[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 21 (Monday, February 2, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5487-5489]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-01937]


 ========================================================================
 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. 80, No. 21 / Monday, February 2, 2015 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 5487]]



OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AN15


Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of the Jacksonville, FL; 
Savannah, GA; Hagerstown-Martinsburg-Chambersburg, MD; Richmond, VA; 
and Roanoke, VA, 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 (OPM) is issuing a 
proposed rule that would redefine the geographic boundaries of the 
Jacksonville, FL; Savannah, GA; Hagerstown-Martinsburg-Chambersburg, 
MD; Richmond, VA; and Roanoke, VA, appropriated fund Federal Wage 
System (FWS) wage areas. The proposed rule would redefine Brantley, 
Glynn, and Pierce Counties, GA, from the Jacksonville wage area to the 
Savannah wage area; Greene County, VA, from the Hagerstown-Martinsburg-
Chambersburg wage area to the Richmond wage area; and Nelson County, 
VA, from the Roanoke wage area to the Richmond wage area. These changes 
are based on recent consensus recommendations of the Federal Prevailing 
Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC) to best match the counties proposed for 
redefinition to a nearby FWS survey area.

DATES: We must receive comments on or before March 4, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by ``RIN 3206-AN15,'' 
using any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Brenda L. Roberts, 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.
    Email: [email protected].

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OPM is issuing a proposed rule that would 
redefine the geographic boundaries of the Jacksonville, FL; Savannah, 
GA; Hagerstown-Martinsburg-Chambersburg, MD; Richmond, VA; and Roanoke, 
VA, appropriated fund FWS wage areas. The proposed rule would redefine 
Brantley and Glynn Counties, GA, from the Jacksonville wage area to the 
Savannah wage area; Greene County, VA, from the Hagerstown-Martinsburg-
Chambersburg wage area to the Richmond wage area; and Nelson County, 
VA, from the Roanoke wage area to the Richmond 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.
    In addition, OPM regulations at 5 CFR 532.211 do not permit 
splitting Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) for the purpose of 
defining a wage area, except in very unusual circumstances.
    OPM recently completed reviews of the definitions of the Brunswick, 
GA and Charlottesville, VA MSAs and, based on analyses of the 
regulatory criteria for defining wage areas, is proposing the changes 
described below. 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.

Brunswick, GA Metropolitan Statistical Area

    Brantley, Glynn, and McIntosh Counties, GA, comprise the Brunswick, 
GA MSA. The Brunswick MSA is currently split between the Jacksonville, 
FL, and Savannah, GA, wage areas. Brantley and Glynn Counties are part 
of the area of application of the Jacksonville wage area and McIntosh 
County is part of the area of application of the Savannah wage area.
    Based on an analysis of the regulatory criteria for Glynn County, 
the core county in the Brunswick MSA, we recommend that the entire 
Brunswick MSA be defined to the Savannah area of application. When 
measuring to cities, the distance criterion does not favor one wage 
area more than another. When measuring to host installations, the 
distance criterion favors the Savannah wage area more than the 
Jacksonville wage area. The commuting patterns criterion does not favor 
one wage area more than another. Glynn County does not resemble one 
survey area more than another survey area in terms of the overall 
population, employment, and the kinds and sizes of private industrial 
establishments criteria.
    Based on this analysis, we find that Glynn County would be more 
appropriately defined to the Savannah wage area. Since there appear to 
be no unusual circumstances that would permit splitting the Brunswick 
MSA, OPM proposes to redefine Brantley and Glynn Counties to the 
Savannah wage area so that the entire Brunswick MSA is in one wage 
area. The remaining county in the Brunswick MSA, McIntosh County, is 
already defined to the Savannah wage area. There are currently no FWS 
employees working in Brantley County. There are currently 45 FWS 
employees working in Glynn County.
    Because Pierce County, GA, borders Brantley County to the northwest 
and is located in-between the Brunswick MSA and the Albany, GA, and 
Savannah wage areas, Pierce County would also be redefined from the 
Jacksonville wage area to the Savannah wage area. When measuring to 
cities, the distance criterion does not favor one wage area more than 
another. When measuring to host installations, the distance criterion 
favors the Savannah wage area more than the Albany wage area. The 
commuting patterns criterion does not favor one wage area more than 
another. Pierce County does not favor one survey area more than another 
survey area in terms of the overall population and employment and the 
kinds and sizes of private industrial establishments criteria.

[[Page 5488]]

    Based on this analysis, we find that Pierce County would be more 
appropriately defined to the Savannah wage area. There are currently no 
FWS employees working in Pierce County.

