[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 103 (Thursday, May 29, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 28978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-14008]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Office of Personnel Management

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AH88


Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of Lubbock, TX, 
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 (OPM) is issuing an interim 
rule to abolish the Lubbock, Texas, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal 
Wage System (FWS) wage area and to establish a new Curry, New Mexico, 
NAF wage area. The Lubbock NAF wage area is presently composed of one 
survey area county (Lubbock, TX) and two area of application counties 
(Curry, NM, and Potter, TX). The new Curry NAF wage area will be 
composed of one survey area county (Curry, NM) and two area of 
application counties (Lubbock, TX, and Potter, TX).

DATES: This interim rule becomes effective on June 2, 1997. Comments 
must be received by June 30, 1997. Employees currently paid rates from 
the Lubbock, TX, NAF wage schedule will continue to be paid from that 
schedule until their conversion to the Curry NAF wage schedule on the 
effective date of the first wage schedule for the Curry NAF wage area.

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) 606-4264.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Frank Derby, (202) 606-2848.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Because the pending closure of the Lubbock, 
TX, nonappropriated fund (NAF) wage area host activity, Reese Air Force 
Base, has left Lubbock County without an activity having the capability 
to conduct an NAF wage survey, the Department of Defense (DOD) 
recommended that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) abolish the 
Lubbock, TX, NAF wage area and establish a new Curry, NM, NAF wage 
area. The Lubbock wage area is presently composed of one survey area 
county (Lubbock, TX) and two area of application counties (Curry, NM, 
and Potter, TX). The new Curry wage area will be composed of one survey 
area county (Curry, NM) and two area of application counties (Lubbock, 
TX, and Potter, TX).
    Curry County meets the minimum regulatory requirements in section 
532.219 of title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, to be an NAF survey 
area. Cannon Air Force Base, located in Curry County, has more than the 
minimum required number of NAF employees paid under the FWS and has the 
capability to conduct a local wage survey. Also, Curry County has more 
than the required minimum number of private enterprise employees in 
establishments within survey specifications.
    5 CFR 532.219 lists the following regulatory criteria that OPM 
considered when redefining the Lubbock wage area:
    (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.
    Another relevant factor that OPM weighed is the continuity of the 
historical composition of the Lubbock NAF wage area. Also, the 
willingness of DOD and its wage committee to establish a new wage area 
and conduct a new survey in this case furthers the concepts of wage 
rates based on local prevailing rates and of effective partnership in 
this period of wage area realignments necessitated by downsizing of the 
NAF workforce.
    Full-scale wage surveys will be ordered in the Curry wage area in 
June of odd numbered fiscal years--e.g., in June 1997. 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 1997 Curry, NM, 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.
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--[Amended]

    2. Appendix B to subpart B of part 532 is amended for the State of 
Texas by removing the entry for Lubbock and by adding in alphabetical 
order for the State of New Mexico a new entry for Curry with a 
beginning month of survey of ``June'' and a fiscal year of full-scale 
survey of ``Odd.''
    3. Appendix D to subpart B is amended by removing the wage area 
listing of Lubbock, Texas, and by adding in alphabetical order a new 
entry of Curry, New Mexico, to read as follows:

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

* * * * *

New Mexico

* * * * *

Curry

Survey Area:

New Mexico:
    Curry

    Area of application. Survey area plus:

Texas:
    Lubbock
    Potter
* * * * * *
[FR Doc. 97-14008 Filed 5-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-01-P