[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 20 (Friday, January 30, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5091-5092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01810]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration

[Docket No. 150114039-5039-01]
RIN 0648-XD719


Higher Initial Maximum Uniform Allowance Rate; Uniform Allowances

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The NMFS Office of Law Enforcement (OLE) is planning to 
establish a higher initial maximum uniform allowance to procure and 
issue uniform items for uniformed enforcement officers (EOs). OLE has 
changed its uniform policy, now requiring five classes of uniforms. 
Until now, EOs were only required to have two classes of uniforms. This 
change affects 30 current EOs, 25 planned new EOs in 2015, and any 
future EOs.
    Current OPM regulations allow an agency to establish one or more 
initial maximum uniform allowance rates greater than the government-
wide maximum uniform allowance rate.

DATES: NMFS must receive comments on or before March 2, 2015.

[[Page 5092]]


ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by RIN 0648-XD719 and 
Uniform Allowances, by either of the following methods:
    Email: [email protected].
    Mail: NMFS Office of Enforcement, National Training Coordinator, 
1315 East West Highway, Suite 3301, Silver Spring, MD 20910.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Everett Baxter, 301-427-8272.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS plans to implement a higher initial 
maximum uniform allowance to procure and furnish uniform items for its 
EOs. The current $800.00 annual limit is inadequate to maintain the 
uniform standards and professional image expected of NMFS EOs under its 
new uniform standards. OLE now has a new uniform policy requiring five 
classes of uniforms. In the past, EOs only had two classes of uniforms. 
This increase in uniform classes requires an increase in the initial 
maximum uniform allowance for EOs, from $800 to $2,000.00.
    This implementation is in accordance with 5 CFR 591.104, which 
states that an agency may establish one or more initial maximum uniform 
allowance rate greater than the government-wide maximum uniform 
allowance rate established by the Office of Personnel Management under 
5 CFR 591.103. Under 5 CFR 591.104, to establish a new rate, agencies 
must ``publish in the Federal Register and request comment on a notice 
setting out: (1) A description and justification of the circumstances 
requiring a higher initial maximum uniform allowance rate; (2) An 
estimate of the number of employees affected; (3) The specific items 
required for the basic uniform and the average total uniform cost for 
the affected employees; (4) The amount of the proposed higher initial 
maximum uniform allowance rate to be paid during the year the employee 
first becomes subject to the uniform requirement; (5) The proposed 
effective date of the higher initial maximum uniform allowance rate; 
and, (6) The intent of the agency (if any) to divide the cost of a 
minimum basic uniform and continue to make higher initial maximum basic 
uniform allowance payments in the year following the year the employee 
first becomes subject to the uniform requirement.''
    As noted above, a new rate is justified because OLE's current 
uniform policy requires EOs to have five classes of uniforms, versus 
the two classes of uniforms required under the previous policy. This 
change in NMFS' initial maximum uniform allowance affects 30 current 
EOs, 25 planned new EOs in 2015, and any future EOs. The new NMFS' 
required EO uniforms include the following items or similar items: 
Gore-Tex gloves; 6-pocket pants; long sleeve uniform shirts; short 
sleeve uniform shirts; polo shirts; sweaters; turtlenecks; cold weather 
duty jackets; summer duty shirts; ceremonial jackets; ceremonial hats, 
straps and cords; utility shorts; ties; dress shoes; leather boots; 
dress pants; shoulder patches, and cloth badges. The average total 
initial uniform cost for these listed items is $2,000.00. Based on 
these current costs, NMFS is planning to increase the initial maximum 
uniform allowance for its EOs to $2,000.00. This increased initial 
maximum uniform allowance is applicable to existing EOs during the 
first year of the new NMFS uniform policy, and for EOs hired in 2015. 
In subsequent years, this initial maximum uniform allowance will be 
applied to each new EO as he or she becomes subject to the uniform 
requirements. Subsequent annual uniform allowances will be the maximum 
allowed by 5 CFR 591.103. Currently, approximately 55 EOs will be 
effected by this increased initial maximum uniform allowance; 30 
current EOs and 25 planned new hire EOs. The effective date of this 
higher initial maximum uniform allowance rate is April 1, 2015.

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 5903; E.O. 12748, 56 FR 4521, 3 CFR 1991 
Comp., p. 316.

    Dated: January 27, 2015.
Matthew G. Brandt,
Acting Director, Office of Law Enforcement, National Marine Fisheries 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-01810 Filed 1-29-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P