[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 122 (Friday, June 24, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41255-41257]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-14912]


 ========================================================================
 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. 81, No. 122 / Friday, June 24, 2016 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 41255]]



OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AN38


Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of Certain 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 several 
appropriated fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage areas for pay-setting 
purposes. Based on recent reviews of Metropolitan Statistical Area 
(MSA) boundaries in a number of wage areas, OPM proposes redefinitions 
affecting the following wage areas: Salinas-Monterey, CA; San 
Francisco, CA; New London, CT; Central and Western Massachusetts; 
Cincinnati, OH: Dayton, OH, Southeastern Washington-Eastern Oregon; and 
Spokane, WA.

DATES: We must receive comments on or before July 25, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by ``RIN 3206-AN38,'' 
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, by telephone at 
(202) 606-2838 or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OPM is issuing a proposed rule to redefine 
the geographic boundaries of several appropriated fund FWS wage areas. 
These changes are based on recommendations of the Federal Prevailing 
Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC), the statutory national labor-
management committee responsible for advising OPM on matters affecting 
the pay of FWS employees. From time to time, FPRAC reviews the 
boundaries of wage areas and provides OPM with recommendations for 
changes if the Committee finds that changes are warranted.
    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 MSAs for the purpose of defining a wage area, except in very 
unusual circumstances.
    The U.S. Office of Management and Budget defines MSAs and maintains 
and updates the definitions of MSA boundaries following each decennial 
census. MSAs are composed of counties and are defined on the basis of a 
central urbanized area--a contiguous area of relatively high population 
density. Additional surrounding counties are included in MSAs if they 
have strong social and economic ties to central counties.
    When the boundaries of wage areas were first established in the 
1960s, there were fewer MSAs than there are today and the boundaries of 
the then existing MSAs were much smaller. Most MSAs were contained 
within the boundaries of a wage area. MSAs have expanded each decade 
and in some cases now extend beyond the boundaries of the wage area.
    FPRAC recently reviewed several wage areas where boundaries 
subdivide certain MSAs and has recommended by consensus that OPM 
implement the changes described in this proposed rule. 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.

San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA MSA

    San Benito and Santa Clara Counties, CA, comprise the San Jose-
Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA MSA. The San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara MSA 
is split between the Salinas-Monterey, CA, wage area and the San 
Francisco, CA, wage area. San Benito County is part of the Salinas-
Monterey area of application while Santa Clara County is part of the 
San Francisco survey area.
    OPM proposes to redefine San Benito County to the San Francisco 
area of application so that the entire San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, 
CA MSA is in one wage area. There are currently 15 FWS employees 
stationed in San Benito County.

Worcester, MA-CT MSA

    Windham County, CT, and Worcester County, MA, comprise the 
Worcester, MA-CT MSA. The Worcester MSA is split between the New 
London, CT, wage area and the Central and Western Massachusetts, MA, 
wage area. Windham County is part of the New London area of application 
and Worcester County is part of the Central and Western Massachusetts 
area of application, except that the towns of Warren and West Warren in 
Worcester County are part of the Central and Western Massachusetts 
survey area and the towns of Blackstone and Millville in Worcester 
County are part of the Narragansett Bay, RI, survey area.
    OPM proposes to redefine Windham County to the Central and Western 
Massachusetts area of application so that the entire Worcester, MA-CT 
MSA is in one wage area. There are currently no FWS employees stationed 
in Windham County.

Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN MSA

    Dearborn, Ohio, and Union Counties, IN; Boone, Bracken, Campbell, 
Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, and Pendleton Counties, KY; and Brown, Butler, 
Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren Counties, OH, comprise the Cincinnati, 
OH-KY-IN MSA. The Cincinnati MSA is split between the Cincinnati, OH, 
wage area and the Dayton, OH, wage area. Dearborn County, IN; Boone, 
Campbell, and Kenton Counties, KY; and Clermont, Hamilton, and Warren 
Counties, OH, are part of the Cincinnati survey area. Ohio County, IN; 
Bracken, Gallatin, Grant, and Pendleton Counties, KY; and Brown and 
Butler Counties, OH, are part of the Cincinnati area of application. 
Union County is part of the Dayton area of application.
    OPM proposes to redefine Union County to the Cincinnati area of

[[Page 41256]]

application so that the entire Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN MSA is in one wage 
area. There are currently no FWS employees stationed in Union County.

Walla Walla, WA MSA

    Columbia and Walla Walla Counties, WA, comprise the Walla Walla, WA 
MSA. The Walla Walla MSA is split between the Southeastern Washington-
Eastern Oregon wage area and the Spokane, WA, wage area. Walla Walla 
County is part of the Southeastern Washington-Eastern Oregon survey 
area and Columbia County is part of the Spokane area of application.
    OPM proposes to redefine Columbia County to the Southeastern 
Washington-Eastern Oregon area of application so that the entire Walla 
Walla, WA MSA is in one wage area. There are currently three FWS 
employees stationed in Columbia 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.
Beth F. Cobert,
Acting Director.

