[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 135 (Friday, July 12, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 36609]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-17782]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 135 / Friday, July 12, 1996 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 36609]]



OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AH54


Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of Anchorage, AK, 
Nonappropriated Fund Wage Area

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing an interim rule 
to redefine the Anchorage, AK, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage 
System (FWS) wage area for pay-setting purposes.

DATES: This interim rule becomes effective on July 12, 1996. Comments 
must be received by August 12, 1996.

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 Office of Personnel Management is 
redefining the Anchorage, AK, FWS NAF wage area to add the Valdez-
Cordova census area as an area of application, and delete 10 area of 
application census divisions.
    The Anchorage, Alaska, NAF wage area was composed of a 1 census 
division survey area and an 18 census division area of application. 
With this change, the wage area is now made up of the same survey area 
(Anchorage Borough, Alaska) and 9 area of application boroughs and 
census areas (Fairbanks North Star, Juneau, Kenai Peninsula, Ketchikan 
Gateway, Kodiak Island, Sitka, Southeast Fairbanks, Valdez-Cordorva, 
and Yukon-Koyukuk).
    These changes became necessary because the Air Force is planning 
for the first time to hire temporary NAF FWS employees in the Valdez 
Recreation Area in the Valdez-Cordova census area, an area currently 
undefined for NAF wage setting purposes. In addition, the definition of 
the entire Anchorage NAF wage area needed to be updated because the 
Alaska boroughs and census areas and their names have been changed 
since this wage area was last defined in regulation and because base 
closures have left some locations without any NAF employees. The 10 
area of application census divisions being deleted are: Aleutian 
Islands, Barrow-North Slope, Bethel, Bristol Bay, Kobuk, Kuskokwim, 
Nome, Outer Ketchikan, Southeast Fairbanks, and Upper Yukon.
    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.
    An analysis of the proposed change under these criteria supports 
the recommended redefinition. Valdez-Cordova is contiguous to the 
Anchorage survey area. Further, because the Anchorage, Alaska, NAF wage 
area is the only NAF wage area in Alaska and there are no other nearby 
NAF wage areas, the proposed redefinition is clearly the only 
reasonable alternative.
    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 it is necessary to define the Valdez-Cordova 
census area to a NAF wage area as soon as possible to provide for 
setting the pay of new Air Force NAF employees in that location.

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.

    2. Appendix D to subpart B is amended by revising the listing for 
Anchorage, Alaska, to read as follows:

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

* * * * *

Alaska

Anchorage

Survey Area

Alaska: (Borough)
    Anchorage
    Area of application. Survey area plus:

Alaska: (Boroughs and census areas)
    Fairbanks North Star
    Juneau
    Kenai Peninsula
    Ketchikan Gateway
    Kodiak Island
    Sitka
    Southeast Fairbanks
    Valdez-Cordova
    Yukon-Koyukuk
* * * * * *
[FR Doc. 96-17782 Filed 7-11-96; 8:45 am]
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