[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 14, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 57145-57146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28051]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 219 / Tuesday, November 14, 1995 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 57145]]


OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AH22


Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of Philadelphia, PA, 
Nonappropriated Fund Wage Area

agency: Office of Personnel Management.

action: Interim rule with request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

summary: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing interim 
regulations to abolish the Philadelphia, PA, nonappropriated fund (NAF) 
Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area and redefine the five counties 
having continuing FWS employment as areas of application to nearby NAF 
wage areas for pay-setting purposes. No employee's wage rate will be 
reduced as a result of this change.

dates: This interim rule becomes effective on November 14, 1995. 
Comments must be received by December 14, 1995. Employees currently 
paid rates from the Philadelphia, PA, NAF wage schedule will continue 
to be paid from that schedule until their conversion to the schedules 
of the wage areas to which their counties of employment are being 
redefined by this rule on December 1, 1995, the first day of the month 
in which their new wage schedule would have been effective.

addresses: Send or deliver comments to Donald J. Winstead, Assistant 
Director for Compensation Policy, Human Resources Systems Service, 
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 recommended to the 
Office of Personnel Management that the Philadelphia, PA, FWS NAF wage 
area be abolished and that the five counties having continuing FWS 
employment be redefined as areas of application to nearby NAF wage 
areas. Philadelphia County and Chester County, PA, are being redefined 
to the Montgomery, PA, wage area. New Castle County, DE; Cape May 
County, NJ; and Salem County, NJ; are being redefined to the 
Burlington, NJ, wage area. The remaining Philadelphia wage area 
counties (Camden and Gloucester, NJ) have no FWS employees and are 
being deleted. This change is necessary because the pending closure of 
Naval Station Philadelphia leaves the Philadelphia 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) Similaries of the counties in:
    (i) Overall population;
    (ii) Private employment in major industry categories; and
    (iii) Kinds and sizes of private industrial establishments.
    All regulatory factors favor redefinition of Philadelphia County to 
the adjacent Montgomery, PA, wage area.
    For Chester County, population and industrial patterns more closely 
resemble Burlington, NJ. However the remaining regulatory factors, 
proximity and commuting patterns, both favor redefinition to the 
Montgomery, PA, wage area. Overall, redefinition to the Montgomery, PA, 
wage area is favored.
    Regulatory factors for New Castle County, DE, are mixed but on 
balance favor redefinition to the Burlington, NJ, wage area. While New 
Castle County is closest to Harford, MD, population and industrial 
patterns are very similar to Burlington, NJ, and bear little 
resemblance to Harford, MD. The highest commuting rate is to 
Montgomery, PA, but this is not a determining factor in that commuting 
rates to the various candidate survey areas are very similar.
    Regulatory factors are mixed for Salem County, NJ, but on balance 
favor redefinition to the Burlington, NJ, wage area. The closest survey 
area is Montgomery, PA. However, Burlington is fairly close to Salem, 
and Salem geographically falls between New Castle (being redefined to 
Burlington) and the Burlington survey area. Commuting patterns favor 
Burlington, PA. Although population and industrial patterns favor 
Lebanon, PA, Lebanon County is about double the size of Salem County in 
terms of population and industry.
    Regulatory factors are mixed for Cape May County, NJ, but on 
balance favor redefinition to the Burlington, NJ, wage area. Proximity 
and commuting patterns favor Burlington, NJ. Population and industrial 
patterns favor Lebanon, PA. However, Lebanon County is very far removed 
from coastal Cape May County, with intervening wage areas.
    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 1995 Philadelphia, PA, 
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:

[[Page 57146]]


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 
Pennsylvania is amended by removing the entry for Philadelphia.
    3. Appendix D to subpart B is amended by removing the wage area 
list for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and by revising the lists for 
Burlington, New Jersey, and Montgomery, Pennsylvania, to read as 
follows:

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

* * * * *
New Jersey
Burlington
Survey Area
New Jersey:
    Burlington
    Area of application. Survey area plus:
Delaware:
    New Castle
New Jersey:
    Atlantic
    Cape May
    Ocean
    Salem
* * * * *

Pennsylvania

* * * * *
    Montgomery
    Survey area
Pennsylvania:
    Montgomery
    Area of Application. Survey area plus:
Pennsylvania:
    Bucks
    Chester
    Luzerne
    Philadelphia
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 95-28051 Filed 11-13-95; 8:45 am]
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