    Accordingly, OPM 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.

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

0
2. Appendix C to subpart B is amended by revising the wage area 
listings for the Salinas-Monterey, CA; San Francisco, CA; New London, 
CT; Central and Western Massachusetts; Cincinnati, OH: Dayton, OH, 
Southeastern Washington-Eastern Oregon; and Spokane, WA, wage areas to 
read as follows:

 
 
 
 
                                * * * * *
                               CALIFORNIA
 
                                * * * * *
                            Salinas-Monterey
 
                               Survey Area
 
California:
  Monterey
 
                    Area of Application. Survey area.
 
                                * * * * *
                              San Francisco
 
California:
  Alameda
  Contra Costa
  Marin
  Napa
  San Francisco
  San Mateo
  Santa Clara
  Solano
 
                 Area of Application. Survey area plus:
 
California:
  Mendocino
  San Benito
  Santa Cruz
  Sonoma
 
 
                                * * * * *
                               CONNECTICUT
 
                                * * * * *
                               New London
 
                               Survey Area
 
Connecticut:
  New London
 
                    Area of Application. Survey area.
 
                                * * * * *
                              MASSACHUSETTS
 
                                * * * * *
                    Central and Western Massachusetts
 
                               Survey Area
 
Massachusetts
The following cities and towns in:
  Hampden County
  Agawam
  Chicopee
  East Longmeadow
  Feeding Hills
  Hampden
  Holyoke
  Longmeadow
  Ludlow
  Monson
  Palmer
  Southwick
  Springfield
  Three Rivers
  Westfield
  West Springfield
  Wilbraham
  Hampshire County
  Easthampton
  Granby
  Hadley
  Northampton
  South Hadley
  Worcester County
  Warren
  West Warren
 
                 Area of Application. Survey area plus:
 
Connecticut:
  Windham
Massachusetts:
  Berkshire
  Franklin
  Worcester (except Blackstone and Millville)
The following cities and towns in:
  Hampden County
  Blandford
  Brimfield
  Chester
  Granville
  Holland
  Montgomery
  Russell
  Tolland
  Wales
  Hampshire County
  Amherst
  Belchertown
  Chesterfield
  Cummington
  Goshen
  Hatfield
  Huntington
  Middlefield
  Pelham
  Plainfield
  Southampton
  Ware
  Westhampton
  Williamsburg
  Worthington
  Middlesex County
  Ashby
  Shirley
  Townsend
New Hampshire:
  Belknap
  Carroll
  Cheshire
  Grafton
  Hillsborough
  Merrimack
  Sullivan
Vermont:
  Addison
  Bennington
  Caledonia
  Essex
  Lamoille
  Orange
  Orleans
  Rutland
  Washington
  Windham
  Windsor
 
                                * * * * *
                                  OHIO
 
                               Cincinnati
 
                               Survey Area
 
Indiana:
  Dearborn
Kentucky:
  Boone
  Campbell
  Kenton
Ohio:
  Clermont
  Hamilton
  Warren
 
                 Area of Application. Survey area plus:
 
Indiana:
  Franklin
  Ohio
  Ripley

[[Page 41257]]

 
  Switzerland
  Union
Kentucky:
  Bracken
  Carroll
  Gallatin
  Grant
  Mason
  Pendleton
Ohio:
  Adams
  Brown
  Butler
  Highland
 
                                * * * * *
                                 Dayton
 
Ohio:
  Champaign
  Clark
  Greene
  Miami
  Montgomery
  Preble
 
                 Area of Application. Survey area plus:
 
Indiana:
  Randolph
  Wayne
Ohio:
  Auglaize
  Clinton
  Darke
  Logan
  Shelby
 
                                * * * * *
                               WASHINGTON
 
                                * * * * *
                 Southeastern Washington-Eastern Oregon
 
                               Survey Area
 
Oregon:
  Umatilla
Washington:
  Benton
  Franklin
  Walla Walla
  Yakima
                 Area of Application. Survey area plus:
 
Oregon:
  Baker
  Grant
  Harney
  Malheur
  Morrow
  Union
  Wallowa
  Wheeler
Washington:
  Columbia
  Kittitas (Only includes the Yakima Firing Range portion)
 
                                 Spokane
 
                               Survey Area
 
Washington:
  Spokane
 
                 Area of Application. Survey area plus:
 
Idaho:
  Benewah
  Bonner
  Boundary
  Clearwater
  Idaho
  Kootenai
  Latah
  Lewis
  Nez Perce
  Shoshone
Washington:
  Adams
  Asotin
  Chelan (Does not include the North Cascades National Park portion)
  Douglas
  Ferry
  Garfield
  Grant
  Kittitas (Does not include the Yakima Firing Range portion)
  Lincoln
  Okanogan
  Pend Oreille
  Stevens
  Whitman
 
                                * * * * *
 

[FR Doc. 2016-14912 Filed 6-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6325-39-P