[Federal Register: December 15, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 240)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 69618-69619]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15de03-12]
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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
41 CFR Part 301-10
[FTR Amendment 2003-06; FTR Case 2003-308]
RIN 3090-AH89
Federal Travel Regulation; Privately Owned Vehicle Mileage
Reimbursement
AGENCY: Office of Governmentwide Policy, General Services
Administration (GSA).
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This final rule amends the mileage reimbursement rate for use
of a privately owned vehicle (POV) on official travel to reflect
current costs of operation as determined in cost studies conducted by
the General Services Administration (GSA). The governing regulation is
revised to increase the mileage allowance for advantageous use of a
privately owned airplane from 95.5 to 99.5 cents per mile, the cost of
operating a privately owned automobile from 36.0 to 37.5 cents per
mile, and the cost of operating a privately owned motorcycle from 27.5
to 28.5 cents per mile.
[[Page 69619]]
DATES: Effective Date: January 1, 2004.
Applicability Date: This final rule applies to travel performed on
or after January 1, 2004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Regulatory Secretariat, Room 4035,
GS Building, Washington, DC, 20405, (202) 208-7312, for information
pertaining to status or publication schedules. For clarification of
content, contact Devoanna R. Reels, Program Analyst, Office of
Governmentwide Policy, Travel Management Policy, at (202) 501-3781.
Please cite FTR Amendment 2003-06, FTR case 2003-308.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
A. Background
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 5707(b), the Administrator of General Services
has the responsibility to establish the privately owned vehicle (POV)
mileage reimbursement rates. Separate rates are set for airplanes,
automobiles (including trucks), and motorcycles. In order to set these
rates, GSA is required to conduct periodic investigations, in
consultation with the Secretaries of Defense and Transportation, and
representatives of Government employee organizations, of the cost of
travel and the operation of POVs to employees while engaged on official
business. As required, GSA conducted an investigation of the costs of
operating a POV and is reporting the cost per mile determination. The
results of the investigation have been reported to Congress, and a copy
of the report appears as an attachment to this document. GSA's cost
studies show the Administrator of General Services has determined the
per-mile operating costs of a POV to be 99.5 cents for airplanes, 37.5
cents for automobiles, and 28.5 cents for motorcycles. As provided in 5
U.S.C. 5704(a)(1), the automobile reimbursement rate cannot exceed the
single standard mileage rate established by the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS). The IRS has announced a new single standard mileage rate
for automobiles of 37.5 cents effective January 1, 2004. Additionally,
based on updated data for the two-tiered reimbursement rates reflecting
costs to an agency of operating a Government-furnished vehicle (GFV),
the current reimbursement rate for use of a POV when a GFV is
authorized decreased from 28.5 cents per mile to 27.0 cents per mile.
The current reimbursement rate of 10.5 cents per mile for use of a POV
by an employee when committed to use a Government automobile will
remain the same.
B. Executive Order 12866
This is not a significant regulatory action and, therefore, was not
subject to review under section 6(b) of Executive Order 12866,
Regulatory Planning and Review, dated September 30, 1993. This rule is
not a major rule under 5 U.S.C. 804.
C. Regulatory Flexibility Act
This final rule is not required to be published in the Federal
Register for notice and comment; therefore, the Regulatory Flexibility
Act, 5 U.S.C. 601, et seq., does not apply.
D. Paperwork Reduction Act
The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because the changes to
the FTR do not impose recordkeeping or information collection
requirements, or the collection of information from offerors,
contractors, or members of the public that require the approval of the
Office of Management and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.
E. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act
This final rule is also 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 301-10
Government employees, Travel and transportation expenses.
Dated: December 8, 2003.
Stephen A. Perry,
Administrator of General Services.
0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, under 5 U.S.C. 5701-5709,
GSA amends 41 CFR part 301-10 as set forth below:
PART 301-10--TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES
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1. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 301-10 is revised to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707; 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 49 U.S.C. 40118.
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2. In Sec. 301-10.303 revise the last three entries in the table to
read as follows:
Sec. 301-10.303 What am I reimbursed when use of a POV is determined
by my agency to be advantageous to the Government?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your
For use of a reimbursement
is
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* * * * *
Privately owned airplane............................... \1\ 99.5
Privately owned automobile............................. \1\ 37.5
Privately owned motorcycle............................. \1\ 28.5
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\1\ Cents per mile.
0
3. Amend Sec. 301-10.310 in paragraph (a) by removing ``28.5'' and
adding ``27.0'' in its place.
Attachment to Preamble--Report to Congress on the Costs of Operating
Privately Owned Vehicle Mileage Reimbursement
Paragraph (b)(1)(A) of section 5707 of Title 5, United States
Code, requires that the Administrator of General Services, in
consultation with the Secretaries of Defense and Transportation, and
representatives of Government employee organizations, conduct
periodic investigations of the cost of travel and the operation of
privately owned vehicles (POVs) (airplanes, automobiles, and
motorcycles) to Government employees while on official business and
report the results to Congress at least once a year. Paragraph
(b)(2)(B) of section 5707 of Title 5, United States Code, further
requires that the Administrator of General Services determine the
average, actual cost per mile for the use of each type of POV based
on the results of the cost investigation. Such figures must be
reported to Congress within 5 working days after the cost
determination has been made in accordance with 5 U.S.C.
5707(b)(2)(C).
Pursuant to the requirements of paragraph (b)(1)(A) of section
5707 of Title 5, United States Code, the General Services
Administration (GSA), in consultation with the Secretaries of
Defense and Transportation, and representatives of Government
employee organizations, conducted an investigation of the cost of
operating a privately owned automobile. As provided in 5 U.S.C.
5704(a)(1), the automobile reimbursement rate cannot exceed the
single standard mileage rate established by the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS). The IRS has announced a new single standard mileage
rate for automobiles of 37.5 cents effective January 1, 2004.
As required, GSA is reporting the results of the investigation
and the cost per mile determination. Based on cost studies conducted
by GSA, I have determined the per-mile operating costs of a POV to
be 99.5 cents for airplanes, 37.5 cents for automobiles, and 28.5
cents for motorcycles.
I will issue a regulation to increase the current 95.5 to 99.5
cents for privately owned airplanes, 36.0 to 37.5 cents for
privately owned automobiles, and 27.5 to 28.5 cents for privately
owned motorcycles. This report to Congress on the cost of operating
POVs will be published in the Federal Register.
[FR Doc. 03-30849 Filed 12-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-14-P
