[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 136 (Monday, July 18, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
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From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17307]
Federal Register / Vol. 59, No. 136 / Monday, July 18, 1994 /
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 18, 1994]
VOL. 59, NO. 136
Monday, July 18, 1994
OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
5 CFR Part 532
RIN 3206-AG09
Prevailing Rate Systems; Aroostook, ME, NAF Wage Area
AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.
ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing an interim
regulation to abolish the Aroostook, Maine, nonappropriated fund (NAF)
Federal Wage System wage area and to redefine Aroostook and Washington
Counties, Maine, as areas of application to the Cumberland, Maine, NAF
wage area for pay-setting purposes. With the scheduled closing of
Loring Air Force Base (AFB) on September 30, 1994, and the current
downsizing of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service and Loring AFB
Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department, there will not be a
sufficient number of employees to conduct the wage change survey
scheduled for July 1994 or to meet the regulatory requirements for a
survey area.
DATES: This interim rule becomes effective on July 18, 1994. Comments
must be received by August 17, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Donald J. Winstead, Acting
Assistant Director for Compensation Policy, Personnel Systems and
Oversight Group, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Room 6H31, 1900 E
Street NW., Washington, DC 20415.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Angela Graham Humes, (202) 606-2848.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Aroostook NAF wage area is composed of
two counties. Aroostook County is the survey area, and Washington
County is the area of application. The host activity, Loring AFB, is
scheduled to close on September 30, 1994. With the scheduled closing of
Loring AFB and the current downsizing of the Army and Air Force
Exchange Service and Loring AFB Morale, Welfare and Recreation
Department, there will not be a sufficient number of employees to
conduct the wage change survey scheduled for July 1994. The Department
of Defense projects that no more than 25 Federal Wage System (FWS)
employees will work in Aroostook County by September 30, 1994. Cutler
Radio Station, in Washington, Maine, the only other installation with
NAF employees in the wage area, has eight FWS employees and does not
have sufficient capability to serve as host installation. Because
neither county meets the minimum of 26 NAF employees required to
establish a wage area, Aroostook and Washington Counties must be
redefined as areas of application to an existing wage area.
The provisions of 5 CFR 532.219 list the following criteria for
consideration when two or more counties are to be combined to
constitute a single wage are:
(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. These
criteria are discussed below.
Loring AFB in Aroostook County and Cutler Radio Station in
Washington County are closest to the Cumberland, Maine, NAF wage area.
Loring AFB is approximately 461 kilometers (286 miles) and Cutler Radio
Station is approximately 298 kilometers (185 miles) from Brunswick
Naval Air Station, host installation and largest activity in the
Cumberland, Maine, NAF wage area. York, Maine (which was defined as a
wage area effective March 23, 1994, by an interim rule 59 FR 13641), is
the next closest NAF wage area. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is the
largest activity and host installation in York, Maine, and is located
approximately 585 kilometers (363 miles) from Loring AFB and 415
kilometers (258 miles) from Cutler Radio Station.
Transportation facilities consist of interstate highways and
principal highways. The most direct route from Loring AFB and Cutler
Radio Station to Cumberland, Maine, and Brunswick Naval Air Station is
Interstate 95. Interstate 95 then continues to York, Maine, and
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
An analysis of the 1990 commuting patterns indicates that 37,392
workers live and work within Aroostook County. Aroostook County out-
commuters include 113 who commute to work in Washington County, 42 who
commute to Cumberland County, and none who commute to York County. The
1990 commuting patterns for Washington County indicate that 12,178
workers live and work within Washington County. Washington County out-
commuters include 54 who commute to work in Aroostook County, 11 who
commute to Cumberland County, and none who commute to York County.
In overall population, Aroostook (population 86,936) and Washington
(population 35,308) Counties are smaller than both York County
(population 164,587) and Cumberland County (243,135). In terms of
private industry employment in the major industry categories, Aroostook
(employment 2,402) and Washington (employment 599) Counties are again
smaller than both York County (employment 4,428) and Cumberland County
(employment 14,901). As with the employment criteria, the kinds and
sizes of private industry establishments in Aroostook and Washington
Counties more closely resemble those in York County but are smaller
than both Cumberland and York Counties. In summary, both proximity and
transportation facilities favor assigning Aroostook and Washington
Counties to the Cumberland, Maine, NAF wage area. Aroostook and
Washington Counties are more similar to, but substantially smaller
than, York County in terms of overall population, private employment in
major industry categories, and kinds and sizes of private industrial
establishments.
The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee reviewed this
request and recommended approval by consensus.
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 to avoid the expenditure of resources needed to
prepare for the July 1994 wage change survey of the Aroostook, Maine,
NAF wage area.
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.
E.O. 12866 Regulatory Review
This rule has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget
in accordance with E.O. 12866.
List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 532
Administrative practice and procedure, Freedom of information,
Government employees, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Wages.
U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
James B. King,
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 of Part 532, the listing for the
State of Maine is amended by removing the entry for Aroostook.
3. Appendix D to subpart B of Part 532 is amended by removing the
wage area list for Aroostook, Maine, and by revising the list for
Cumberland, Maine, to read as follows:
Appendix D to Subpart B of Part 532--Nonappropriated Fund Wage and
Survey Areas
* * * * *
Maine
Cumberland
Survey area
Maine:
Cumberland
Area of application: Survey area plus:
Maine:
Aroostook
Hancock
Kennebec
Knox
Penobscot
Sagadahoc
Washington
* * * * *
[FR Doc. 94-17307 Filed 7-15-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-01-M