Federal travel: Privately owned vehicle; return transportation from outside the United States; approval or authorization,

[Federal Register: February 4, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 23)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 5742-5743]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr04fe98-11]

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

41 CFR Part 302-10

[FTR Amendment 69]

RIN 3090-AG62

Federal Travel Regulation; Ship Privately Owned Vehicles (POV)-- International

AGENCY: Office of Governmentwide Policy, GSA.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: This final rule amends the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) to allow an agency to authorize or approve the return transportation of a privately owned vehicle (POV) from outside the continental United States (OCONUS). This amendment allows for POV shipments from OCONUS to continental United States (CONUS) in those cases where no POV was shipped to the OCONUS post of duty.

DATES: This final rule is retroactively effective May 14, 1997, and applies to an employee whose effective date of transfer (date the employee reports for duty at the new official station) is on or after May 14, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Calvin L. Pittman, Travel and Transportation Management Policy Division (MTT), Washington, DC 20405, telephone 202-501-1538.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A multi-agency travel reinvention task force was organized in August 1994 under the auspices of the Joint Financial Management Improvement Program (JFMIP) to reengineer Federal travel rules and procedures. The task force developed 25 recommended travel management improvements published in a JFMIP report entitled Improving Travel Management Governmentwide, dated December 1995. One recommendation suggested giving agencies the flexibility to authorize and pay for the shipment of a POV (from a post of duty outside the United States), back to the United States even though a POV was not originally shipped to the overseas post of duty.

Currently the FTR specifies that a transferee whose POV was transported at Government expense to an official station outside the continental United States (CONUS) may have that vehicle returned to the United States at Government expense (not to exceed certain limitations). Thus, return of a POV (not necessarily the same vehicle) to the United States when the overseas tour is completed requires that a POV must have been shipped at Government expense to the overseas official station. Transferees who are relocated overseas without a POV, but who acquire a vehicle overseas, cannot avail themselves of this benefit.

This amendment provides agencies with the flexibility to authorize and pay for the shipment of a POV (from a post of duty outside the United States) back to the United States even though a POV was not originally shipped to the overseas post of duty.

The General Services Administration (GSA) has determined that this rule is not a significant regulatory action for the purposes of Executive Order 12866 of September 30, 1993. This final rule is not required to be published in the Federal Register for notice and comment. Therefore, the Regulatory Flexibility Act does not apply. This rule also is exempt from Congressional review prescribed under 5 U.S.C. 801 since it relates solely to agency management and personnel.

List of Subjects in 41 CFR Part 302-10

Government employees, Travel and transportation expenses.

For the reasons set out in the preamble, 41 CFR chapter 302 is amended as follows:

PART 302-10--ALLOWANCES FOR TRANSPORTATION AND EMERGENCY STORAGE OF A PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLE

1. The authority citation for part 302-10 is amended to read as follows:

   Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5738; 20 U.S.C. 905(a); E.O. 11609, 36 FR 13747, 3 CFR, 1971-1975 Comp., p. 586.

   Subpart C--Return Transportation of a POV From a Post of Duty

2. Section 302-10.200 is amended by revising the section heading and paragraph (b) to read as follows:

   Sec. 302-10.200 When am I eligible for transportation of a POV from my post of duty?

   * * * * *

   (b) You have a POV at the post of duty.

3. Section 302-10.201 is amended by revising paragraphs (d) and (e) to read as follows:

   [[Page 5743]]

   Sec. 302-10.201 In what situations will my agency pay to transport a POV transported from my post of duty?

   * * * * *

   (d) You separate from Government service after completion of an agreed period of service at the post of duty where your agency determined the use of a POV to be in the interest of the Government;

   (e) You separate from Government service prior to completion of an agreed period of service at the post of duty where your agency determined the use of a POV to be in the interest of the Government, and the separation is for reasons beyond your control and acceptable to your agency; or * * * * *

4. Section 302-10.202 is amended by revising the section heading and paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) to read as follows:

   Sec. 302-10.202 When do I become entitled to transportation of my POV from my post of duty to an authorized destination?

   * * * * *

   (a) Your agency determined the use of a POV at your post of duty was in the interest of the Government;

   (b) You have a POV at your post of duty; and

   (c) You have completed your service agreement.

   Dated: January 15, 1998. David J. Barram, Administrator of General Services.

   [FR Doc. 98-2630Filed2-3-98; 8:45 am]

   BILLING CODE 6820-34-P