[Federal Register: October 31, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 209)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 62229]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31oc05-1]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
5 CFR Part 532
RIN 3206-AK96
Prevailing Rate Systems; Change in the Survey Cycle for the
Harrison, MS, Nonappropriated Fund Federal Wage System Wage Area
AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.
ACTION: Interim rule.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing an interim rule
to change the timing of local wage surveys in the Harrison,
Mississippi, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System (FWS) wage
area. The purpose of this change is to avoid conducting future surveys
in this area during the hurricane season.
DATES: This interim regulation is effective on October 31, 2005. The
Office of Personnel Management must receive comments by November 30,
2005.
ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Donald J. Winstead, Deputy
Associate Director for Pay and Performance Policy, Strategic Human
Resources Policy Division, Office of Personnel Management, Room 7H31,
1900 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20415-8200; e-mail
pay-performance-policy@opm.go; or FAX: (202) 606-4264.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Madeline Gonzalez, (202) 606-2838; e-
mail pay-performance-policy@opm.gov; or FAX: (202) 606-4264.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the past, full-scale wage surveys in the
Harrison, Mississippi, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System
(FWS) wage area were conducted in October of each even-numbered fiscal
year. These interim regulations provide that full-scale wage surveys
will begin in March of each even-numbered fiscal year, starting with
March 2006. With this change, it will no longer be necessary to conduct
wage surveys in the Harrison NAF wage area during the hurricane season.
Harrison County, MS, is the sole survey county in the Harrison NAF
wage area. Because Hurricane Katrina caused substantial damage to
Federal and private sector establishments in Harrison County, moving
the Harrison full-scale survey cycle from October to March would allow
private sector establishments to recover from the effects of Hurricane
Katrina and thus provide wage data that best represent the prevailing
rates paid by businesses in the area. Under 5 CFR 532.207, the
scheduling of wage surveys takes into consideration the best timing in
relation to wage adjustments in the principal local private enterprise
establishments, reasonable distribution of workload of the lead agency,
the timing of surveys for nearby or selected wage areas, and scheduling
relationships with other pay surveys.
Under the interim regulations, the Department of Defense (DOD) will
conduct a wage change survey for the Harrison wage area in October 2005
instead of a full-scale survey. DOD will conduct a full-scale wage
survey in March 2006 and a wage change survey in March 2007 and will
continue the 2-year alternating March cycle.
The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC), the
national labor-management committee responsible for advising the Office
of Personnel Management (OPM) on matters concerning the pay of FWS
employees, recommended by consensus that we change the full-scale
survey cycle for the Harrison NAF wage area from October of each even-
numbered fiscal year to March of each even-numbered fiscal year.
Waiver of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Delay in Effective Date
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) and (d)(3), I find that good
cause exists to waive the general notice of proposed rulemaking. Also
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), I find that good cause exists for
making this rule effective in less than 30 days. This notice is being
waived and the regulation is being made effective in less than 30 days
because Hurricane Katrina caused substantial economic disruption in the
Gulf Coast region affecting the Government's ability to determine
prevailing rates for employees of nonappropriated fund Federal
activities in Harrison County. This change is needed to relieve DOD
from the need to conduct a full-scale wage survey in Harrison County in
October 2005.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
I certify that these regulations will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because they
would 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.
Linda M. Springer,
Director.
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Accordingly, the Office of Personnel Management is amending 5 CFR part
532 as follows:
PART 532--PREVAILING RATE SYSTEMS
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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 B to Subpart B of Part 532--Nationwide Schedule of
Nonappropriated Fund Regular Wage Surveys--[Amended]
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2. Appendix B to subpart B is amended by revising, under the heading
for the State of Mississippi, the listing of beginning month of survey
from ``October'' to ``March'' for the Harrison NAF wage area.
[FR Doc. 05-21638 Filed 10-28-05; 8:45 am]
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