---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 C.F.R. § 591.223"
title: "5"
number: "591.223"
heading: "When does OPM conduct COLA surveys?"
url: "https://uscodex.org/cfr/5/591.223"
---

# §591.223. When does OPM conduct COLA surveys?

- (a) OPM conducts a survey in each COLA area once every 3 years on a rotational basis and surveys the Washington, DC, area concurrently with each COLA area survey. The order of the COLA area surveys is as follows:
  - (1) **Year 1.** All COLA areas in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  - (2) **Year 2.** All COLA areas in the State of Alaska, except as provided in [paragraph (b)(2)](#b-2) of this section.
  - (3) **Year 3.** All COLA areas in the State of Hawaii and the Territory of Guam and CNMI.
- (b) **Exceptions—**
  - (1) Nothing in this subpart precludes OPM from conducting interim surveys or implementing some other change in response to conditions caused by a natural disaster or similar emergency, provided OPM publishes a notice or rule in the Federal Register explaining the change and the reason(s) for it.
  - (2) As provided in [§ 591.215(c)](/cfr/5/591.215.md?p=c), OPM does not conduct surveys in the Rest of the State of Alaska COLA area unless COLA rate reductions appear warranted.

## Notes

### Authority

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5941; E.O. 10000, 3 CFR, 1943-1948 Comp., p. 792; and E.O. 12510, 3 CFR, 1985 Comp., p. 338.

### Source

Source: 67 FR 22340, May 3, 2002, unless otherwise noted.