[Federal Register: August 1, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 148)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 49855]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01au02-1]                         


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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
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[[Page 49855]]



OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AJ60

 
Prevailing Rate Systems; Change in the Survey Cycle for the 
Portland, Oregon, 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 timing of local wage surveys in the Portland, Oregon, 
appropriated fund Federal Wage System wage area. This change will help 
the Department of Defense (DOD) balance its wage survey workload. DOD 
will conduct full-scale wage surveys in the Portland wage area in 
August of each even-numbered fiscal year, beginning in August 2002.

Effective Date: This regulation is effective on September 3, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chenty I. Carpenter at (202) 606-2838; 
by FAX at (202) 606-4264; or by e-mail at cicarpen@opm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 24, 2002, the Office of Personnel 
Management (OPM) published an interim rule (67 FR 20009) to change the 
timing of local wage surveys in the Portland, Oregon, appropriated fund 
Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area. The interim rule had a 30-day 
public comment period, during which we received no comments. Full-scale 
wage surveys currently begin in August of each odd-numbered fiscal 
year. Full-scale wage surveys will begin in the future in August of 
each even-numbered fiscal year. Under 5 CFR 532.207, the scheduling of 
wage surveys takes into consideration the best timing in relation to 
wage adjustments in the principal local private enterprise 
establishments, a reasonable distribution of the workload of the lead 
agency, the timing of surveys for nearby wage areas, and scheduling 
relationships with other pay surveys.
    The Department of Defense (DOD) asked OPM to change the starting 
time for local wage surveys in the Portland, Oregon, wage area to 
August of even-numbered fiscal years to balance the overall workload of 
its survey office. DOD conducted a full-scale survey in Portland in 
August of 2001 and will conduct another full-scale wage survey in 
Portland in August 2002.
    The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee, the national labor-
management committee responsible for advising OPM on matters concerning 
the pay of FWS employees, recommended by consensus that we change the 
full-scale survey cycle for the Portland wage area from August of each 
odd-numbered fiscal year to August of each even-numbered fiscal year.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    I certify that this regulation will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities because it 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.
Kay Coles James,
Director.


    Accordingly, under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 5343, the interim rule 
(67 FR 20009) amending 5 CFR part 532 published on April 24, 2002, is 
adopted as final with no changes.

[FR Doc. 02-19459 Filed 7-31-02; 8:45 am]
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