[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 5, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 5CFR591.305]

[Page 679-680]
 
                    TITLE 5--ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL
 
                CHAPTER I--OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT
 
PART 591--ALLOWANCES AND DIFFERENTIALS--Table of Contents
 
         Subpart C--Allowance Based on Duty at Remote Worksites
 
Sec. 591.305  Allowance rates.

    (a) General. An allowance rate may not exceed $10 a day. An 
allowance rate shall be established for each post of duty determined to 
be remote under Sec. 591.304, and shall be terminated or adjusted as 
warranted. In determining the amount of the allowance rate, the 
following shall be considered:
    (1) Transportation expenses incurred in commuting to the remote post 
of duty as compared to transportation expenses (including cost of public 
transportation service) representative of those incurred in metropolitan 
areas within the United States or overseas as appropriate as 
periodically determined by the Office of Personnel Management.
    (2) Expenses incurred for lodging, meals, other services, and 
miscellaneous expenses when it is not feasible for an employee to 
commute daily as at duty posts determined under Sec. 591.304(a)(2).
    (3) Inconvenience or hardship associated with commuting to the 
remote duty post taking into account such factors as travel time, road 
conditions and terrain, type and quality of vehicle, and climate 
conditions, and conditions that exist at those duty posts determined by 
the Office of Personnel Management to meet the criteria in 
Sec. 591.304(a)(2).
    (4) Operational or workload demands, weather conditions, or other 
situations

[[Page 680]]

which require an employee to report to or remain at this post of duty 
substantially beyond his or her normal arrival or departure time with 
respect to those duty posts meeting the criteria in Sec. 591.304(a)(2).
    (b) Authorized allowance rates. Each authorized allowance rate for 
each duty post may consist of up to three parts, separately stated as 
appropriate, and the authorized allowance rate shall be paid as provided 
in Sec. 591.306, but no employee may be paid more than $10 a day. The 
parts which make up the authorized allowance rate are:
    (1) Transportation allowance--(i) Commuting by private motor 
vehicle. A transportation allowance schedule showing the daily 
transportation expense rate to be paid under the distances and 
conditions described, when commuting by private motor vehicle is set out 
as appendix A to this subpart and is incorporated in and made part of 
this section.
    (ii) Travel by commercial or Government-provided transportation. The 
transportation allowance shall be limited to the cost of the service 
less normal cost for public transportation service in metropolitan 
areas.
    (2) Inconvenience or hardship allowance. An allowance rate to 
compensate for hardship or inconvenience may not be considered unless 
the travel time normally exceeds one hour one way between the closest 
established community or suitable place or residence and the remote duty 
post. An allowance schedule covering land travel by motor vehicle, 
showing the daily rates to be paid under the time factors and conditions 
described, for inconvenience or hardship combined, is set out as 
appendix B to this subpart and is incorporated in and made part of this 
section.
    (3) Other commuting situations. Notwithstanding paragraphs (b)(1) 
and (b)(2) of this section, when commuting is by boat, aircraft or an 
unusual conveyance, or under extraordinary conditions by motor vehicle, 
or involving factors or conditions unique to the duty post, the Office 
of Personnel Management shall establish the allowance based on the facts 
and circumstances of that individual remote duty post.
    (4) Miscellaneous. When daily commuting is impractical as determined 
under Sec. 591.304(a)(2):
    (i) The Office of Personnel Management may authorize a miscellaneous 
allowance, the amount to depend on such factors as miscellaneous 
expenses, living conditions that exist at the duty post, or 
inconvenience or hardship that may be associated with this type of 
employment environment. When employees are required to pay a fee for 
lodging, meals, or other services at the remote duty post, the 
miscellaneous allowance shall at least equal the amount charged for the 
use of facilities and services.
    (ii) On those days when operational or workload demands, weather 
conditions, or other situations result in employees reporting to or 
remaining at the remote duty post substantially beyond normal arrival or 
departure time, the maximum daily allowance rate of $10 shall be paid.