[Federal Register: March 4, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 42)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 9581]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04mr02-1]                         


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Rules and Regulations
                                                Federal Register
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[[Page 9581]]



OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT

5 CFR PART 630

RIN 3206-AJ51

 
Absence and Leave; Use of Restored Annual Leave

AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing final 
regulations to aid agencies and employees responding to the ``National 
Emergency by Reason of Certain Terrorist Attacks'' on the World Trade 
Center and the Pentagon. The regulations provide that employees who 
forfeit excess annual leave because of their work to support the Nation 
during this national emergency are deemed to have scheduled their 
excess annual leave in advance. Such employees are entitled to 
restoration of their annual leave under these regulations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 3, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Herzberg, (202) 606-2858, FAX 
(202) 606-4264, or e-mail: payleave@opm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 14, 2001, President Bush 
declared a ``National Emergency by Reason of Certain Terrorist 
Attacks'' on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. On November 2, 
2001, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) published interim 
regulations (66 FR 5557) to provide relief to Federal employees who 
otherwise would have forfeited excess annual leave at the end of the 
leave year because of their involvement in efforts connected with the 
national emergency. The interim regulations became effective on 
December 3, 2001. Many agencies are involved in activities vital to our 
Nation as a result of the unprecedented events of September 11, 2001, 
the efforts toward recovery and response, and the continuing threat of 
further attacks on the United States. As a result, many Federal 
employees involved in these activities were unable to schedule and use 
excess annual leave and would have forfeited that leave at the end of 
the leave year. The interim regulations simplified the restoration of 
these employees' forfeited annual leave and imposed relaxed time 
limitations for using restored annual leave.
    The 60-day comment period ended on January 2, 2002. We received no 
formal comments from either agencies or individuals. In informal 
comments, agency representatives expressed their satisfaction with the 
regulations. As a result, we believe no changes are necessary in the 
interim regulations. Therefore, we are adopting as final the interim 
rule providing that excess annual leave forfeited by employees who were 
unable to schedule and use their leave due to their involvement in 
national emergency efforts is deemed to have been scheduled in advance 
and therefore eligible for restoration.

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

    The Office of Management and Budget has reviewed this rule in 
accordance with Executive Order 12866.

List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 630

    Government employees.

Office of Personnel Management.
Kay Coles James,
Director.


    Accordingly, under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 6304(d)(2), the Office 
of Personnel Management adopts the interim regulations amending subpart 
C of 5 CFR part 630, published at 66 FR 55557 on November 2, 2001, as 
final.

[FR Doc. 02-5063 Filed 3-1-02; 8:45 am]
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