Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of the Northeastern Arizona and Southern Colorado Appropriated Fund Federal Wage System Wage Areas

76 FR 43803Prevailing Rate Systems; Redefinition of the Northeastern Arizona and Southern Colorado Appropriated Fund Federal Wage System Wage Areas

76 FR 43803U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

76 FR 43803The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is issuing a final rule to redefine the geographic boundaries of the Northeastern Arizona and Southern Colorado appropriated fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage areas. The final rule redefines Dolores, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, and San Miguel Counties, CO, and the Curecanti National Recreation Area portion of Gunnison County, CO, from the Southern Colorado wage area to the Northeastern Arizona wage area. These changes are based on consensus recommendations of the Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee to best match the above counties to a nearby FWS survey area.

76 FR 43803This regulation is effective on August 22, 2011.

76 FR 43803Madeline Gonzalez, (202) 606-2838; e-mail pay-leave-policy@opm.gov ; or Fax: (202) 606-4264.

76 FR 43803On February 22, 2011, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a proposed rule (76 FR 9694) to redefine Dolores, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan, and San Miguel Counties, CO, and the Curecanti National Recreation Area portion of Gunnison County, CO, from the Southern Colorado wage area to the Northeastern Arizona wage area. The proposed rule had a 30-day comment period during which OPM received no comments. 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. FPRAC recommended no other changes in the geographic definitions of the Northeastern Arizona and Southern Colorado wage areas.

76 FR 43803In addition, this final rule deletes Pitkin County, CO, as an area of application county in the Southern Colorado wage area. OPM redefined Pitkin County as part of the area of application of the Denver, CO, wage area in a final rule published in 2000 (65 FR 26119). However, Pitkin County continues to incorrectly appear listed as an area of application county in the Southern Colorado wage area. The Denver wage area correctly lists Pitkin County as one of its area of application counties.

76 FR 43803I 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.

76 FR 43803Administrative 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 amends 5 CFR part 532 as follows:

76 FR 438031. The authority citation for part 532 continues to read as follows:

76 FR 438035 U.S.C. 5343, 5346; § 532.707 also issued under 5 U.S.C. 552.

76 FR 438032. Appendix C to subpart B is amended by revising the wage area listings for the Northeastern Arizona and Southern Colorado wage areas to read as follows:

76 FR 43803Arizona Northeastern Arizona Survey Area Arizona: Apache Coconino Navajo New Mexico: McKinley San Juan Area of Application. Survey area plus: Colorado: Dolores Gunnison (Only includes the Curecanti National Recreation Area portion) La Plata Montezuma Montrose Ouray San Juan San Miguel Utah: Kane San Juan (Does not include the Canyonlands National Park portion) * * * * * Colorado * * * * * Southwestern Colorado Survey Area Colorado: El Paso Pueblo Teller Area of Application. Survey area plus: Colorado: Alamosa Archuleta Baca Bent Chaffee Cheyenne Conejos Costilla Crowley Custer Delta Fremont Gunnison (Does not include the Curecanti National Recreation Area portion) Hinsdale Huerfano Kiowa Kit Carson Las Animas Lincoln Mineral Otero Prowers Rio Grande Saguache * * * * *