Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of the Madison, WI, and Southwestern Wisconsin Appropriated Fund Federal Wage System Wage Areas

75 FR 70616Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of the Madison, WI, and Southwestern Wisconsin Appropriated Fund Federal Wage System Wage Areas

75 FR 70616U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

75 FR 70616Proposed rule with request for comments.

75 FR 70616The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is issuing a proposed rule that would redefine the geographic boundaries of the Madison, Wisconsin, and Southwestern Wisconsin appropriated fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage areas. The proposed rule would redefine Adams and Waushara Counties, WI, from the Southwestern Wisconsin wage area to the Madison wage area. These changes are based on recent consensus recommendations of the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee to best match the counties proposed for redefinition to a nearby FWS survey area. No other changes are proposed for the Madison and Southwestern Wisconsin FWS wage areas.

75 FR 70616We must receive comments on or before December 20, 2010.

75 FR 70616Send or deliver comments to Jerome D. Mikowicz, Deputy Associate Director for Pay and Leave, Employee Services, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Room 7H31, 1900 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20415-8200; e-mail pay-performance-policy@opm.gov; or FAX: (202) 606-4264.

75 FR 70616Madeline Gonzalez, (202) 606-2838; e-mail pay-performance-policy@opm.gov; or FAX: (202) 606-4264.

75 FR 70616The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a proposed rule to redefine the Madison, WI, and Southwestern Wisconsin appropriated fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage areas. This proposed rule would redefine Adams and Waushara Counties, WI, from the Southwestern Wisconsin wage area to the Madison wage area. OPM considers the following regulatory criteria under 5 CFR 532.211 when defining FWS wage area boundaries: (i) Distance, transportation facilities, and geographic features; (ii) Commuting patterns; and (iii) Similarities in overall population, employment, and the kinds and sizes of private industrial establishments. Adams County is currently defined to the Southwestern Wisconsin area of application. Based on our analysis of the regulatory criteria for defining appropriated fund FWS wage areas, we find that Adams County would be more appropriately defined as part of the Madison area of application. When measuring to cities, the distance criterion favors the Madison wage area. When measuring to host installations, the distance criterion favors the Southwestern Wisconsin wage area. The transportation facilities and geographic features criteria are indeterminate. The commuting patterns criterion slightly favors the Madison wage area. Similarities in overall population, total private sector employment, and kinds and sizes of private industrial establishments favor the Southwestern Wisconsin wage area. Although a standard review of regulatory criteria shows mixed results, the distance criterion indicates Adams County is closer to the Madison survey area. Based on this analysis, we recommend that Adams County be redefined to the Madison wage area.

75 FR 70616Waushara County is also currently defined to the Southwestern Wisconsin area of application. Our analysis of the regulatory criteria indicates that Waushara County would be more appropriately defined as part of the Madison wage area. When measuring to cities, the distance criterion favors the Madison wage area. When measuring to host installations, the distance criterion favors the Southwestern Wisconsin wage area. The transportation facilities and geographic features criteria are indeterminate. The commuting patterns criterion is also indeterminate. Similarities in overall population, total private sector employment, and kinds and sizes of private industrial establishments favor the Southwestern Wisconsin wage area. Although a standard review of regulatory criteria shows mixed results, the distance criterion indicates Waushara County is closer to the Madison survey area. Based on this analysis, we recommend that Waushara County be redefined to the Madison wage area. The Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC), the national labor-management committee responsible for advising OPM on matters concerning the pay of FWS employees, recommended these changes by consensus. These changes would be effective on the first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or after 30 days following publication of the final regulations. FPRAC recommended no other changes in the geographic definitions of the Madison and Southwestern Wisconsin wage areas.

75 FR 70616I certify that these regulations would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because they would affect only Federal agencies and employees.

75 FR 70616Administrative practice and procedure, Freedom of information, Government employees, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Wages. U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Accordingly, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management is proposing to amend 5 CFR part 532 as follows:

75 FR 706161. The authority citation for part 532 continues to read as follows:

75 FR 706165 U.S.C. 5343, 5346; § 532.707 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 552. 2. Appendix C to subpart B is amended by revising the wage area listings for the Madison, WI, and Southwestern Wisconsin wage areas to read as follows:

75 FR 70617WISCONSIN Madison Survey Area Wisconsin: Dane Area of Application. Survey area plus: Wisconsin: Adams Columbia Dodge Grant Green Green Lake Iowa Jefferson Lafayette Marquette Rock Sauk Waushara * * * * * Southwestern Wisconsin Survey Area Wisconsin: Chippewa Eau Claire La Crosse Monroe Trempealeau Area of Application. Survey area plus: Wisconsin: Barron Buffalo Clark Crawford Dunn Florence Forest Jackson Juneau Langlade Lincoln Marathon Marinette Menominee Oconto Oneida Pepin Portage Price Richland Rusk Shawano Taylor Vernon Vilas Waupaca Wood Minnesota: Fillmore Houston Wabasha Winona * * * * *