January 2009 Pay Adjustments, 4483-4484 [E9-1643]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 15 / Monday, January 26, 2009 / Notices Pursuant to authority granted under section 9 of the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act of 1985 (IFTA Act), as amended (19 U.S.C. 2112 note), Presidential Proclamation 6955 of November 13, 1996 (61 FR 58761) proclaimed certain tariff treatment for articles of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and qualifying industrial zones. In particular, the Presidential Proclamation modified general notes 3 and 8 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States: (a) To provide duty-free treatment to qualifying articles that are the product of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip or a qualifying industrial zone and are entered in accordance with the provisions of section 9 of the IFTA Act; (b) to provide that articles of Israel may be treated as though they were articles directly shipped from Israel for the purposes of the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Agreement (‘‘the Agreement’’) even if shipped to the United States from the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, or a qualifying industrial zone, if the articles otherwise meet the requirements of the Agreement; and (c) to provide that the cost or value of materials produced in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, or a qualifying industrial zone may be included in the cost or value of materials produced in Israel under section 1(c)(i) of Annex 3 of the Agreement and that the direct costs of processing operations performed in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, or a qualifying industrial zone may be included in the direct costs of processing operations performed in Israel under section 1(c)(ii) of Annex 3 of the Agreement. Section 9(e) of the IFTA Act defines a ‘‘qualifying industrial zone’’ as an area that ‘‘(1) encompasses portions of the territory of Israel and Jordan or Israel and Egypt; (2) has been designated by local authorities as an enclave where merchandise may enter without payment of duty or excise taxes; and (3) has been specified by the President as a qualifying industrial zone.’’ Presidential Proclamation 6955 delegated to the United States Trade Representative the authority to designate qualifying industrial zones. The United States Trade Representative has previously designated qualifying industrial zones under Section 9 of the IFTA Act on March 13, 1998 (63 FR 12572), March 19, 1999 (64 FR 13623), October 15, 1999 (64 FR 56015), October 24, 2000 (65 FR 64472), and December 12, 2000 (65 FR 77688), June 15, 2001 (66 FR 32660), January 28, 2004 (69 FR 4199) December 29, 2004 (69 FR 78094), and November 16, 2005 (70 FR 69622). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:20 Jan 23, 2009 Jkt 217001 The Government of Israel and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan agreed in protocols submitted in June 2008 to the designation of Shoubak, Shouneh Wistah, Madaba/ Dalilet, Irbid/Al-Westieyn, and AlTafileh as qualifying industrial zones. The Government of Israel and the Government of Jordan further agreed that merchandise may enter, without payment of duty or excise taxes, areas under their respective customs control in association with the Shoubak zone, Shouneh Wistah zone, Madaba/Dalilet zone, Irbid/Al-Westieyn zone, and AlTafileh zone. Accordingly, the Shoubak, Shouneh Wistah, Madaba/Dalilet, Irbid/ Al-Westieyn, and Al-Tafileh qualifying industrial zones meet the criteria under paragraphs 9(e)(1) and (2) of the IFTA Act. Therefore, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by Presidential Proclamation 6955, I hereby designate the Shoubak, Shouneh Wistah, Madaba/ Dalilet, Irbid/Al-Westieyn, and AlTafileh, as established by the 2003 Amending Protocols to the Agreement Between the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Government of the State of Israel on Irbid Qualifying Industrial Zone, as qualifying industrial zones under section 9 of the IFTA Act, effective upon the date of publication of this notice, applicable to articles shipped from these qualifying industrial zones after such date. Susan C. Schwab, United States Trade Representative. [FR Doc. E9–1591 Filed 1–23–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3190–W9–P OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT January 2009 Pay Adjustments AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel Management. ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: The President adjusted the rates of basic pay and locality payments for certain categories of Federal employees effective in January 2009. This notice documents those pay adjustments for the public record. