Personnel Management Office – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of an existing information collection. The regulations describe how former spouses give us written notice of a court order requiring us to pay benefits to the former spouse. Specific information is needed before OPM can make court-ordered benefit payments. Comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the Office of Personnel Management, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Approximately 19,000 former spouses apply for benefits based on court orders annually. We estimate it takes approximately 30 minutes to collect the information. The annual burden is 9,500 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on (202) 606-8358, FAX (202) 418-3251 or via E-mail to MaryBeth.Smith- Toomey@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for extension, without change, of a currently approved information collection. RI 38-47, Information and Instructions on Your Reconsideration Rights outlines the procedures required to request reconsideration of an initial OPM decision about Civil Service or Federal Employees retirement, Federal or Retired Federal Employees Health Benefits requests to enroll or change enrollment, or Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance coverage. This form lists the procedures and time periods required for requesting reconsideration. Comments are particularly invited on: whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the Office of Personnel Management, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, 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 via e-mail to MaryBeth.Smith- Toomey@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for extension, without change, of a currently approved information collection. RI 20-64, Letter Reply to Request for Information, is used by the Civil Service Retirement System to provide information about the amount of annuity payable after a survivor reduction, to explain the annuity reductions required to pay for the survivor benefit, and to give the beginning rate of survivor annuity. RI 20-64A, Former Spouse Survivor Annuity Election, is used by the Civil Service Retirement System to obtain a survivor benefits election from annuitants who are eligible to elect to provide survivor benefits for a former spouse. RI 20-64B, Information on Electing a Survivor Annuity for Your Former Spouse, is a pamphlet that provides important information to retirees under the Civil Service Retirement System who want to provide a survivor annuity for a former spouse. Comments are particularly invited on: whether this information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of OPM, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or others forms of information technology. We estimate that 30 survivor elections on RI 20-64A will be processed per year and that of these eight will use RI 20-64 to ask for information about electing a smaller survivor benefit. Form RI 20-64A requires 45 minutes to complete for a burden of 23 hours. Form RI 20-64 requires eight minutes to complete for a burden of one hour. The total burden is 24 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on (202) 606-8358, Fax (202) 418-3251 or via E-mail to MaryBeth.Smith- Toomey@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is issuing a final rule to define the municipality of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, as an area of application to the Guaynabo-San Juan, PR, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area. This change is necessary because there are NAF FWS employees working in the municipality of Bayamon and the municipality is not currently defined to an NAF wage area.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is making technical amendments to the final regulations concerning the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). These technical amendments correct the final rule issued on November 20, 2006, as revised on February 9, 2007, by making a change to the eligibility criteria and making several administrative changes brought to OPM's attention to other sections.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for clearance of a revised information collection. OPM Online Form 1417, the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) Information System form, collects information from the 277 local CFC campaigns to verify campaign results and collect contact information. Revisions to the form include clarifying edits to items numbered 2-6, 9 and 10 of the Campaign Results Total Page, the elimination of questions numbered 13-15 of the Campaign Results Total Page and the return of one question edited to collect pledge amounts designated specifically for federal emergency or disaster relief, if any, on the Campaign Results Total Page. We estimate 277 Online OPM Forms 1417 are completed annually. Each form takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. The annual estimated burden is 101 hours. Comments are particularly invited on: Whether this information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the Office of Personnel Management, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the appropriate use of 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 to mbtoomey@opm.gov. Please be sure to include a mailing address with your request.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing final regulations governing Federal adverse actions. The final regulations conform the adverse action rules regarding employee coverage to binding judicial decisions interpreting the underlying statute.

This gives notice of OPM decisions granting authority to make appointments under Schedules A, B, and C in the excepted service as required by 5 CFR 6.6 and 213.103.

The Office of Personnel Management is issuing proposed regulations to achieve a consistent and effective policy for the use of Social Security Numbers by Federal agencies to combat fraud and identity theft. Federal agencies must reduce the threat of identity theft by eliminating the unnecessary use and collection of Social Security Numbers. This proposed regulation imposes significant restrictions on the use of Social Security Numbers throughout the Federal Government and is consistent with the recommendations made by the President's Identity Theft Task Force.

