Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of Merced, CA, Nonappropriated Fund Wage Area

SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing an interim rule

to abolish the Merced, CA, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage

system (FWS) wage area and redefine the country having continuing FWS

employment (Fresno County) as an area of application to the Kern, CA,

NAF wage area for pay-setting purposes. The remaining Merced wage area

county (Merced County) has no FWS employees and is being deleted.

DATES: This interim rule becomes effective on February 15, 1996.

Comments must be received by March 18, 1996. Employees currently paid

rates from the Merced, CA, NAF wage schedule will continue to be paid

from that schedule until conversion to the Kern, CA, NAF wage schedule

on April 4, 1996, 1 day before the effective date of the next Kern, CA,

wage schedule.

ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Donald J. Winstead, Assistant

Director for Compensation Policy, Human Resources Systems Service,

Office of Personnel Management, Room 6H31, 1900 E Street NW.,

Washington, DC 20415, or FAX: (202) 606-0824.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Paul Shields, (202) 606-2848.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Defense recommended to the

Office of Personnel Management that the Merced, CA, FWS NAF wage area

be abolished and that the county having continuing FWS employment

(Fresno County) be added as an area of application to the Kern, CA, NAF

wage area. The remaining Merced wage area county (Merced County) is

being deleted because it has no FWS employment. This change is

necessary because the closing of the wage area host activity, Castle

Air Force Base, leaves the Merced wage area without an activity having

the capability to conduct a wage survey.

As required in regulation, 5 CFR 532.219, the following criteria

were considered in redefining these wage areas:

(1) Proximity of largest activity in each county;

(2) Transportation facilities and commuting patterns; and

(3) Similarities of the counties in:

(i) Overall population;

(ii) Private employment in major industry categories; and

(iii) Kinds and sizes of private industrial establishments.

Proximity favors redefining Fresno County to the San Joaquin wage

area. However, because of declining employment in the wage area and a

limited capability for conducting a wage survey, the possible

abolishment of the San Joaquin wage area is currently under study. The

second and third criteria favor redefinition to the Kern wage area. An

additional consideration favoring redefinition of Fresno County to the

Kern wage area is the fact that Fresno County is contiguous to Kings

County, an area of application to the Kern wage area. On balance, the

recommended redefinition of Fresno County to the Kern wage area is

supported.

The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee reviewed this

recommendation and by consensus recommended approval.

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B), I find that good cause exists

for waiving the general notice of proposed rulemaking. Also, pursuant

to section 553(d)(3) of title 5, United States Code, I find that good

cause exists for making this rule effective in less than 30 days. The

notice is being waived and the regulation is being made effective in

less than 30 days because preparations for the 1996 Merced, CA, NAF

wage area survey must otherwise being immediately.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

I certify that these regulations will not have a significant

economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because they

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.

Lorraine A. Green,

Deputy Director.

Accordingly, OPM is amending 5 CFR part 532 as follows:

PART 532--PREVAILING RATE SYSTEMS

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 B to Subpart B of Part 532 [Amended]

2. In appendix B to subpart B, the listing for the State of

California is amended by removing the entry for Merced.

3. Appendix D to subpart B is amended by removing the wage area

listing for Merced, California, and by revising the listing for Kern,

California, to read as follows:

Appendix D to Subpart B of Part 532--Nonappropriated Fund Wage and

Survey Areas

* * * * *

California

* * * * *

Kern

Survey Area

California: Kern

Area of Application. Survey Area Plus

California

Fresno (Effective date April 4, 1996)

Kings

* * * * *

[FR Doc. 96-3365 Filed 2-14-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6325-01-M