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tameka Gillis, Center for Pay and Leave Administration, Division for Strategic Human Resources Policy, U.S. Office of Personnel Management; (202) 606–2858; FAX (202) 606–0824; or e-mail to payperformance-policy@opm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 18, 2008, the President signed PO 00000 Frm 00116 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 4483 Executive Order 13483 (73 FR 78587), which implemented the January 2009 pay adjustments. The President made these adjustments consistent with Public Law 110–329, September 30, 2008, which authorized an overall average pay increase of 3.9 percent for the ‘‘statutory pay systems,’’ including the General Schedule (GS). Schedule 1 of Executive Order 13483 provides the rates for the 2009 General Schedule and reflects a 2.9 percent across-the-board increase. Executive Order 13483 also includes the percentage amounts of the 2009 locality payments. (See Section 5 and Schedule 9 of Executive Order 13483.) The publication of this notice satisfies the requirement in section 5(b) of Executive Order 13483 that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) publish appropriate notice of the 2009 locality payments in the Federal Register. GS employees receive locality payments under 5 U.S.C. 5304. Locality payments apply in the continental United States (as defined in 5 CFR 531.602 to include the several States and the District of Columbia, but not Alaska or Hawaii). In 2009, locality payments ranging from 13.86 percent to 34.35 percent apply to GS employees in 32 locality pay areas. (The 2009 locality pay area definitions can be found at https://www.opm.gov/oca/09tables/ locdef.asp.) These 2009 locality pay percentages, which replaced the 2008 locality pay percentages, became effective on the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2009 (January 4, 2009). An employee’s locality rate of pay is computed by increasing his or her scheduled annual rate of pay (as defined in 5 CFR 531.602) by the applicable locality pay percentage. (See 5 CFR 531.604 and 531.609.) Executive Order 13483 establishes the new Executive Schedule, which incorporates a 2.8 percent increase required under 5 U.S.C. 5318 (rounded to the nearest $100). By law, Executive Schedule officials are not authorized to receive locality payments. Executive Order 13483 establishes the range of rates of basic pay for senior executives in the Senior Executive Service (SES), as established pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5382. The minimum rate of basic pay for the SES may not be less than the minimum rate payable under 5 U.S.C. 5376 for senior-level positions ($117,787 in 2009). The maximum rate of the SES rate range is level II of the Executive Schedule ($177,000 in 2009) for SES members covered by a certified SES performance appraisal system and level III of the Executive Schedule E:\FR\FM\26JAN1.SGM 26JAN1 4484 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 15 / Monday, January 26, 2009 / Notices ($162,900 in 2009) for SES members covered by an SES performance appraisal system that has not been certified. By law, SES members are not authorized to receive locality payments. Agencies with certified performance appraisal systems in 2009 for senior executives and/or senior-level (SL) and scientific or professional (ST) positions also must apply a higher aggregate limitation on pay—up to the Vice President’s salary ($227,300 in 2009). The Executive order adjusted the rates of basic pay for administrative law judges (ALJs) by 2.9 percent, rounded to the nearest $100 (except for those at AL–1, which was increased by 2.8 percent consistent with the Executive Schedule increase). The maximum rate of basic pay for ALJs is set by law at the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule, which is now $153,200. The rate of basic pay for AL–2 is $149,600. The rates of basic pay for AL–3/A through 3/F range from $102,400 to $141,600. (See 5 U.S.C. 5372.) The rates of basic pay for members of Contract Appeals Boards are calculated as a percentage of the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule. (See 5 U.S.C. 5372a.) Therefore, these rates of basic pay were increased by approximately 2.8 percent. The maximum rate of basic pay for SL/ST positions was increased by approximately 2.8 percent (to $153,200) because it is tied to the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule. The minimum rate of basic pay for SL/ST positions is equal to 120 percent of the minimum rate of basic pay for GS–15 and thus was increased by 2.9 percent (to $117,787). (See 5 U.S.C. 5376.) Note that beginning April 12, 2009, employees in SL/ST positions will begin receiving pay under the provisions of a new pay system established under the Senior Professional Performance Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110–372, October 8, 2008). OPM will issue additional information on the new SL/ST pay system before April 12, 2009. On October 27, 2008, the President’s Pay Agent extended the 2009 localitybased comparability payments to certain categories of non-GS employees. The Governmentwide categories include ALJs and Contract Appeals Board members. The maximum locality rate of pay for these employees is the rate for level III of the Executive Schedule ($162,900 in 2009). On December 18, 2008, OPM issued a memorandum (CPM 2008–22) on the January 