Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of the Norfolk, Massachusetts, Nonappropriated Fund Wage Area

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AH58

Prevailing Rate Systems; Abolishment of the Norfolk,

Massachusetts, Nonappropriated Fund Wage Area

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing a final rule to

abolish the Norfolk, Massachusetts, nonappropriated fund Federal Wage

System wage area and redefine its five counties as areas of application

to nearby wage areas for pay-setting purposes. This change is being

made because the closure of the Naval Air Station at South Weymouth,

MA, left the Department of Defense without an activity in the wage area

capable of hosting local wage surveys.

DATE: 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 September 23, 1996, the Office of

Personnel Management (OPM) published an interim rule (61 FR 49649) to

abolish the Norfolk, MA, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System

(FWS) wage area and redefine its five counties having continuing FWS

employment. The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee, the

statutory national labor-management committee responsible for advising

OPM on matters concerning the pay of FWS employees, recommended by

majority vote that we abolish the Norfolk, MA, NAF wage area and

redefine its five counties as areas of application to nearby NAF wage

areas. Norfolk County, Plymouth County, and Suffolk County, MA, were

redefined to the Middlesex, MA, NAF wage area. Barnstable County and

Nantucket County, MA, were redefined to the Newport, Rhode Island, NAF

wage area. This change was necessary due to the closure of the Norfolk

wage area's host activity, the Naval Air Station South Weymouth, which

left the wage area without an activity having the capability to conduct

annual local wage surveys.

Employees being paid rates from the Norfolk, MA, NAF wage schedule

were converted to new wage schedules on November 15, 1996. No permanent

employee's wage rate was reduced as a result of this change. The

interim rule provided a 30-day period for public comment, during which

we did not receive any comments. Therefore, the interim rule is being

adopted as a final rule.

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

(61 FR 49649) amending 5 CFR part 532 published on September 23, 1996,

is adopted as final with no changes.

Office of Personnel Management,

Janice R. Lachance,

Director.

[FR Doc. 99-5005 Filed 2-26-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6325-01-P