[Federal Register: May 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 86)]
[Notices]
[Page 24321-24322]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02my08-132]
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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
Comment Request for OMB Review of an Extension of the Nonforeign
Area Cost-of-Living Allowance Price and Background Surveys
AGENCY: Office of Personnel Management.
ACTION: Notice.
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[[Page 24322]]
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Office of Personnel Management (OPM) seeks comments on its intention to
request an extension of two currently approved information collections.
OPM uses the two collections, a Price Survey and a Background Survey,
to gather data it uses to determine cost-of-living allowances the
Government provides to certain Federal employees in Alaska, Hawaii,
Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands. OPM conducts Price Surveys in the Washington, DC, area on an
annual basis and once every 3 years in each allowance area on a
rotating basis. Prior to these surveys, OPM conducts Background Surveys
that are similar to the Price Survey, but much more limited in scope.
OPM uses the results of the Background Surveys to prepare for the Price
Surveys.
DATES: Submit comments on or before July 1, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Send or deliver comments to Charles D. Grimes III, Deputy
Associate Director for Performance and Pay Systems, Strategic Human
Resources Policy Division, U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Room
7300B, 1900 E Street, NW., Washington, DC 20415-8200; fax: (202) 606-
4264; or e-mail: COLA@opm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 5941 of title 5, United States Code,
authorizes Federal agencies to pay cost-of-living allowances (COLAs) to
white-collar Federal and U.S. Postal Service employees stationed in
Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and
the U.S. Virgin Islands. Executive Order 10000, as amended, delegates
to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) the authority to administer
nonforeign area COLAs and prescribes certain operational features of
the program. OPM conducts Nonforeign Area Cost-of-Living Allowance
Price Surveys and Background Surveys in each allowance area and in the
Washington, DC, area to determine whether, and to what degree, COLA
area living costs are higher than those in the DC area.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval of the Nonforeign
Area Cost-of-Living Allowance Price Survey and Background Survey will
expire on August 31, 2008. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
plans to request OMB approval for a 3-year extension of these currently
approved information collections and is seeking comments prior to
submitting the collections to OMB for review.
Comments are particularly invited on whether: (1) These collections
of information are necessary for the proper performance of OPM
functions, (2) they will have practical utility, (3) our estimate of
the public burden of these collections of information is accurate and
based on valid assumptions and methodology, and (4) there are ways in
which we can minimize respondent burden of the collections of
information through the use of appropriate technological collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on
(202) 606-8358, fax (202) 418-3251, or e-mail mbtoomey@opm.gov. Please
include a mailing address with your request.
Overview of Information Collections
Title: Nonforeign Area Cost-of-Living Allowance Price Survey and
Background Survey.
OMB Control Number: 3206-0199.
Summary: OPM uses the COLA Price Survey to collect price data in
survey areas located in the nonforeign allowance areas and in the
Washington, DC, area. The allowance areas are located in Alaska,
Hawaii, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the
U.S. Virgin Islands. OPM conducts Price Surveys annually in the DC area
and once every 3 years in the allowance areas on a rotating basis. OPM
uses the COLA Background Survey to collect information to identify the
services, items, quantities, outlets, and locations OPM will survey in
the Price Surveys. OPM also uses Background Surveys to collect
information on local trade practices, consumer buying patterns, taxes
and fees, and other economic characteristics related to living costs.
OPM conducts Background Surveys annually on a limited basis.
Need/Use for Surveys: The COLA Price Survey is necessary for
collecting living-cost data OPM uses to determine COLAs received by
General Schedule, U.S. Postal Service, and certain other Federal
employees in the allowance areas. OPM uses the survey results to
compare prices in the allowance areas with prices in the Washington,
DC, area and to derive COLA rates where local living costs
significantly exceed those in the DC area. The COLA Background Survey
is necessary to determine the continued appropriateness of items,
services, and businesses selected for the annual price surveys. OPM
uses the information collected under the Background Survey to identify
items to be priced and the outlets at which OPM will price the items in
the Price Surveys.
Respondents: OPM will survey selected retail, service, realty, and
other businesses and local governments in the allowance areas and in
the Washington, DC, area. OPM will contact approximately 2,000
establishments in each annual Price Survey and approximately 100
establishments in each annual Background Survey. Participation in the
surveys is voluntary.
Reporting and Recordkeeping Burden: Based on experience, OPM
estimates that the average Price Survey interview takes approximately 6
minutes, for a total burden of 200 hours. Also based on experience, OPM
estimates that the average Background Survey interview will take
approximately 6.5 minutes, for a total burden of 11 hours.
Office of Personnel Management.
Howard Weizmann,
Deputy Director.
[FR Doc. E8-9733 Filed 5-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-39-P