2009 pay adjustments. (See https://www.opm.gov/oca/compmemo/ index.asp.) The memorandum transmitted Executive Order 13483 and provided the 2009 salary tables, locality VerDate Nov<24>2008 17:20 Jan 23, 2009 Jkt 217001 pay areas and percentages, and information on general pay administration matters and other related information. The ‘‘2009 Salary Tables’’ posted on OPM’s Web site at https:// www.opm.gov/oca/09tables/index.asp are the official rates of pay for affected employees and are hereby incorporated as part of this notice. Office of Personnel Management. Michael W. Hager, Acting Director. [FR Doc. E9–1643 Filed 1–23–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6325–39–P SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request Upon Written Request, Copies Available From: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Investor Education and Advocacy, Washington, DC 20549–0213. Extension: Rule 9b–1; OMB Control No. 3235–0480 ; SEC File No. 270–429. Notice is hereby given that pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) the Securities and Exchange Commission (‘‘Commission’’) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (‘‘OMB’’) a request for extension of the existing collection of information provided for in the following rule: Rule 9b–1 (17 CFR 240.9b–1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (15 U.S.C. 78a et seq.). Rule 9b–1 (17 CFR 240.9b–1) sets forth the categories of information required to be disclosed in an options disclosure document (‘‘ODD’’) and requires the options markets to file an ODD with the Commission 60 days prior to the date it is distributed to investors. In addition, Rule 9b–1 provides that the ODD must be amended if the information in the document becomes materially inaccurate or incomplete and that amendments must be filed with the Commission 30 days prior to the distribution to customers. Finally, Rule 9b–1 requires a broker-dealer to furnish to each customer an ODD and any amendments, prior to accepting an order to purchase or sell an option on behalf of that customer. There are six options markets that must comply with Rule 9b–1. These six respondents work together to prepare a single ODD covering options traded on each market, as well as amendments to the ODD. These respondents file approximately three amendments per PO 00000 Frm 00117 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 year. The staff calculates that the preparation and filing of amendments should take no more than eight hours per options market. Thus, the total compliance burden for options markets per year is 144 hours (6 options markets × 8 hours per amendment × 3 amendments). The estimated cost for an in-house attorney is $295 per hour,1 resulting in a total cost of compliance for these respondents of $42,480 per year (144 hours @ $295). In addition, approximately 1,500 broker-dealers must comply with Rule 9b–1. Each of these respondents will process an average of three new customers for options each week and, therefore, will have to furnish approximately 156 ODDs per year. The postal mailing or electronic delivery of the ODD takes respondents no more than 30 seconds to complete for an annual compliance burden for each of these respondents of 78 minutes, or 1.3 hours. Thus, the total compliance burden per year is 1,950 hours (1,500 broker-dealers × 1.3 hours). The estimated cost for a general clerk of a broker-dealer is $40 per hour,2 resulting in a total cost of compliance for these respondents of $78,000 per year (1,950 hours @ $40). The total compliance burden for all respondents under this rule (both options markets and broker-dealers) is 2,094 hours per year (144 + 1,950), and total compliance costs of $120,480 ($42,480 + $78,000). An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid control number. Comments should be directed to: (i) Desk Officer for the Securities and Exchange Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10102, New Executive Office Building, Washington, DC 20503 or by sending an e-mail to: Shagufta_Ahmed@omb.eop.gov; and (ii) Charles Boucher, Director/Chief Information Officer, Securities and Exchange Commission, c/o Shirley 1 The $295/hour figure for an attorney is from SIFMA’s Management & Professional Earnings in the Securities Industry 2007, modified by the Commission staff to account for an 1800-hour workyear and multiplied by 5.35 to account for bonuses, firm size, employee benefits and overhead. 2 The $40/hour figure for a general clerk is from SIFMA’s Office Salaries in the Securities Industry 2007, modified by Commission staff to account for an 1800-hour work-year and multiplied by 2.92 to account for bonuses, firm size, employee benefits and overhead. The staff believes that the ODD would be mailed or electronically delivered to customers by a general clerk of the broker-dealer or some other equivalent position. E:\FR\FM\26JAN1.SGM 26JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 15 (Monday, January 26, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4483-4484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1643]


