[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 132 (Wednesday, July 9, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39213-39214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-15598]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 132 / Wednesday, July 9, 2008 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 39213]]



OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AL68


Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of the New Orleans, LA, 
Appropriated Fund Federal Wage System Wage Area

AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is issuing an interim 
rule to add St. Charles and St. John the Baptist Parishes, Louisiana, 
to the survey area of the New Orleans, LA, appropriated fund Federal 
Wage System wage area. The purpose of this change is to ensure the lead 
agency for the New Orleans wage area is able to obtain wage data that 
best represent the prevailing rates paid by businesses in the area.

DATES: Effective Date: This regulation is effective on July 9, 2008. We 
must receive comments on or before August 8, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Charles D. Grimes III, Deputy 
Associate Director for Performance and Pay Systems, Strategic Human 
Resources Policy Division, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Room 
7H31, 1900 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20415-8200; e-mail [email protected]; or FAX: (202) 606-4264.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Madeline Gonzalez, (202) 606-2838; e-
mail [email protected]; or FAX: (202) 606-4264.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Office of Personnel Management 
(OPM) is adding St. Charles and St. John the Baptist Parishes, 
Louisiana, to the survey area of the New Orleans, LA, appropriated fund 
Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area. The New Orleans survey area 
currently includes five of the seven parishes of the New Orleans-
Metairie-Kenner, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)--Jefferson, 
Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany Parishes. The survey 
area does not include St. Charles and St. John the Baptist Parishes, 
which are also in the New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner MSA.
    While there are currently only five FWS employees working in St. 
Charles Parish and no FWS employees working in St. John the Baptist 
Parish, the addition of St. Charles and St. John the Baptist Parishes 
to the New Orleans survey area provides a desirable increase in the 
number of surveyable private sector industrial establishments in the 
New Orleans survey area--about 15 percent more than in the current New 
Orleans survey area.
    This survey area expansion will not create an undue survey burden 
on the lead agency for the wage area (the Department of Defense) and is 
strongly justified because of the substantial damage to private sector 
establishments in the New Orleans area in the aftermath of Hurricane 
Katrina. Expanding the New Orleans survey area will allow additional 
private sector establishments to provide wage data that best represents 
the prevailing rates paid by businesses in the New Orleans area.
    This change will be effective for the next full-scale wage survey 
in the wage area, which is scheduled to begin in November 2008. The 
Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee, the national labor-
management committee responsible for advising OPM on matters concerning 
the pay of FWS employees, has reviewed and recommended this change by 
consensus.

Waiver of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Delay in Effective Date

    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) and (d)(3), I find that good 
cause exists to waive the general notice of proposed rulemaking. Also 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), I find that good cause exists for 
making this rule effective in less than 30 days. This notice is being 
waived and the regulation is being made effective in less than 30 days 
because Hurricane Katrina caused substantial economic disruption in the 
New Orleans wage area affecting the Government's ability to adequately 
measure local prevailing wage levels. This change is urgent because the 
next scheduled wage survey in the wage area will occur in November 
2008, and the lead agency must begin planning and coordination phases 
for the survey as soon as possible.

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.
Linda M. Springer,
Director.

0
Accordingly, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management is amending 5 CFR 
part 532 as follows:

PART 532--PREVAILING RATE SYSTEMS

0
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 C to Subpart B of Part 532--Appropriated Fund Wage and Survey 
Areas

0
2. In appendix C to subpart B, the wage area listing for the State of 
Louisiana is amended by revising the listing for New Orleans to read as 
follows:
* * * * *

Louisiana

* * * * *

New Orleans

Survey Area

Louisiana:
    Jefferson
    Orleans
    Plaquemines
    St. Bernard
    St. Charles
    St. John the Baptist
    St. Tammany

Area of Application. Survey Area Plus

Louisiana:
    Ascension
    Assumption
    East Baton Rouge

[[Page 39214]]

    East Feliciana
    Iberia
    Iberville
    Lafourche
    Livingston
    Pointe Coupee
    St. Helena
    St. James
    St. Martin
    St. Mary
    Tangipahoa
    Terrebonne
    Washington
    West Baton Rouge
    West Feliciana
* * * * *

[FR Doc. E8-15598 Filed 7-8-08; 8:45 am]
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