[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37108-37109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15693]
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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
[Notice (03-072)]
14 CFR Part 1204
RIN 2700-AC57
Temporary Duty Travel--Issuance of Motor Vehicle for Home-to-Work
Transportation
AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: NASA is proposing this rule to facilitate the efficient use of
Government resources during temporary duty travel. Specifically, this
rule would permit a NASA employee who is authorized to use a Government
motor vehicle for temporary duty travel to be issued such a vehicle at
the close of business of the preceding day so that the vehicle could be
taken to the employee's residence for use on the following day.
Likewise, if the NASA employee returns from official travel after the
close of working hours, the vehicle could be returned on the next
regular working day. This authority may be exercised only if there
would be significant savings in time.
EFFECTIVE DATE: All comments should be submitted by August 22, 2003.
ADDRESS: All comments should be addressed to William Gookin, Code JG,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC 20546-
0001.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Gookin, 202-358-2306, FAX:
202-358-3235; e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This proposed rule is designed to remedy a
situation that often arises at certain NASA Installations. Employees
who are authorized to use motor vehicles for temporary duty travel must
pick up their vehicles at the Installation at the start of the travel
period, even in cases where the employees' residence is closer to the
temporary duty destination than to the Installation. Such unnecessary
travel can sometimes result in a significant waste of official time and
resources. This proposed rule would allow such employees to be issued
vehicles at the close of the preceding working day, so that they could
commence travel from their residences immediately on the next day. Such
authority may only be exercised, however, if the authorizing official
determines that there will be a significant savings in time. Likewise,
if
[[Page 37109]]
such employees are scheduled to return after working hours, they could
take the vehicles to their residences and return them on the next
regular working day. Although, the use of such vehicles for travel
during the day preceding and subsequent to temporary duty travel is not
official travel, NASA considers it to be ``in conjunction with official
travel,'' 70 Comptroller General 196, and therefore, not prohibited by
31 U.S.C. 1344. This rule is proposed pursuant to Section 503 of the
Ethics Reform Act of 1989 (Pub. L. 101-194) 31 U.S.C. 1344 note which
authorizes agency heads to ``prescribe by rule appropriate conditions
for the incidental use, for other than official business,'' of
Government vehicles. This rule also implements 40 U.S.C. 486(c), that
authorizes agency heads to issue directives carrying out the
regulations of the General Services Administration (GSA), in this case
the GSA rules for the use of Government vehicles at 41 CFR part 301-10,
subpart C, ``Government Vehicles.'' See similar Department of Energy
regulations at 41 CFR 109-6.400.
Regulatory Evaluation: This proposed rule is not a ``significant
regulatory action'' under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866,
Regulatory Planning and Review, and does not require an assessment of
potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that Order.
Small Entities: As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5
U.S.C. 601-612), we have considered whether this proposed rule would
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small
entities. The term ``small entities,'' comprises small businesses, not-
for-profit organizations that are independently owned and operated and
are not dominant in their fields, and governmental jurisdictions with
populations of less than 50,000. NASA certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b)
that this proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on
small business entities.
Collection of Information: This proposed rule does not contain any
information collection requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 1204
Government employees, Government property, and Government property
management.
For the reasons discussed above, NASA proposes to amend 14 CFR part
1204 as follows:
PART 1204--[AMENDED]
Add subpart 16 to read as follows:
Subpart 16--Temporary Duty Travel--Issuance of Motor Vehicle for
Home-to-Work Transportation Authority
Sec.
1204.1600 Issuance of motor vehicle for home-to-work.
Authority: 31 U.S.C. 1344 note, 40 U.S.C. 486(c).
Sec. 1204.1600 Issuance of motor vehicle for home-to-work.
When a NASA employee on temporary duty travel is authorized to
travel by Government motor vehicle, and the official authorizing the
travel determines that there will be a significant savings in time, a
Government motor vehicle may be issued at the close of the preceding
working day and taken to the employee's residence prior to the
commencement of official travel. Similarly, when a NASA employee is
scheduled to return from temporary duty travel after the close of
working hours, the motor vehicle may be taken to the employee's
residence and returned the next regular working day.
Dated: June 5, 2003.
Sean O'Keefe,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-15693 Filed 6-20-03; 8:45 am]
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