[Federal Register: October 1, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 190)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 53179]

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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AI68

Prevailing Rate Systems; Change in Survey Cycle for the
Southwestern Michigan Appropriated Fund Wage Area

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing a final rule to
change the full-scale survey cycle for the Southwestern Michigan
appropriated fund Federal Wage System wage area from odd to even-
numbered fiscal years. This change is being made to help even out the
local wage survey workload of the Department of Defense.

DATE: This final rule is effective on November 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hopkins, (202) 606-2848, FAX:
(202) 606-0824, or e-mail to jdhopkin@opm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 3, 1999, the Office of Personnel
Management (OPM) published an interim rule (64 FR 23531) to change the
full-scale survey cycle for the Southwestern Michigan wage area from
odd to even-numbered fiscal years. The interim regulation had a 30-day
public comment period, during which OPM received no comments. The
interim rule is therefore being made final. Under section 532.207 of
title 5, Code of Federal Regulations, the scheduling of wage surveys
takes into consideration the best timing in relation to wage
adjustments in the principal local private enterprise establishments,
reasonable distribution of workload of the lead agency, timing of
surveys for nearby or selected wage areas, and scheduling relationships
with other pay surveys.
    This change is being made to help even out the Department of
Defense's (DOD's) wage survey workload and stems from DOD's recent
acquisition of lead agency responsibility for 23 Federal Wage System
(FWS) wage areas from the Department of Veterans Affairs. DOD requested
that a full-scale wage survey for the Southwestern Michigan wage area
be conducted in October 1999 and that a wage change survey be conducted
in October 2000. The timing of the Southwestern Michigan wage survey
relative to private sector wage adjustments will remain unchanged.
    The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee, the national labor-
management committee responsible for advising OPM on matters concerning
the pay of FWS employees, reviewed and concurred by consensus with this
change.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    I certify that these regulations will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because they
will 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.
    Accordingly, under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 5343, the interim rule
(64 FR 23531) amending 5 CFR part 532 published on May 3, 1999, is
adopted as final with no changes.

Office of Personnel Management.
Janice R. Lachance,
Director.
[FR Doc. 99-25610 Filed 9-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-01-P