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OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT


January 2009 Pay Adjustments

AGENCY: U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The President adjusted the rates of basic pay and locality 
payments for certain categories of Federal employees effective in 
January 2009. This notice documents those pay adjustments for the 
public record.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tameka Gillis, Center for Pay and 
Leave Administration, Division for Strategic Human Resources Policy, 
U.S. Office of Personnel Management; (202) 606-2858; FAX (202) 606-
0824; or e-mail to pay-performance-policy@opm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 18, 2008, the President signed 
Executive Order 13483 (73 FR 78587), which implemented the January 2009 
pay adjustments. The President made these adjustments consistent with 
Public Law 110-329, September 30, 2008, which authorized an overall 
average pay increase of 3.9 percent for the ``statutory pay systems,'' 
including the General Schedule (GS).
    Schedule 1 of Executive Order 13483 provides the rates for the 2009 
General Schedule and reflects a 2.9 percent across-the-board increase. 
Executive Order 13483 also includes the percentage amounts of the 2009 
locality payments. (See Section 5 and Schedule 9 of Executive Order 
13483.)
    The publication of this notice satisfies the requirement in section 
5(b) of Executive Order 13483 that the U.S. Office of Personnel 
Management (OPM) publish appropriate notice of the 2009 locality 
payments in the Federal Register.
    GS employees receive locality payments under 5 U.S.C. 5304. 
Locality payments apply in the continental United States (as defined in 
5 CFR 531.602 to include the several States and the District of 
Columbia, but not Alaska or Hawaii). In 2009, locality payments ranging 
from 13.86 percent to 34.35 percent apply to GS employees in 32 
locality pay areas. (The 2009 locality pay area definitions can be 
found at https://www.opm.gov/oca/09tables/locdef.asp.) These 2009 
locality pay percentages, which replaced the 2008 locality pay 
percentages, became effective on the first day of the first pay period 
beginning on or after January 1, 2009 (January 4, 2009). An employee's 
locality rate of pay is computed by increasing his or her scheduled 
annual rate of pay (as defined in 5 CFR 531.602) by the applicable 
locality pay percentage. (See 5 CFR 531.604 and 531.609.)
    Executive Order 13483 establishes the new Executive Schedule, which 
incorporates a 2.8 percent increase required under 5 U.S.C. 5318 
(rounded to the nearest $100). By law, Executive Schedule officials are 
not authorized to receive locality payments.
    Executive Order 13483 establishes the range of rates of basic pay 
for senior executives in the Senior Executive Service (SES), as 
established pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5382. The minimum rate of basic pay 
for the SES may not be less than the minimum rate payable under 5 
U.S.C. 5376 for senior-level positions ($117,787 in 2009). The maximum 
rate of the SES rate range is level II of the Executive Schedule 
($177,000 in 2009) for SES members covered by a certified SES 
performance appraisal system and level III of the Executive Schedule

[[Page 4484]]

($162,900 in 2009) for SES members covered by an SES performance 
appraisal system that has not been certified. By law, SES members are 
not authorized to receive locality payments. Agencies with certified 
performance appraisal systems in 2009 for senior executives and/or 
senior-level (SL) and scientific or professional (ST) positions also 
must apply a higher aggregate limitation on pay--up to the Vice 
President's salary ($227,300 in 2009).
    The Executive order adjusted the rates of basic pay for 
administrative law judges (ALJs) by 2.9 percent, rounded to the nearest 
$100 (except for those at AL-1, which was increased by 2.8 percent 
consistent with the Executive Schedule increase). The maximum rate of 
basic pay for ALJs is set by law at the rate for level IV of the 
Executive Schedule, which is now $153,200. The rate of basic pay for 
AL-2 is $149,600. The rates of basic pay for AL-3/A through 3/F range 
from $102,400 to $141,600. (See 5 U.S.C. 5372.)
    The rates of basic pay for members of Contract Appeals Boards are 
calculated as a percentage of the rate for level IV of the Executive 
Schedule. (See 5 U.S.C. 5372a.) Therefore, these rates of basic pay 
were increased by approximately 2.8 percent.
    The maximum rate of basic pay for SL/ST positions was increased by 
approximately 2.8 percent (to $153,200) because it is tied to the rate 
for level IV of the Executive Schedule. The minimum rate of basic pay 
for SL/ST positions is equal to 120 percent of the minimum rate of 
basic pay for GS-15 and thus was increased by 2.9 percent (to 
$117,787). (See 5 U.S.C. 5376.) Note that beginning April 12, 2009, 
employees in SL/ST positions will begin receiving pay under the 
provisions of a new pay system established under the Senior 
Professional Performance Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-372, October 8, 
2008). OPM will issue additional information on the new SL/ST pay 
system before April 12, 2009.
    On October 27, 2008, the President's Pay Agent extended the 2009 
locality-based comparability payments to certain categories of non-GS 
employees. The Governmentwide categories include ALJs and Contract 
Appeals Board members. The maximum locality rate of pay for these 
employees is the rate for level III of the Executive Schedule ($162,900 
in 2009).
    On December 18, 2008, OPM issued a memorandum (CPM 2008-22) on the 
January 2009 pay adjustments. (See https://www.opm.gov/oca/compmemo/
index.asp.) The memorandum transmitted Executive Order 13483 and 
provided the 2009 salary tables, locality pay areas and percentages, 
and information on general pay administration matters and other related 
information. The ``2009 Salary Tables'' posted on OPM's Web site at 
https://www.opm.gov/oca/09tables/index.asp are the official rates of pay 
for affected employees and are hereby incorporated as part of this 
notice.

Office of Personnel Management.
Michael W. Hager,
Acting Director.
[FR Doc. E9-1643 Filed 1-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6325-39-P

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