[Federal Register: January 6, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 3)]
[Rules and Regulations]               
[Page 460]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06ja03-2]                         


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


5 CFR Part 532


RIN 3206-AJ63


 
Prevailing Rate Systems; Change in Federal Wage System Survey Job


AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.


ACTION: Final rule.


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SUMMARY: The Office of Personnel Management is issuing a final rule 
that will allow the Department of Defense to use the Maintenance 
Mechanic Federal Wage System (FWS) survey job without having to seek 
OPM's approval on a case-by-case basis. This change will improve the 
local FWS wage survey process.


DATES: Effective Date February 5, 2003.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chenty I. Carpenter, (202) 606-2848, 
FAX: (202) 606-0824, or e-mail cicarpen@opm.gov.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 1, 2002, the Office of Personnel 
Management (OPM) issued a proposed rule to permit the Department of 
Defense (DOD) to use the Maintenance Mechanic Federal Wage System (FWS) 
survey job on an optional basis without having to seek OPM's advance 
approval. The Maintenance Mechanic survey job is now used routinely in 
many FWS wage areas because of changes in the structure of both Federal 
and private sector maintenance work. The proposed rule provided a 30-
day period for public comment, during which OPM received no comments.
    OPM's regulations contain required and optional survey jobs. If a 
particular survey job does not appear on either list, but is needed for 
a local wage survey, an agency must request OPM's written approval. The 
Federal Prevailing Rate Advisory Committee (FPRAC) established a Survey 
Job Work Group (SJWG) to review FWS survey job descriptions. The SJWG 
recommended that OPM add the Maintenance Mechanic survey job to the 
list of optional FWS survey jobs. Adding the Maintenance Mechanic 
survey job to the list of optional survey jobs would enable DOD to use 
the survey job at its discretion without having to ask OPM for prior 
approval. This will allow DOD to save time when conducting FWS wage 
surveys. FPRAC agreed with its working group and recommended that OPM 
make this change.


Regulatory Flexibility Act


    I certify that this regulation will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities because it will affect 
only Federal agencies and employees.


Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Review


    This rule has been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget 
in accordance with 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.
    Office of Personnel Management.


Kay Coles James,
Director.
    Accordingly, the Office of Personnel Management is amending 5 CFR 
part 532 as follows:


PART 532--PREVAILING RATE SYSTEMS


    1. The authority citation for part 532 continues to read as 
follows:


    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5343, 5346; ``532.707 also issued under 5 
U.S.C. 552.




Sec.  532.217  [Amended]


    2. In Sec. 532.217, paragraph (c) is amended by adding the job 
``Maintenance Mechanic'' and grade ``10'' after Television Station 
Mechanic.
[FR Doc. 03-216 Filed 1-3-03; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6325-39-P