Charlottesville, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area

    Charlottesville City, VA, and Albemarle, Buckingham, Fluvanna, 
Greene, and Nelson Counties, VA, comprise the Charlottesville, VA MSA. 
The Charlottesville MSA is split between the Hagerstown-Martinsburg-
Chambersburg, MD, Richmond, VA, and Roanoke, VA, wage areas. Greene 
County is part of the area of application of the Hagerstown-
Martinsburg-Chambersburg wage area. Charlottesville City and Albemarle, 
Buckingham, and Fluvanna Counties are part of the area of application 
of the Richmond wage area. Nelson County is part of the area of 
application of the Roanoke wage area.
    Based on an analysis of the regulatory criteria for Greene County, 
the core county in the Charlottesville MSA, the entire Charlottesville 
MSA would be defined to the Richmond wage area. The distance criterion 
favors the Richmond wage area. The commuting patterns criterion 
slightly favors the Richmond wage area. The overall population and 
employment and the kinds and sizes of private industrial establishments 
criteria do not favor one wage area more than another.
    Based on this analysis, we find that Greene County would be more 
appropriately defined to the Richmond wage area. Since there appear to 
be no unusual circumstances that would permit splitting the 
Charlottesville MSA, OPM proposes to redefine Greene and Nelson 
Counties to the Richmond wage area so that the entire Charlottesville 
MSA is in one wage area. The remaining city and counties in the 
Charlottesville MSA, Charlottesville City and Albemarle, Buckingham, 
and Fluvanna Counties, are already defined to the Richmond wage area. 
There are currently three FWS employees working in Greene County. There 
are currently no FWS employees working in Nelson County.

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.
Katherine Archuleta,
Director.
    Accordingly, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management is proposing 
to amend 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.

0
2. Appendix C to subpart B is amended by revising the wage area 
listings for the Jacksonville, FL; Savannah, GA; Hagerstown-
Martinsburg-Chambersburg, MD; Richmond, VA; and Roanoke, VA, wage areas 
to read as follows:

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

* * * * *

 
 
 
                                 FLORIDA
 
                                * * * * *
                              Jacksonville
 
                               Survey Area
 
Florida:
  Alachua
  Baker
  Clay
  Duval
  Nassau
  St. Johns
 
                 Area of Application. Survey area plus:
 
Florida:
  Bradford
  Citrus
  Columbia
  Dixie
  Flagler
  Gilchrist
  Hamilton
  Lafayette
  Lake
  Levy
  Madison
  Marion
  Orange
  Osceola
  Putnam
  Seminole
  Sumter
  Suwannee
  Taylor
  Union
  Volusia
Georgia:
  Camden
  Charlton
 
                                * * * * *
 
                                 GEORGIA
 
 
                                * * * * *
 
                                Savannah
 
                               Survey Area
 
Georgia:
  Bryan
  Chatham
  Effingham
  Liberty
 
                 Area of Application. Survey area plus:
 
Georgia:
  Appling
  Bacon
  Brantley
  Bulloch
  Candler
  Evans
  Glynn
  Jeff Davis
  Long
  McIntosh
  Pierce
  Screven
  Tattnall
  Toombs
  Wayne
South Carolina:
  Beaufort (the portion south of Broad River)
  Hampton
  Jasper
 
                                * * * * *
 
                                MARYLAND
 
 
                                * * * * *
 
                   Hagerstown-Martinsburg-Chambersburg
 
                               Survey Area
 
Maryland:
  Washington
Pennsylvania:
  Franklin
West Virginia:
  Berkeley
 
                 Area of Application. Survey area plus:
 
Maryland:
  Allegany
  Garrett
Pennsylvania:
  Fulton
Virginia (cities):
  Harrisonburg
  Winchester
Virginia (counties):
  Frederick
  Madison
  Page
  Rockingham
  Shenandoah
West Virginia:
  Hampshire
  Hardy
  Mineral
  Morgan
 
                                * * * * *
 
                                VIRGINIA
 
 
                                * * * * *
 
                                Richmond
 
                               Survey Area
 
Virginia (cities):
  Colonial Heights

[[Page 5489]]

 
  Hopewell
  Petersburg
  Richmond
Virginia (counties):
  Charles City
  Chesterfield
  Dinwiddie
  Goochland
  Hanover
  Henrico
  New Kent
  Powhatan
  Prince George
 
                 Area of Application. Survey area plus:
 
Virginia (cities):
  Charlottesville
  Emporia
Virginia (counties):
  Albemarle
  Amelia
  Brunswick
  Buckingham
  Caroline
  Charlotte
  Cumberland
  Essex
  Fluvanna
  Greene
  Greensville
  King and Queen
  King William
  Lancaster
  Louisa
  Lunenburg
  Mecklenburg
  Middlesex
  Nelson
  Northumberland
  Nottoway
  Orange
  Prince Edward
  Richmond
  Sussex
  Westmoreland
 
                                 Roanoke
 
                               Survey Area
 
Virginia (cities):
  Radford
  Roanoke
  Salem
Virginia (counties):
  Botetourt
  Craig
  Montgomery
  Roanoke
 
                 Area of Application. Survey area plus:
 
Virginia (cities):
  Bedford
  Buena Vista
  Clifton Forge
  Covington
  Danville
  Galax
  Lexington
  Lynchburg
  Martinsville
  South Boston
  Staunton
  Waynesboro
Virginia (counties):
  Alleghany
  Amherst
  Appomattox
  Augusta
  Bath
  Bedford
  Bland
  Campbell
  Carroll
  Floyd
  Franklin
  Giles
  Halifax
  Henry
  Highland
  Patrick
  Pittsylvania
  Pulaski
  Rockbridge
  Wythe
 
                                * * * * *
 

[FR Doc. 2015-01937 Filed 1-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-39-P