On behalf of the President's Pay Agent, the Office of Personnel Management is issuing final regulations on the locality pay program for General Schedule and certain other employees. Originally published on June 22, 2007 as an interim rule with a request for comments, the regulations added Whatcom County, WA, to the Seattle locality pay area effective with the first pay period that began on or after July 23, 2007, removed the reference to a January effective date for changes made by the President's Pay Agent in locality pay area boundaries, made a number of changes in the official names of locality pay areas to correspond to revised names of Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Combined Statistical Areas as established by the Office of Management and Budget, and provided notice and documentation of a number of changes in locality pay area boundaries that resulted from revisions in Metropolitan and Combined Statistical Areas. We received no comments on the interim rule and adopt the final rule without change.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is proposing to change the cost-of-living allowance (COLA) rates received by certain white-collar Federal and U.S. Postal Service employees in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau, Alaska. The proposed rate changes are the result of living-cost surveys conducted by OPM in 2006 and interim adjustments OPM calculated based on relative Consumer Price Index differences between the cost-of-living allowance areas and the Washington, DC, area. The proposed rate changes would reduce the COLA rates in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Juneau from 24 percent to 23 percent. OPM is also proposing a minor clarification to the Alaska COLA area boundaries to make clear the 50-mile radius is by the shortest route using paved roads.

OFPP is proposing to issue a policy letter on green procurement policies and strategies. The policy letter would address: (1) General responsibilities of agencies for the procurement of green products and services; (2) the relationship of green products and services to other socio-economic programs; (3) automatic substitution policies; (4) listing of green products in Federal catalogues and online ordering systems; (5) green requirements for paper and printing; (6) application of green requirements in service contracting; and (7) energy efficiency. The proposed policy letter would implement specific provisions of Executive Order (E.O.) 13423, Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management, Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 6962), the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 6903), the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 6361), and Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8102). The proposed policy letter, when finalized, would supersede OFPP Policy Letter 92-4, Procurement of Environmentally-Sound and Energy-Efficient Products and Services, dated November 2, 1992. Comment Date: Comments must be received in writing on or before February 26, 2008 to be considered in the formulation of the final policy letter.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is proposing a revision of its regulations regarding medical qualification determinations. The proposed revisions add four authorities, separate and move two definitions, add three definitions, clarify coverage and applicability, update to reflect current references and language, and address the need for medical testing/examination or medical documentation of an employee whose job has no physical standards or physical requirements.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995 and 5 CFR part 1320), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of a revised information collection. RI 25-14, Self-Certification of Full-Time School Attendance For The School Year, is used to survey survivor annuitants who are between the ages of 18 and 22 to determine if they meet the requirements of Section 8341(a)(4)(C), and Section 8441, title 5, U.S. Code, to receive benefits as a student. RI 25-14A, Information and Instructions for Completing the Self-Certification of Full-Time School Attendance, provides instructions for completing the Self- Certification of Full-Time School Attendance For The School Year Survey form. Approximately 14,000 RI 25-14 forms are completed annually. We estimate it takes approximately 12 minutes to complete the form. The annual burden is 2,800 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on (202) 606-8358, fax (202) 418-3251 or e-mail to MaryBethSmith- Toomey@opm.gov. Please include your mailing address with your request.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for extension of a currently approved information collection. OPM Form 1530, Report of Medical Examination of Person Electing Survivor Benefit Under the Civil Service Retirement System, is used to collect information regarding an annuitant's health so that OPM can determine whether the insurable interest survivor benefit election can be allowed. Approximately 500 OPM Form 1530 will be completed annually. We estimate it takes approximately 90 minutes to complete the form. The annual burden is 750 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on (202) 606-8358, FAX (202) 418-3251 or via E-mail to MaryBeth.Smith- Toomey@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

