SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On September 27, 2023, OPM issued a proposed rule (88 FR 66300) to update the 2017 NAICS codes used in FWS wage survey industry regulations with the 2022 NAICS revisions published by OMB. 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 at its May 18, 2023, meeting. The transcript of this meeting can be found on the Federal Wage System website, available at https://www.opm.gov/​policy-data-oversight/​pay-leave/​pay-systems/​federal-wage-system/​#url=​FPRAC.

The 30-day comment period ended on October 27, 2023. OPM received one comment in reference to the impact of the NAICS revisions on the existing wage schedules and FWS wage areas. We note, however, that this final regulation will have no impact on the existing wage schedules and FWS wage areas because there will be no changes in the types of industrial establishments already included in FWS wage surveys. This final rule updates the wage survey industry regulations by adopting the 2022 NAICS codes published by OMB.

The commenter also stated that no guidance or criteria for selecting the NAICS codes were provided. In 1997, OMB developed NAICS and required its use for Federal statistical purposes. NAICS replaced the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) industry classification system. On June 20, 2006, OPM published final regulations (71 FR 35373) replacing SIC codes with NAICS codes, following an FPRAC recommendation. This recommendation was based on FPRAC's Wage Survey Methodology Work Group (Work Group) study of the desirability and feasibility of replacing the SIC codes used in FWS regulations at the time with NAICS codes and the effect of this change on industry coverage for FWS wage surveys. The Work Group recommended to FPRAC that OPM replace all SIC codes in the FWS regulations with the most closely corresponding NAICS codes, while making as few changes as possible in the types of industrial establishments that were already included in FWS wage surveys under the SIC system.

We have not made any changes to the final regulations based on this comment. This final regulation is effective February 23, 2024. However, to provide the Department of Defense (DOD) with sufficient time for planning surveys and implementing changes required by OMB's 2022 NAICS revisions, the regulation is applicable for wage surveys ordered to begin on or after May 8, 2024.

As OMB continues to update NAICS codes periodically, OPM will update these regulations to correspond to the updated NAICS codes after consideration of any recommendations submitted by FPRAC.

Expected Impact of This Rule

OPM is issuing this final rule so that its FWS wage survey industry regulations remain consistent and up to date with OMB's NAICS codes. OPM expects this rule to have no significant impact on whether companies are included or excluded from wage surveys. The expected costs would be de minimis since DOD, the lead agency responsible for conducting FWS wage surveys, will only have to make some minor changes in their computer systems to follow the updated NAICS codes. OPM does not anticipate this rule will have a substantial impact on the local economies or a large impact in the local labor markets. OPM will continue to study the implications of such impacts of this or future rules as needed, as this and future changes in OMB's NAICS codes may have higher impact on wage survey methodology.

Regulatory Review

OPM has examined the impact of this rule as required by Executive Orders 13563, 12866, and 14094, which direct agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety effects, distributive impacts, and equity). This rule is not considered a “significant regulatory action” under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Director of OPM certifies that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities because this rule will affect only Federal agencies and employees.

Federalism

OPM examined this rule in accordance with Executive Order 13132, Federalism, and determined that it will not have any negative impact on the rights, roles, and responsibilities of State, local, or tribal governments.

Civil Justice Reform

This regulation meets the applicable standard set forth in Executive Order 12988.

Unfunded Mandates Act of 1995

This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local, and tribal ( printed page 4540) governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 million or more in any year, and it will not significantly or uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

Congressional Review Act

Subtitle E of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (known as the Congressional Review Act or CRA) (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.) requires most final rules to be submitted to Congress before taking effect. OPM will submit to Congress and the Comptroller General of the United States a report regarding the issuance of this rule before its effective date. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Office of Management and Budget has determined that this rule is not a major rule as defined by the CRA (5 U.S.C. 804).

Paperwork Reduction Act

This rule does not impose any reporting or record-keeping requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act.

Accordingly, OPM amends 5 CFR part 532 as follows: