80 FR 32042 - Prevailing Rate Systems; Special Wage Schedules for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Flood Control Employees of the Vicksburg District in Mississippi

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 108 (June 5, 2015)

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a proposed rule to establish special wage schedules specific to nonsupervisory, leader, and supervisory wage employees of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) who work at flood control dams (also known as reservoir projects) at the Vicksburg District of the Mississippi Valley Division. The four lakes of the District are currently in two separate wage areas. The Department of Defense (DOD) would be assigned lead agency responsibility for establishing and issuing these special wage schedules. The special wage schedules would be established at the same time and with rates identical to the Memphis, TN, appropriated fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage schedule.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 108 (Friday, June 5, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 32042-32043]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13778]


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Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 108 / Friday, June 5, 2015 / Proposed 
Rules

[[Page 32042]]



OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR Part 532

RIN 3206-AN17


Prevailing Rate Systems; Special Wage Schedules for U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers Flood Control Employees of the Vicksburg District in 
Mississippi

AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Proposed rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing a 
proposed rule to establish special wage schedules specific to 
nonsupervisory, leader, and supervisory wage employees of the U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers (USACE) who work at flood control dams (also known 
as reservoir projects) at the Vicksburg District of the Mississippi 
Valley Division. The four lakes of the District are currently in two 
separate wage areas. The Department of Defense (DOD) would be assigned 
lead agency responsibility for establishing and issuing these special 
wage schedules. The special wage schedules would be established at the 
same time and with rates identical to the Memphis, TN, appropriated 
fund Federal Wage System (FWS) wage schedule.

DATES: We must receive comments on or before July 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by ``RIN 3206-AN17,'' 
using any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Brenda L. Roberts, 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.
    Email: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Madeline Gonzalez, by telephone at 
(202) 606-2858 or by email at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: OPM is issuing a proposed rule to establish 
special wage schedules for USACE nonsupervisory, leader, and 
supervisory wage employees who work at flood control dams (also known 
as reservoir projects) and whose duty station is located at one of the 
lakes that comprise the Vicksburg District of the Mississippi Valley 
Division. DOD would be assigned lead agency responsibility for 
establishing and issuing these special wage schedules. The special wage 
schedules would be established at the same time and with rates 
identical to the Memphis, TN, appropriated fund FWS wage schedule.
    The Vicksburg District of the Mississippi Valley Division is 
comprised of the following four lakes:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Lakes                              County                              Wage area
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arkabutla Lake.......................  Tate County, MS..............  Memphis, TN.
Enid Lake............................  Yalobusha County, MS.........  Northern Mississippi.
Grenada Lake.........................  Grenada County, MS...........  Northern Mississippi.
Sardis Lake..........................  Panola County, MS............  Memphis, TN.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Grenada and Yalobusha Counties have been defined to the area of 
application of the Northern Mississippi (previously called Columbus-
Aberdeen, MS) wage area since the FWS was established in 1972. In 1978, 
OPM redefined Tate County from the Columbus-Aberdeen area of 
application to the Memphis, TN, area of application. In 1996, OPM added 
Grenada County to the Northern Mississippi survey area. In 2011, OPM 
redefined Panola County from the Northern Mississippi area of 
application to the Memphis area of application. Panola County is the 
location of the District headquarters for USACE employees of the four 
lake projects.
    At the request of the labor members of the Federal Prevailing Rate 
Advisory Committee (FPRAC), the Committee has reexamined the definition 
of Grenada and Yalobusha Counties to see if a change in their 
definition is warranted. During the review of this subject, the 
Committee heard local testimony indicating that there is considerable 
workforce interaction between the four lakes in the Vicksburg District 
and presents a unique pay situation that is detrimental to the 
efficient functioning of the lake projects in the District.

Regulatory Criteria Under 5 CFR 532.211

    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.
    Except for the transportation facilities and geographic features 
criteria, the analysis of the regulatory criteria for Grenada and 
Yalobusha Counties favors the Northern Mississippi wage area.
    Based on this analysis, OPM has determined that Grenada and 
Yalobusha Counties are appropriately defined to the Northern 
Mississippi wage area.

Special Wage Schedules

    Because there exists a unique situation in the Vicksburg District 
to the point that all four lakes may be considered to be managed as one 
installation, FPRAC recommended by majority vote that DOD establish and 
issue special wage schedules for USACE employees whose duty station is 
located in one of the lakes that comprise the Vicksburg District of the 
Mississippi Valley Division. OPM is proposing to create a special wage 
schedule practice in this unique circumstance as recommended by FPRAC. 
The special wage schedules would be established using rates identical 
to the Memphis appropriated fund FWS wage schedule.
    These special wage schedules would apply on the first day of the 
first

[[Page 32043]]

applicable pay period beginning on or after 60 days following 
publication of the final regulations. USACE employees with duty 
stations in one of the lakes of the Vicksburg District would transfer 
to the new special wage schedules on a step-by-step basis. No current 
employee will have his or her pay rate reduced as a result of 
implementing these new special wage schedules.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    I 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.

Executive Order 13563 and Executive Order 12866

    This proposed rule has been reviewed by the Office of Management 
and Budget in accordance with Executive Order 13563 and Executive Order 
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.
Katherine Archuleta,
Director.

    Accordingly, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management is proposing 
to amend 5 CFR part 532 as follows:

PART 532--PREVAILING RATE SYSTEMS

0
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.

0
2. Subpart B is amended by adding Sec.  532.289 to read as follows:


Sec.  532.289  Special Wage Schedules for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
Flood Control Employees of the Vicksburg District in Mississippi.

    (a)(1) The Department of Defense will establish special wage 
schedules for wage employees of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who 
work at flood control dams (also known as reservoir projects) and whose 
duty station is located in one of the lakes that comprise the Vicksburg 
District of the Mississippi Valley Division.
    (2) These special wage schedules will provide rates of pay for 
nonsupervisory, leader, and supervisory employees. These special 
schedule positions will be identified by pay plan codes XR 
(nonsupervisory), XT (leader), and XU (supervisory).
    (b) The Vicksburg District of the Mississippi Valley Division is 
comprised of the following four lakes:

(1) Grenada Lake in Grenada County, MS
(2) Enid Lake in Yalobusha County, MS
(3) Sardis Lake in Panola County, MS
(4) Arkabutla Lake in Tate County, MS

    (c) Special wage schedules shall be established at the same time 
and with rates identical to the Memphis, TN, appropriated fund wage 
schedule.

[FR Doc. 2015-13778 Filed 6-4-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-39-P