SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Effective January 28, 1980, the Authority and the General Counsel published, at 45 FR 3482, January 17, 1980, final rules and regulations to govern the processing of cases by the Authority and the General Counsel under Chapter 71 of Title 5 of the United States Code. These rules and regulations are required by Title VII of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 and are set forth in 5 CFR chapter XIV.

The FLRA amends its regulations related to the FLRA's addresses and geographical jurisdictions. The FLRA has decided to close its Chicago Regional Office and reassign its jurisdiction to other Regional Directors. This office is being closed due to significant staff attrition (voluntary resignations and retirements) throughout the first eight months of 2025 and the impending expiration of the office's lease in December 2025. At the time of this publication, only one employee out of a previous eight remains administratively tied to this Regional Office. Additionally, the lone remaining employee resides outside the office's commuting area and works remotely.

Given the significant loss of staff, resulting underutilization of office space, and lease expiration, the FLRA has determined the best course of action is to close the Chicago Regional Office. The Authority expects no adverse effect on the quality or efficiency of case-handling to result from the closure.

These amendments update paragraphs (d) and (f) of Appendix A to 5 CFR chapter XIV to reflect the new organizational structure by removing the Chicago Regional Office from the list of current addresses, telephone numbers, and fax numbers of the FLRA's Regional Offices and by revising the FLRA's geographical jurisdictions.

For additional information regarding case handling procedures following the Chicago Regional Office closure, please go to www.flra.gov.

Further, in accordance with the President's direction to eliminate offices that are not statutorily-mandated, Executive Order 14210 § 3(c) & (e), the FLRA is eliminating CADRO, an office that is not statutorily-mandated. See5 U.S.C. 7101-7135. Remaining components will continue to use Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), when appropriate, however there will no longer be a separate, dedicated FLRA office focusing exclusively on the use of ADR. CADRO services were always voluntary and at the discretion of the FLRA, as resources permitted.

These further amendments update parts 2424, 2425, and 2473 of 5 CFR chapter XIV to reflect that there will no longer be a CADRO office within the FLRA. To reflect this change, the FLRA amends its case-handling procedures for negotiability petitions and arbitration-award reviews to remove references to the voluntary use of CADRO.

Regulatory Procedures

Executive Order 12866, Regulatory Review

This final rule is not a significant regulatory action for the purposes of E.O. 12866 (58 FR 51735, Sept. 30, 1993).

Executive Order 13132, Federalism

This final rule will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the Federal government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government under E.O. 13132 (64 FR 43255, Aug. 4, 1999).

Executive Order 14192, Regulatory Repeal

This final rule is not a regulatory action under E.O. 14192 (90 FR 9065, Jan. 31, 2025).

Executive Order 14215, Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies

Pursuant to E.O. 14215, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs within the Office of Management and Budget has reviewed this final rule for compliance with applicable law.

Executive Order 14219, Deregulation Initiative

This final rule complies with the requirements of E.O. 14219 (90 FR 10583, Feb. 19, 2025).

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

The final rule contains no additional information collection or record-keeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.

Regulatory Flexibility Act Certification

Pursuant to section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 605(b), the FLRA Chairman has determined that the final rule will not have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities, because this final rule applies only to ( printed page 42132) Federal agencies, Federal employees, and labor organizations representing those employees.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996

This action is not a major rule as defined by section 804 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996. This final rule will not result in an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more; a major increase in costs or prices; or significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on the ability of United States-based companies to compete with foreign-based companies in domestic and export markets.

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

This final rule will not result in the expenditure by state, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100,000,000 or more in any one year, and it will not significantly or uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

For the reasons discussed in the preamble, the FLRA amends 5 CFR parts 2424, 2425, and 2473 as follows: