[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 39 (Monday, March 1, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9905-9906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5004]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AI10


Prevailing Rate Systems; Removal of Umatilla County, Oregon, from 
the Spokane, Washington, Nonappropriated Fund Wage Area

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing a final rule to 
remove Umatilla County, Oregon, from the Spokane, Washington, 
nonappropriated fund Federal Wage System wage area because 
nonappropriated fund Federal Wage System employees are no longer 
stationed in Umatilla County, and no Federal agency anticipates such 
future employment in the county.

DATES: This regulation is effective on March 31, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hopkins, (202) 606-2848, FAX: 
(202) 606-0824, or email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 23, 1997, the Office of 
Personnel Management (OPM) published an interim rule (62 FR 66973) to 
remove Umatilla County, Oregon, from the Spokane, Washington, 
nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area. The 
change was made effective on January 1, 1998. The Federal Prevailing 
Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC), the statutory national labor-
management committee responsible for advising OPM on matters concerning 
the pay of FWS employees, recommended by consensus that we remove 
Umatilla County, OR, from the Spokane, WA, FWS wage area. The Spokane 
wage area is composed of one survey county, Spokane County, and three 
area of application counties, Adams County, WA, Walla Walla County, WA, 
and Umatilla County, OR. The removal of Umatilla County is appropriate 
because there are no NAF FWS employees stationed in the county, and no 
Federal agency anticipates future NAF employment. According to section 
5343(a)(1)(B)(i) of title 5, United States Code, NAF wage areas ``shall 
not extend

[[Page 9906]]

beyond the immediate locality in which the particular prevailing rate 
employees are employed.''
    On January 1, 1998, the minimum wage for the state of Oregon 
increased to $6.00 per hour. Under section 532.205 of title 5, Code of 
Federal Regulations, the highest mimimum wage applicable within a wage 
area must be applied to the entire wage area. Pay rates for NAF FWS 
employees stationed in Adams, Spokane, and Walla Walla Counties, WA, 
would have been increased to the higher minimum wage amount for the 
state of Oregon even though there are no NAF FWS employees working in 
Umatilla County, OR. OPM published an interim rule making this change 
and provided a 30-day public comment period. During this period, OPM 
did not receive any comments. Based on the previous recommendation of 
FPRAC, the interim rule is being adopted as a final rule without any 
changes.

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.

List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 532

    Administrative practice and procedure, Freedom of information, 
Government employees, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Wages.

    Accordingly, under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 5343, the interim rule 
(62 FR 66973) amending 5 CFR part 532 published on December 23, 1997, 
is adopted as final with no changes.

Office of Personnel Management.
Janice R. Lachance,
Director.
[FR Doc. 99-5004 Filed 2-26-99; 8:45 am]
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