FAM No. 2005-12 (Temporary Duty (TDY) and/or Relocation Travel of Employees to Areas Impacted by Hurricane Katrina)
September 15, 2005
FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION MEMORANDUM NO. 2005-012 (II.G.1.)
To: Solicitor
Inspector General
Assistant Secretaries
Heads of Bureaus
Departmental Offices
From: Nina Rose Hatfield /s/
Deputy Assistant Secretary – Business Management and Wildland Fire
Subject: Temporary Duty (TDY) and/or Relocation Travel of Employees to Areas
Impacted by Hurricane Katrina
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide guidance and procedures to Departmental
personnel for temporary duty (TDY) and/or relocation travel to and from areas
impacted by Hurricane Katrina. We anticipate an increase in per diem expenses for
lodging and meals in the affected areas of the hurricane. The General Services
Administration has released Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) Bulletin 05-06 informing
agencies that certain provisions of the FTR are temporarily waived as a result of
the devastation in the States of Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. (Attachment).
All non-essential TDY and relocation to the affected locations for the Department
of the Interior is postponed until November 29, 2005.
TDY Travel
All travelers on mission critical travel to the affected areas are:
Authorized actual expense reimbursement for per diem expenses on a blanket basis
(not to exceed 300 percent rounded to the next higher dollar);
Authorized per diem rate for the location where lodging is actually obtained; and,
Must complete a “trip-by-trip” travel authorization that includes approval of
actual expenses during the travel period.
All travelers on TDY travel from areas affected by the hurricane are reminded about
Financial Administration Memorandum 94-037, Reduced Per Diem for Temporary Duty and
Training Travel for Periods of 30 or More Days.
Per diem rate will be reduced to 55 per cent of the full per diem rate (lodging
plus meals and incidental expenses) specified in the FTR for the location, unless
a different rate is fully justified.
Under unusual situations the reduced rate may be increased or decreased depending
on the conditions and necessary cost that must be incurred by the traveler.
The reduced rate should be established based on the conditions that exist when the
travel is performed.
Relocation Travel
All relocation travel to areas affected by Hurricane Katrina is cancelled through
November 29, 2005. After November 29, if unsuitable conditions persist in the
affected areas, the following provisions of the FTR will be waived on a case-by-case
basis, as deemed necessary.
The requirement for temporary quarters to be in reasonable proximity to the new
official station will be waived for areas affected by the hurricane. However, the
120-day maximum for temporary quarters subsistence expense (TQSE) cannot be
extended due to statutory restrictions.
TQSE in the affected areas will not be limited to the standard CONUS rate.
Instead, authorization may be granted for the locality per diem rate or actual
expenses reimbursement allowance.
House hunting trips may be paid as an actual expense allowance.
Employees relocating from areas affected by the hurricane:
Are granted a temporary extension for the home sale incentive allowance from
60 days in TQSE to 120 days (347 DM DOI FTR 302-14.5).
On March 1, 2006, the 60 day limitation will become effective again for employees
relocating from areas affected by the hurricane.
The policy contained in this memorandum expires on March 1, 2006, unless extended
or rescinded by the Office of Financial Management.
As the policies governing travel/relocation change due to this recent disaster,
we will make available the most current information possible. Should you have
questions or require further information, please contact Tamara Peyton, Office of
Financial Management on (202) 208-4701.
Attachment: GSA Bulletin -- FTR Bulletin 05-06
