[Federal Register: July 9, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 132)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 39213-39214]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09jy08-1]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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[[Page 39213]]
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
5 CFR Part 532
RIN 3206-AL68
Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of the New Orleans, LA,
Appropriated Fund Federal Wage System Wage Area
AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is issuing an interim
rule to add St. Charles and St. John the Baptist Parishes, Louisiana,
to the survey area of the New Orleans, LA, appropriated fund Federal
Wage System wage area. The purpose of this change is to ensure the lead
agency for the New Orleans wage area is able to obtain wage data that
best represent the prevailing rates paid by businesses in the area.
DATES: Effective Date: This regulation is effective on July 9, 2008. We
must receive comments on or before August 8, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Charles D. Grimes III, Deputy
Associate Director for Performance and Pay Systems, Strategic Human
Resources Policy Division, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Room
7H31, 1900 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20415-8200; e-mail pay-
performance-policy@opm.gov; or FAX: (202) 606-4264.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Madeline Gonzalez, (202) 606-2838; e-
mail pay-performance-policy@opm.gov; or FAX: (202) 606-4264.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The U.S. Office of Personnel Management
(OPM) is adding St. Charles and St. John the Baptist Parishes,
Louisiana, to the survey area of the New Orleans, LA, appropriated fund
Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area. The New Orleans survey area
currently includes five of the seven parishes of the New Orleans-
Metairie-Kenner, LA Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)--Jefferson,
Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany Parishes. The survey
area does not include St. Charles and St. John the Baptist Parishes,
which are also in the New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner MSA.
While there are currently only five FWS employees working in St.
Charles Parish and no FWS employees working in St. John the Baptist
Parish, the addition of St. Charles and St. John the Baptist Parishes
to the New Orleans survey area provides a desirable increase in the
number of surveyable private sector industrial establishments in the
New Orleans survey area--about 15 percent more than in the current New
Orleans survey area.
This survey area expansion will not create an undue survey burden
on the lead agency for the wage area (the Department of Defense) and is
strongly justified because of the substantial damage to private sector
establishments in the New Orleans area in the aftermath of Hurricane
Katrina. Expanding the New Orleans survey area will allow additional
private sector establishments to provide wage data that best represents
the prevailing rates paid by businesses in the New Orleans area.
This change will be effective for the next full-scale wage survey
in the wage area, which is scheduled to begin in November 2008. The
Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee, the national labor-
management committee responsible for advising OPM on matters concerning
the pay of FWS employees, has reviewed and recommended this change by
consensus.
Waiver of Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Delay in Effective Date
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) and (d)(3), I find that good
cause exists to waive the general notice of proposed rulemaking. Also
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), I find that good cause exists for
making this rule effective in less than 30 days. This notice is being
waived and the regulation is being made effective in less than 30 days
because Hurricane Katrina caused substantial economic disruption in the
New Orleans wage area affecting the Government's ability to adequately
measure local prevailing wage levels. This change is urgent because the
next scheduled wage survey in the wage area will occur in November
2008, and the lead agency must begin planning and coordination phases
for the survey as soon as possible.
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.
Office of Personnel Management.
Linda M. Springer,
Director.
0
Accordingly, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management is amending 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. In appendix C to subpart B, the wage area listing for the State of
Louisiana is amended by revising the listing for New Orleans to read as
follows:
* * * * *
Louisiana
* * * * *
New Orleans
Survey Area
Louisiana:
Jefferson
Orleans
Plaquemines
St. Bernard
St. Charles
St. John the Baptist
St. Tammany
Area of Application. Survey Area Plus
Louisiana:
Ascension
Assumption
East Baton Rouge
[[Page 39214]]
East Feliciana
Iberia
Iberville
Lafourche
Livingston
Pointe Coupee
St. Helena
St. James
St. Martin
St. Mary
Tangipahoa
Terrebonne
Washington
West Baton Rouge
West Feliciana
* * * * *
[FR Doc. E8-15598 Filed 7-8-08; 8:45 am]
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