[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 222 (Thursday, November 18, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70616-70617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-29014]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 222 / Thursday, November 18, 2010 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 70616]]



OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AM32


Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of the Madison, WI, and 
Southwestern Wisconsin Appropriated Fund Federal Wage System Wage Areas

AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Proposed rule with request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is issuing a proposed 
rule that would redefine the geographic boundaries of the Madison, 
Wisconsin, and Southwestern Wisconsin appropriated fund Federal Wage 
System (FWS) wage areas. The proposed rule would redefine Adams and 
Waushara Counties, WI, from the Southwestern Wisconsin wage area to the 
Madison wage area. These changes are based on recent consensus 
recommendations of the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee to 
best match the counties proposed for redefinition to a nearby FWS 
survey area. No other changes are proposed for the Madison and 
Southwestern Wisconsin FWS wage areas.

DATES: We must receive comments on or before December 20, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Jerome D. Mikowicz, Deputy 
Associate Director for Pay and Leave, Employee Services, 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 issuing a proposed rule to redefine the Madison, WI, and 
Southwestern Wisconsin appropriated fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage 
areas. This proposed rule would redefine Adams and Waushara Counties, 
WI, from the Southwestern Wisconsin wage area to the Madison wage area.
    OPM considers the following regulatory criteria under 5 CFR 532.211 
when defining FWS wage area boundaries:
    (i) Distance, transportation facilities, and geographic features;
    (ii) Commuting patterns; and
    (iii) Similarities in overall population, employment, and the kinds 
and sizes of private industrial establishments.
    Adams County is currently defined to the Southwestern Wisconsin 
area of application. Based on our analysis of the regulatory criteria 
for defining appropriated fund FWS wage areas, we find that Adams 
County would be more appropriately defined as part of the Madison area 
of application. When measuring to cities, the distance criterion favors 
the Madison wage area. When measuring to host installations, the 
distance criterion favors the Southwestern Wisconsin wage area. The 
transportation facilities and geographic features criteria are 
indeterminate. The commuting patterns criterion slightly favors the 
Madison wage area. Similarities in overall population, total private 
sector employment, and kinds and sizes of private industrial 
establishments favor the Southwestern Wisconsin wage area. Although a 
standard review of regulatory criteria shows mixed results, the 
distance criterion indicates Adams County is closer to the Madison 
survey area. Based on this analysis, we recommend that Adams County be 
redefined to the Madison wage area.
    Waushara County is also currently defined to the Southwestern 
Wisconsin area of application. Our analysis of the regulatory criteria 
indicates that Waushara County would be more appropriately defined as 
part of the Madison wage area. When measuring to cities, the distance 
criterion favors the Madison wage area. When measuring to host 
installations, the distance criterion favors the Southwestern Wisconsin 
wage area. The transportation facilities and geographic features 
criteria are indeterminate. The commuting patterns criterion is also 
indeterminate. Similarities in overall population, total private sector 
employment, and kinds and sizes of private industrial establishments 
favor the Southwestern Wisconsin wage area. Although a standard review 
of regulatory criteria shows mixed results, the distance criterion 
indicates Waushara County is closer to the Madison survey area. Based 
on this analysis, we recommend that Waushara County be redefined to the 
Madison wage area.
    The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC), the 
national labor-management committee responsible for advising OPM on 
matters concerning the pay of FWS employees, recommended these changes 
by consensus. These changes would be effective on the first day of the 
first applicable pay period beginning on or after 30 days following 
publication of the final regulations. FPRAC recommended no other 
changes in the geographic definitions of the Madison and Southwestern 
Wisconsin wage areas.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    I certify that these regulations would not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because they 
would 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.

U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
John Berry,
Director.
    Accordingly, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management is proposing 
to amend 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 C to subpart B is amended by revising the wage area 
listings for the Madison, WI, and Southwestern Wisconsin wage areas to 
read as follows:

[[Page 70617]]

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

* * * * *

 
 
 
                                WISCONSIN
 
                                 Madison
 
                               Survey Area
 
Wisconsin:
  Dane
                 Area of Application. Survey area plus:
 
Wisconsin:
  Adams
  Columbia
  Dodge
  Grant
  Green
  Green Lake
  Iowa
  Jefferson
  Lafayette
  Marquette
  Rock
  Sauk
  Waushara
 
                                * * * * *
                         Southwestern Wisconsin
 
                               Survey Area
 
Wisconsin:
  Chippewa
  Eau Claire
  La Crosse
  Monroe
  Trempealeau
 
                 Area of Application. Survey area plus:
 
Wisconsin:
  Barron
  Buffalo
  Clark
  Crawford
  Dunn
  Florence
  Forest
  Jackson
  Juneau
  Langlade
  Lincoln
  Marathon
  Marinette
  Menominee
  Oconto
  Oneida
  Pepin
  Portage
  Price
  Richland
  Rusk
  Shawano
  Taylor
  Vernon
  Vilas
  Waupaca
  Wood
 
Minnesota:
  Fillmore
  Houston
  Wabasha
  Winona
 
                                * * * * *
 

[FR Doc. 2010-29014 Filed 11-17-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-39-P