[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 51 (Friday, March 14, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13784-13785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5091]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
41 CFR Part 301-10
[FTR Amendment 2008-02; Docket 2008-0004, Sequence 1; FTR Case 2008-
301]
RIN 3090-AI46
Federal Travel Regulation; Privately Owned Automobile Mileage
Reimbursement
AGENCY: Office of Governmentwide Policy, General Services
Administration (GSA).
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is amending the
Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), by increasing the mileage
reimbursement rate for use of a privately owned automobile (POA) when
used for official travel. This new rate reflects current costs of
operating a POA as determined in cost studies conducted by GSA. The
governing regulation increases the mileage allowance for the cost of
operating a POA for official travel from $0.485 to $0.505 per mile.
DATES: Effective Date: March 19, 2008.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT The Regulatory Secretariat (VPR), Room
4035, GS Building, Washington, DC, 20405, (202) 501-4755, for
information pertaining to status or publication schedules. For
clarification of content, contact Ms. Umeki G. Thorne, Program Analyst,
Office of Governmentwide Policy, Travel Management Policy, at (202)
208-7636. Please cite FTR Amendment 2008-02; FTR case 2008-301.
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 has conducted an investigation of the costs
of operating a privately owned automobile. The results of this
investigation has been reported to Congress and a copy of the report
appears as an attachment to this document. The report is being
published to comply with the requirements of the law. GSA's cost study
shows that the Administrator of General Services has determined the per
mile operating costs for official use of a privately owned automobile
to be $0.505. 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 $0.505
per mile effective January 1, 2008. GSA is currently undergoing studies
to review cost analyses of operating a privately owned motorcycle and a
privately owned aircraft. Consequently, the costs of operating a
privately owned motorcycle and a privately owned aircraft remain
unchanged at this time.
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 final
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 (OMB) 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: February 20, 2008.
Lurita Doan,
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
0
1. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 301-10 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707, 40 U.S.C. 121 (c); 49 U.S.C. 40118,
Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-126, ``Improving the
Management and Use of Government Aircraft.'' Revised April 28, 2006.
301-10.303 [Amended]
0
2. Amend the table in Sec. 301-10.303, in the second column, by
removing ``\1\$0.485'' and adding ``\1\$0.505'' in its place.
Note: The following will not appear in the Code of Federal
Regulations.
Attachment to Preamble
[[Page 13785]]
GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
REPORTING TO CONGRESS--THE COSTS OF OPERATING PRIVATELY OWNED
AUTOMOBILES
Paragraph (b) of Section 5707 of Title 5, United States Code,
requires the Administrator of General Services to periodically
investigate the cost to Government employees of operating privately
owned vehicles (airplanes, automobiles, and motorcycles) while on
official travel, to report the results of the investigations to
Congress, and to publish the report in the Federal Register. This
report on the privately owned automobile mileage reimbursement rate is
being published in the Federal Register. The investigations pertaining
to the reimbursement rates for airplanes and motorcycles are still
pending. Therefore, there are no changes to these rates at this time.
Dated: February 20, 2008.
Lurita Doan,
Administrator of General Services.
Reporting To Congress--The Costs of Operating Privately Owned
Automobiles
5 U.S.C. 5707(b)(1)(A) requires that the Administrator of General
Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary
of Transportation, and representatives of Government employee
organizations, conduct periodic investigations of the cost of travel
and operation of privately owned vehicles (airplanes, automobiles, and
motorcycles) to Government employees while on official travel, and
report the results to the Congress at least once a year. 5 U.S.C.
5707(a)(1) requires that the Administrator of General Services issue
regulations prescribing mileage reimbursement rates and determine the
average, actual cost per mile for the use of each type of privately
owned vehicle based on the results of these cost investigations. Such
figures must be reported to the 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 above, the General Services Administration (GSA),
in consultation with the above-specified parties conducted an
investigation of the cost of operating a privately owned automobile
(POA). 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 POAs of $0.505, which was effective January
1, 2008. 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 POA to be
$0.505. Reimbursement rates for the use of a privately owned airplane
and a privately owned motorcycle remain unchanged at this time as these
investigations are still pending.
This report to Congress on the cost of operating POAs will be
published in the Federal Register.
[FR Doc. E8-5091 Filed 3-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-14-S