[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 84 (Monday, May 3, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23531-23532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-10959]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AI68


Prevailing Rate Systems; Change in Survey Cycle for the 
Southwestern Michigan Appropriated 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 change the full-scale survey cycle of the Southwestern Michigan 
appropriated fund Federal Wage System wage area from odd to even-
numbered fiscal years. This change is being made to help even out the 
local wage survey workload of the Department of Defense (DOD), which 
recently assumed responsibility for conducting all Federal Wage System 
surveys.

DATES: This interim rule is effective on June 2, 1999. Comments must be 
received on or before June 2, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Donald J. Winstead, Assistant 
Director for Compensation Administration, Workforce Compensation and 
Performance Service, Office of Personnel Management, Room 7H31, 1900 E 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20415, FAX: (202) 606-0824, or email to 
[email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Defense has requested that 
the Office of Personnel Management change the survey cycle for full-
scale wage surveys in the Southwestern Michigan wage area from odd to 
even-numbered fiscal years. Under Sec. 532.207 of title 5, Code of 
Federal Regulations, the scheduling of wage surveys takes into 
consideration the best timing in relation to wage

[[Page 23532]]

adjustments in the principal local private enterprise establishments, 
reasonable distribution of workload of the lead agency, timing of 
surveys for nearby or selected wage areas, and scheduling relationships 
with other pay surveys.
    This request was made to even out DOD's wage survey workload and 
stems from DOD's recent acquisition of lead agency responsibility for 
23 Federal Wage System (FWS) wage areas from the Department of Veterans 
Affairs. In October 2000 (FY 2001), DOD's Central Regional Office will 
conduct full-scale wage surveys in the Ft. Wayne-Marion, IN, 
Indianapolis, IN, and St. Louis, MO, wage areas. In the St. Louis wage 
area, the same office will also conduct a special printing and 
lithographic survey. In October 1999 (FY 2000), that office will 
conduct full-scale wage surveys in the Davenport and Dubuque, IA, wage 
areas. DOD requested that a full-scale wage survey for the Southwestern 
Michigan wage area be conducted in October 1999. A wage change survey 
would be conducted in October 2000. This change will help balance the 
number of full-scale wage surveys conducted each year. The timing of 
the Southwestern Michigan wage survey relative to private sector wage 
adjustments would remain unchanged.
    The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee, the national labor-
management committee responsible for advising OPM on matters concerning 
the pay of FWS employees, recommended by consensus that we change the 
full-scale survey cycle for the Southwestern Michigan wage area from 
odd to even-numbered fiscal years.

Waiver of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Delayed Effective Date

    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), I find that good cause exists 
for waiving the general notice of proposed rulemaking. The notice is 
being waived because of the urgent need for administrative procedures 
and planning to be completed by DOD and the local wage survey committee 
for the Southwestern Michigan wage area before a full-scale wage survey 
begins in October 1999 in the Southwestern Michigan wage area. Planning 
for the full-scale wage survey in the Southwestern Michigan wage area 
must begin by June 1999.

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.

Office of Personnel Management.
Janice R. Lachance,
Director.

    Accordingly, the Office of Personnel Management 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 A to Subpart B of Part 532--[Amended]

    2. Appendix A to Subpart B is amended by revising under the State 
of Michigan the listing of fiscal year of full-scale survey from 
``odd'' to ``even'' for the Southwestern Michigan wage area.

[FR Doc. 99-10959 Filed 4-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-01-P