Practices and Procedures

<RULE> MERIT SYSTEMS PROTECTION BOARD <CFR>5 CFR Part 1201</CFR> <SUBJECT>Practices and Procedures</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> Merit Systems Protection Board. <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Final rule. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB or Board) is amending its rules of organization and procedure in this part to reflect the closure of its New York Field Office, and a change of address for its Washington Regional Office. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> This final rule is effective on December 18, 2025. </EFFDATE> <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Gina K. Grippando, Clerk of the Board, Merit Systems Protection Board, 1615 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20419; phone: (202) 653-7200; fax: (202) 653-7130; or email: <E T="03">mspb@mspb.gov.</E> </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> On October 1, 2024, MSPB closed its New York Field Office. Appendix II of this part is amended to reflect the closure of the New York Field Office, and that all geographic areas previously served by the New York Field Office will now be served by the Board's Northeastern Regional Office. Effective November 13, 2025, MSPB's Washington Regional Office moved to a different location. Appendix II of this part is amended to reflect the Washington Regional Office's new address. The Board is publishing this as a final rule pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 1204(h). <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Procedural Requirements</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD2">A. Administrative Procedure Act</HD> Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), MSPB finds that there is good cause to issue this final rule without prior notice and comment. The notice and comment requirements of section 553(b) do not apply to interpretive rules, general statements of policy, or rules of agency organization, procedure, or practice. This final rule merely reflects the closure of one office within MSPB and the physical move of another and thus relates solely to agency organization. No substantive changes in existing law or policy are effected by this amendment. Under these circumstances, notice and comment rulemaking is unnecessary and not required by any public interest. Similarly, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d)(3), MSPB finds that there is good cause to make this final rule effective immediately upon publication. Again, this rule merely reflects the closure of one office within MSPB and the physical move of another. <HD SOURCE="HD2">B. Regulatory Impact Analysis: Executive Order 12866</HD> The MSPB has determined that this is not a significant regulatory action under E.O. 12866. Therefore, no regulatory impact analysis is required. <HD SOURCE="HD2">C. Regulatory Flexibility Act</HD> The Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) requires an agency to prepare a regulatory flexibility analysis for rules unless the agency certifies that the rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. The RFA applies only to rules for which an agency is required to first publish a proposed rule. <E T="03">See</E> 5 U.S.C. 603(a) and 604(a). As discussed above, notice and comment rulemaking is unnecessary for this change due to the lack of any substantive change to existing law or policy. Thus, the RFA does not apply to this final rule. <HD SOURCE="HD2">D. Paperwork Reduction Act</HD> This document does not contain information collection requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). <HD SOURCE="HD2">E. Congressional Review Act</HD> Pursuant to the Congressional Review Act (5 U.S.C. 801, <E T="03">et seq.</E> ), the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs designated this rule as not a “major rule” as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2). <LSTSUB> <HD SOURCE="HED">List of Subjects in 5 CFR Part 1201</HD> Administrative practice and procedure. </LSTSUB> Accordingly, for the reasons set forth above, 5 CFR part 1201 is amended as follows: <HD SOURCE="HED">PART 1201—PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES</HD> <REGTEXT TITLE="5" PART="1201"> 1. The authority citation for part 1201 continues to read as follows: <HD SOURCE="HED">Authority: </HD> 5 U.S.C. 1204, 1305, and 7701, and 38 U.S.C. 4331, unless otherwise noted. </REGTEXT> <REGTEXT TITLE="5" PART="1201"> 2. Revise Appendix II to part 1201 to read as follows: <HD SOURCE="HD1">Appendix II to Part 1201—Appropriate Regional or Field Office for Filing Appeals </HD> <EXTRACT> All submissions shall be addressed to the Regional Director, if submitted to a regional office, or the Chief Administrative Judge, if submitted to a field office, Merit Systems Protection Board, at the addresses listed below, according to geographic region of the employing agency or as required by § 1201.4(d) of this part. Address of Appropriate Regional or Field Office and Area Served: 1. Atlanta Regional Office, 401 West Peachtree Street NW, 10th floor, Atlanta, Georgia 30308-3519, Facsimile No.: (404) 730-2767, (Alabama; Florida; Georgia; Mississippi; South Carolina; and Tennessee). 2. Central Regional Office, 230 South Dearborn Street, 31st Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60604-1669, Facsimile No.: (312) 886-4231, (Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas City, Kansas; Kentucky; Michigan; Minnesota; Missouri; Ohio; and Wisconsin). 3. Northeastern Regional Office, 1601 Market Street, Suite 1700, Philadelphia, PA 19103, Facsimile No.: (215) 597-3456, (Connecticut; Delaware; Maine; Maryland—except the counties of Montgomery and Prince George's; Massachusetts; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; Pennsylvania; Puerto Rico; Rhode Island; Vermont; Virgin Islands; and West Virginia). 4. Washington Regional Office, 1615 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20419, Facsimile No.: (703) 313-2031, (Maryland—counties of Montgomery and Prince George's; North Carolina; Virginia; Washington, DC; and all overseas areas not otherwise covered). 5. Western Regional Office, 1301 Clay Street, Suite 1380N, Oakland, California 94612-5217, Facsimile No.: (510) 273-7136, (Alaska; California; Hawaii; Idaho; Nevada; Oregon; Washington; and Pacific overseas areas). 5a. Denver Field Office, 165 South Union Blvd., Suite 318, Lakewood, Colorado 80228-2211, Facsimile No.: (303) 969-5109, (Arizona; Colorado; Kansas—except Kansas City; Montana; Nebraska; New Mexico; North Dakota; South Dakota; Utah; and Wyoming). 6. Dallas Regional Office, 1100 Commerce Street, Room 620, Dallas, Texas 75242-9979, Facsimile No.: (214) 767-0102, (Arkansas; Louisiana; Oklahoma; and Texas). </EXTRACT> </REGTEXT> <SIG> <NAME>Gina K. Grippando,</NAME> Clerk of the Board. </SIG> </SUPLINF> <FRDOC>[FR Doc. 2025-23250 Filed 12-17-25; 8:45 am]</FRDOC> </RULE>