[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40297-40299]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-17413]
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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.
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Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 157 / Wednesday, August 14, 2019 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 40297]]
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
5 CFR Part 532
RIN 3206-AN87
Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of Certain Appropriated
Fund Federal Wage System Wage Areas
AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: The 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: Washington, DC; Hagerstown-
Martinsburg-Chambersburg, MD; Detroit, MI; Jackson, MS; Meridian, MS;
and Cleveland, OH.
DATES: Send comments on or before September 13, 2019.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number and/or
Regulatory Information Number (RIN) and title, by the following method:
Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
All submissions received must include the agency name and docket
number or RIN for this document. The general policy for comments and
other submissions from members of the public is to make these
submissions available for public viewing at http://www.regulations.gov
as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers
or contact information.
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 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines MSAs and
maintains and periodically updates the definitions of MSA boundaries.
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. With each OMB update, MSAs have
expanded 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.
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV MSA
Washington, DC; Calvert, Charles, Frederick, Montgomery, and Prince
George's Counties, MD; Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church,
Fredericksburg, Manassas, and Manassas Park Cities, VA; Arlington,
Clarke, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Madison, Prince William,
Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Warren Counties, VA; and
Jefferson County, WV, comprise the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-
MD-VA-WV MSA.
The Washington-Arlington-Alexandria MSA is split between the
Washington, DC, wage area and the Hagerstown-Martinsburg-Chambersburg,
MD, wage area. Washington, DC; Charles, Frederick, Montgomery, and
Prince George's Counties, MD; Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church,
Manassas, and Manassas Park Cities, VA; and Arlington, Fairfax,
Loudoun, and Prince William Counties, VA, are part of the Washington,
DC, survey area. Calvert County, MD; Fredericksburg City, VA; Clarke,
Culpeper, Fauquier, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, Stafford, and Warren
Counties, VA; and Jefferson County, WV, are part of the Washington, DC,
area of application. Madison County, VA, is part of the Hagerstown-
Martinsburg-Chambersburg area of application.
OPM proposes to redefine Madison County to the Washington, DC, area
of application so that the entire Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-
VA-MD-WV MSA is in one wage area. There are currently 44 FWS employees
working in Madison County.
Toledo, OH MSA
Fulton, Lucas, Ottawa, and Wood Counties, OH, comprise the Toledo,
OH MSA.
The Toledo MSA is split between the Cleveland, OH, wage area and
the Detroit, MI, wage area. Ottawa County is part of the Cleveland area
of application while Fulton, Lucas, and Wood Counties are part of the
Detroit area of application.
OPM proposes to redefine Ottawa County to the Detroit area of
application so that the entire Toledo, OH MSA is in one wage area.
There are currently 38 FWS employees working in Ottawa County.
[[Page 40298]]
Hattiesburg, MS MSA
Covington, Forrest, Lamar, and Perry Counties, MS, comprise the
Hattiesburg, MS MSA.
The Hattiesburg MSA is split between the Jackson, MS, wage area and
the Meridian, MS, wage area. Covington County is part of the Jackson
area of application. Forrest and Lamar Counties are part of the
Meridian survey area while Perry County is part of the Meridian area of
application.
OPM proposes to redefine Covington County to the Meridian area of
application so that the entire Hattiesburg, MS MSA is in one wage area.
There are currently no FWS employees working in Covington County.
Regulatory Impact Analysis
This action is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under the
terms of Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 (58 FR 51735, October 4, 1993)
and is therefore not subject to review under E.O. 12866 and 13563 (76
FR 3821, January 21, 2011).
Reducing Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs
This rule is not an Executive Order 13771 regulatory action because
this rule is not significant under E.O. 12866.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
OPM certifies that this rule will not have a significant economic
impact on a substantial number of small entities.
Federalism
We have examined this rule in accordance with Executive Order
13132, Federalism, and have determined that this rule will not have any
negative impact on the rights, roles and responsibilities of State,
local, or tribal governments.
Civil Justice Reform
This regulation meets the applicable standard set forth in
Executive Order 12988.
Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995
This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local, and
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100
million or more in any year and it will not significantly or uniquely
affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed necessary
under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.
Congressional Review Act
This action pertains to agency management, personnel, and
organization and does not substantially affect the rights or
obligations of nonagency parties and, accordingly, is not a ``rule'' as
that term is used by the Congressional Review Act (Subtitle E of the
Small Business ``Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (SBREFA)).
Therefore, the reporting requirement of 5 U.S.C. 801 does not apply.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This rule does not impose any new reporting or record-keeping
requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act.
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.
Stephen Hickman,
Regulatory Affairs.
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.
0
2. Appendix C to subpart B is amended by revising the wage area
listings for the Washington, DC; Hagerstown-Martinsburg-Chambersburg,
MD; Detroit, MI; Jackson, MS; Meridian, MS; and, Cleveland, OH, wage
areas to read as follows:
Appendix C to Subpart B of Part 532--Appropriated Fund Wage and Survey
Areas
* * * * *
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Washington, DC
Survey Area
District of Columbia:
Washington, DC
Maryland:
Charles
Frederick
Montgomery
Prince George's
Virginia (cities):
Alexandria
Fairfax
Falls Church
Manassas
Manassas Park
Virginia (counties):
Arlington
Fairfax
Loudoun
Prince William
Area of Application. Survey area plus:
Maryland:
Calvert
St. Mary's
Virginia (city):
Fredericksburg
Virginia (counties):
Clarke
Culpeper
Fauquier
King George
Madison
Rappahannock
Spotsylvania
Stafford
Warren
West Virginia:
Jefferson
* * * * *
MARYLAND
* * * * *
Hagerstown-Martinsburg-Chambersburg
Survey Area
Maryland:
Washington
Pennsylvania:
Franklin
West Virginia:
Berkeley
Area of Application. Survey area.
Maryland:
Allegany
Garrett
Pennsylvania:
Fulton
Virginia (cities):
Harrisonburg
Winchester
Virginia (counties):
Frederick
Page
Rockingham
Shenandoah
West Virginia:
Hampshire
Hardy
Mineral
Morgan
* * * * *
MICHIGAN
Detroit
Survey Area
Michigan:
Lapeer
Livingston
Macomb
Oakland
St. Clair
Wayne
Area of Application. Survey area.
Michigan:
Arenac
Bay
Clare
Clinton
Eaton
Genesee
Gladwin
Gratiot
Huron
[[Page 40299]]
Ingham
Isabella
Lenawee
Midland
Monroe
Saginaw
Sanilac
Shiawassee
Tuscola
Washtenaw
Ohio:
Fulton
Lucas
Ottawa
Wood
* * * * *
MISSISSIPPI
* * * * *
Jackson
Survey Area
Mississippi:
Hinds
Rankin
Warren
Area of Application. Survey area.
Mississippi:
Adams
Amite
Attala
Claiborne
Copiah
Franklin
Holmes
Humphreys
Issaquena
Jefferson
Jefferson Davis
Lawrence
Lincoln
Madison
Marion
Pike
Scott
Sharkey
Simpson
Smith
Walthall
Wilkinson
Yazoo
Meridian
Survey Area
Alabama:
Choctaw
Mississippi:
Forrest
Lamar
Lauderdale
Area of Application. Survey area plus:
Alabama:
Sumter
Mississippi:
Clarke
Covington
Greene
Jasper
Jones
Kemper
Leake
Neshoba
Newton
Perry
Wayne
* * * * *
OHIO
* * * * *
Cleveland
Survey Area
Ohio:
Cuyahoga
Geauga
Lake
Medina
Area of Application. Survey area plus:
Ohio:
Ashland
Ashtabula
Carroll
Columbiana
Erie
Huron
Lorain
Mahoning
Portage
Sandusky
Seneca
Stark
Summit
Trumbull
Wayne
Pennsylvania:
Mercer
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 2019-17413 Filed 8-13-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-39-P