Winstead, Assistant Director for Compensation Administration, Workforce Compensation and Performance Service, Office of Personnel Management, Room 7H31, 1900 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20415, FAX: (202) 606-0824, or email to payleave@opm.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hopkins, (202) 606-2848, FAX: (202) 606-0824, or email to jdhopkin@opm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Defense has requested that the Office of Personnel Management change the survey cycle for full- scale wage surveys in the Southwestern Michigan wage area from odd to even-numbered fiscal years. Under Sec. 532.207 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, the scheduling of wage surveys takes into consideration the best timing in relation to wage [[Page 23532]] adjustments in the principal local private enterprise establishments, reasonable distribution of workload of the lead agency, timing of surveys for nearby or selected wage areas, and scheduling relationships with other pay surveys. This request was made to even out DOD's wage survey workload and stems from DOD's recent acquisition of lead agency responsibility for 23 Federal Wage System (FWS) wage areas from the Department of Veterans Affairs. In October 2000 (FY 2001), DOD's Central Regional Office will conduct full-scale wage surveys in the Ft. Wayne-Marion, IN, Indianapolis, IN, and St. Louis, MO, wage areas. In the St. Louis wage area, the same office will also conduct a special printing and lithographic survey. In October 1999 (FY 2000), that office will conduct full-scale wage surveys in the Davenport and Dubuque, IA, wage areas. DOD requested that a full-scale wage survey for the Southwestern Michigan wage area be conducted in October 1999. A wage change survey would be conducted in October 2000. This change will help balance the number of full-scale wage surveys conducted each year. The timing of the Southwestern Michigan wage survey relative to private sector wage adjustments would remain unchanged. The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee, the national labor- management committee responsible for advising OPM on matters concerning the pay of FWS employees, recommended by consensus that we change the full-scale survey cycle for the Southwestern Michigan wage area from odd to even-numbered fiscal years. Waiver of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Delayed Effective Date Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), I find that good cause exists for waiving the general notice of proposed rulemaking. The notice is being waived because of the urgent need for administrative procedures and planning to be completed by DOD and the local wage survey committee for the Southwestern Michigan wage area before a full-scale wage survey begins in October 1999 in the Southwestern Michigan wage area. Planning for the full-scale wage survey in the Southwestern Michigan wage area must begin by June 1999. 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. Office of Personnel Management. Janice R. Lachance, Director. Accordingly, the Office of Personnel Management 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 A to Subpart B of Part 532--[Amended] 2. Appendix A to Subpart B is amended by revising under the State of Michigan the listing of fiscal year of full-scale survey from ``odd'' to ``even'' for the Southwestern Michigan wage area. [FR Doc. 99-10959 Filed 4-30-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6325-01-P