[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 136 (Monday, July 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17307]


  Federal Register / Vol. 59, No. 136 / Monday, July 18, 1994 /
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[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 18, 1994]


                                                   VOL. 59, NO. 136

                                              Monday, July 18, 1994

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AG09

 

Prevailing Rate Systems; Aroostook, ME, NAF Wage Area

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing an interim 
regulation to abolish the Aroostook, Maine, nonappropriated fund (NAF) 
Federal Wage System wage area and to redefine Aroostook and Washington 
Counties, Maine, as areas of application to the Cumberland, Maine, NAF 
wage area for pay-setting purposes. With the scheduled closing of 
Loring Air Force Base (AFB) on September 30, 1994, and the current 
downsizing of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and Loring AFB 
Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department, there will not be a 
sufficient number of employees to conduct the wage change survey 
scheduled for July 1994 or to meet the regulatory requirements for a 
survey area.

DATES: This interim rule becomes effective on July 18, 1994. Comments 
must be received by August 17, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Donald J. Winstead, Acting 
Assistant Director for Compensation Policy, Personnel Systems and 
Oversight Group, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Room 6H31, 1900 E 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20415.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Angela Graham Humes, (202) 606-2848.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Aroostook NAF wage area is composed of 
two counties. Aroostook County is the survey area, and Washington 
County is the area of application. The host activity, Loring AFB, is 
scheduled to close on September 30, 1994. With the scheduled closing of 
Loring AFB and the current downsizing of the Army and Air Force 
Exchange Service and Loring AFB Morale, Welfare and Recreation 
Department, there will not be a sufficient number of employees to 
conduct the wage change survey scheduled for July 1994. The Department 
of Defense projects that no more than 25 Federal Wage System (FWS) 
employees will work in Aroostook County by September 30, 1994. Cutler 
Radio Station, in Washington, Maine, the only other installation with 
NAF employees in the wage area, has eight FWS employees and does not 
have sufficient capability to serve as host installation. Because 
neither county meets the minimum of 26 NAF employees required to 
establish a wage area, Aroostook and Washington Counties must be 
redefined as areas of application to an existing wage area.
    The provisions of 5 CFR 532.219 list the following criteria for 
consideration when two or more counties are to be combined to 
constitute a single wage are:
    (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. These 
criteria are discussed below.
    Loring AFB in Aroostook County and Cutler Radio Station in 
Washington County are closest to the Cumberland, Maine, NAF wage area. 
Loring AFB is approximately 461 kilometers (286 miles) and Cutler Radio 
Station is approximately 298 kilometers (185 miles) from Brunswick 
Naval Air Station, host installation and largest activity in the 
Cumberland, Maine, NAF wage area. York, Maine (which was defined as a 
wage area effective March 23, 1994, by an interim rule 59 FR 13641), is 
the next closest NAF wage area. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is the 
largest activity and host installation in York, Maine, and is located 
approximately 585 kilometers (363 miles) from Loring AFB and 415 
kilometers (258 miles) from Cutler Radio Station.
    Transportation facilities consist of interstate highways and 
principal highways. The most direct route from Loring AFB and Cutler 
Radio Station to Cumberland, Maine, and Brunswick Naval Air Station is 
Interstate 95. Interstate 95 then continues to York, Maine, and 
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
    An analysis of the 1990 commuting patterns indicates that 37,392 
workers live and work within Aroostook County. Aroostook County out-
commuters include 113 who commute to work in Washington County, 42 who 
commute to Cumberland County, and none who commute to York County. The 
1990 commuting patterns for Washington County indicate that 12,178 
workers live and work within Washington County. Washington County out-
commuters include 54 who commute to work in Aroostook County, 11 who 
commute to Cumberland County, and none who commute to York County.
    In overall population, Aroostook (population 86,936) and Washington 
(population 35,308) Counties are smaller than both York County 
(population 164,587) and Cumberland County (243,135). In terms of 
private industry employment in the major industry categories, Aroostook 
(employment 2,402) and Washington (employment 599) Counties are again 
smaller than both York County (employment 4,428) and Cumberland County 
(employment 14,901). As with the employment criteria, the kinds and 
sizes of private industry establishments in Aroostook and Washington 
Counties more closely resemble those in York County but are smaller 
than both Cumberland and York Counties. In summary, both proximity and 
transportation facilities favor assigning Aroostook and Washington 
Counties to the Cumberland, Maine, NAF wage area. Aroostook and 
Washington Counties are more similar to, but substantially smaller 
than, York County in terms of overall population, private employment in 
major industry categories, and kinds and sizes of private industrial 
establishments.
    The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee reviewed this 
request and recommended approval by consensus.
    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 to avoid the expenditure of resources needed to 
prepare for the July 1994 wage change survey of the Aroostook, Maine, 
NAF wage area.

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.

E.O. 12866 Regulatory Review

    This rule has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget 
in accordance with E.O. 12866.

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.
James B. King,
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 of Part 532, the listing for the 
State of Maine is amended by removing the entry for Aroostook.
    3. Appendix D to subpart B of Part 532 is amended by removing the 
wage area list for Aroostook, Maine, and by revising the list for 
Cumberland, Maine, to read as follows:

Appendix D to Subpart B of Part 532--Nonappropriated Fund Wage and 
Survey Areas

* * * * *

Maine

Cumberland

Survey area

Maine:
    Cumberland

Area of application: Survey area plus:

Maine:
    Aroostook
    Hancock
    Kennebec
    Knox
    Penobscot
    Sagadahoc
    Washington
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 94-17307 Filed 7-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-01-M