This gives notice of OPM decisions granting authority to make appointments under Schedules A, B, and C in the excepted service as required by 5 CFR 6.6 and 213.103.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of a revised information collection. RI 92-19, Application for Deferred or Postponed Retirement: Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), is used by separated employees to apply for either a deferred or a postponed FERS annuity benefit. Approximately 1, 693 forms are completed annually. We estimate it takes approximately 60 minutes to complete the form. The annual estimated burden is 1,693 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on (202) 606-8358, FAX (202) 418-3251 or via E-mail to MaryBeth.Smith- Toomey@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) intends to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of a revised information collection. RI 38-31, Request for Information About Your Missing Payment, is sent in response to a notification by an individual of the loss or non-receipt of a payment from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund. This form requests the information needed to enable OPM to trace and/or reissue payment. Missing payments may also be reported to OPM. Comments are particularly invited on: Whether this collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of functions of the Office of Personnel Management, and whether it will have practical utility; whether our estimate of the public burden of this collection of information is accurate, and based on valid assumptions and methodology; and ways in which we can minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, through the use of appropriate technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Approximately 8,000 reports of missing payments are processed each year. Of these, we estimate that 7,800 are reports of missing checks. Approximately 200 reports of missing checks are reported using RI 38-31 and 7,600 are reported by telephone. A response time of ten minutes per form reporting a missing check is estimated; the same amount of time is needed to report the missing checks or electronic funds transfer (EFT) payments using the telephone. The annual burden for reporting missing checks is 1,300 hours. The remaining 200 reports relate to EFT payments. No missing EFT payments are reported using RI 38-31. The annual burden for reporting missing EFT payments is 33 hours. The total burden is 1,333 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on (202) 606-8358, FAX (202) 418-3251 or via E-mail to MaryBeth.Smith- Toomey@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review of a revised information collection. RI 98-7, We Need Important Information About Your Eligibility for Social Security Disability Benefits, is used by OPM to verify receipt of Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefits, to lessen or avoid overpayment to Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) disability retirees. It notifies the annuitant of the responsibility to notify OPM if SSA benefits begin and the overpayment that will occur with the receipt of both benefits. Approximately 3,000 RI 98-7 forms will be completed annually. The form takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. The annual burden is 250 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on (202) 606-8358, Fax (202) 418-3251 or via e-mail to MaryBeth.Smith- Toomey@opm.gov. Please include a mailing address with your request.

This gives notice of OPM decisions granting authority to make appointments under Schedules A, B, and C in the excepted service as required by 5 CFR 6.6 and 213.103.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is issuing final regulations to implement a provision of the Federal Workforce Flexibility Act of 2004 granting agencies additional flexibility to pay retention incentives. The final regulations permit an agency to pay a retention incentive to an employee who would be likely to leave for a different position in the Federal service before the closure or relocation of the employee's office, facility, activity, or organization. The final regulations provide agencies with additional flexibility to help retain employees critical to important agency missions and better meet strategic human capital needs.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management is issuing an interim rule to define the municipality of Bayamon, Puerto Rico, as an area of application to the Guaynabo-San Juan, PR, nonappropriated fund (NAF) Federal Wage System (FWS) wage area. This change is necessary because there are NAF FWS employees working in the municipality of Bayamon and the municipality is not currently defined to an NAF wage area.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, May 22, 1995 and 5 CFR part 1320), this notice announces that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for extension, without change, of a currently approved collection. RI 25-51, Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) Survivor Annuitant Express Pay Application for Death Benefits, will be used by the Civil Service Retirement System solely to pay benefits to the widow(er) of an annuitant. This application is intended for use in immediately authorizing payments to an annuitant's widow or widower, based on the report of death, when our records show the decedent elected to provide benefits for the applicant. Approximately 34,800 RI 25-51 forms are completed annually. The form takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. The annual estimated burden is 17,400 hours. For copies of this proposal, contact Mary Beth Smith-Toomey on (202) 606-8358, FAX (202) 418-3251 or E-mail to MaryBeth.Smith- Toomey@opm.gov. Please include your mailing address with your request.