(a) In making a wage determination, the area will normally be the county unless sufficient current wage data (data on wages paid on current projects or, where necessary, projects under construction no more than one year prior to the beginning of the survey or the request for a wage determination, as appropriate) is unavailable to make a wage determination.

(b) If there has not been sufficient similar construction within the area in the past year to make a wage determination, wages paid on similar construction in surrounding counties may be considered, Provided That projects in metropolitan counties may not be used as a source of data for a wage determination in a rural county, and projects in rural counties may not be used as a source of data for a wage determination for a metropolitan county.

(c) If there has not been sufficient similar construction in surrounding counties or in the State in the past year, wages paid on projects completed more than one year prior to the beginning of the survey or the request for a wage determination, as appropriate, may be considered.

(d) The use of helpers, apprentices and trainees is permitted in accordance with part 5 of this subtitle.