Prevailing Rate Systems; Removal of Umatilla County, Oregon, from the Spokane, Washington, Nonappropriated Fund Wage Area

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AI10

Prevailing Rate Systems; Removal of Umatilla County, Oregon, from

the Spokane, Washington, Nonappropriated 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

remove Umatilla County, Oregon, from the Spokane, Washington,

nonappropriated fund Federal Wage System wage area because

nonappropriated fund Federal Wage System employees are no longer

stationed in Umatilla County, and no Federal agency anticipates such

future employment in the county.

DATES: This regulation is effective on March 31, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Hopkins, (202) 606-2848, FAX:

(202) 606-0824, or email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 23, 1997, the Office of

Personnel Management (OPM) published an interim rule (62 FR 66973) to

remove Umatilla County, Oregon, from the Spokane, Washington,

nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area. The

change was made effective on January 1, 1998. The Federal Prevailing

Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC), the statutory national labor-

management committee responsible for advising OPM on matters concerning

the pay of FWS employees, recommended by consensus that we remove

Umatilla County, OR, from the Spokane, WA, FWS wage area. The Spokane

wage area is composed of one survey county, Spokane County, and three

area of application counties, Adams County, WA, Walla Walla County, WA,

and Umatilla County, OR. The removal of Umatilla County is appropriate

because there are no NAF FWS employees stationed in the county, and no

Federal agency anticipates future NAF employment. According to section

5343(a)(1)(B)(i) of title 5, United States Code, NAF wage areas ``shall

not extend

[[Page 9906]]

beyond the immediate locality in which the particular prevailing rate

employees are employed.''

On January 1, 1998, the minimum wage for the state of Oregon

increased to $6.00 per hour. Under section 532.205 of title 5, Code of

Federal Regulations, the highest mimimum wage applicable within a wage

area must be applied to the entire wage area. Pay rates for NAF FWS

employees stationed in Adams, Spokane, and Walla Walla Counties, WA,

would have been increased to the higher minimum wage amount for the

state of Oregon even though there are no NAF FWS employees working in

Umatilla County, OR. OPM published an interim rule making this change

and provided a 30-day public comment period. During this period, OPM

did not receive any comments. Based on the previous recommendation of

FPRAC, the interim rule is being adopted as a final rule without any

changes.

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

(62 FR 66973) amending 5 CFR part 532 published on December 23, 1997,

is adopted as final with no changes.

Office of Personnel Management.

Janice R. Lachance,

Director.

[FR Doc. 99-5004 Filed 2-26-99; 8:45 am]

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