Federal Travel Regulation; Privately Owned Automobile Mileage Reimbursement

SUMMARY: This final rule increases the mileage reimbursement rate for

use of a privately owned automobile (POA) on official travel to reflect

current costs of operation as determined in a cost study conducted by

the General Services Administration (GSA). The governing regulation is

revised to increase the mileage allowance for advantageous use of a POA

from 31 to 32.5 cents per mile.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule is effective January 14, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Devoanna R. Reels, Program Analyst,

telephone 202-501-3781.

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 automobiles

(including trucks), motorcycles, and airplanes. 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 POA 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

study shows the Administrator of General Services has determined the

per-mile operating costs of a POA to be 32.5 cents. Additionally, 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 32.5 cents effective January

1, 2000. With regard to motorcycles and airplanes, the mileage rates

for these two modes of transportation are being updated to reflect

current operating costs. We are currently collecting the data from

sources outside of Government; updated data will be incorporated upon

completion of the investigation.

B. 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 does not apply.

C. Executive Order 12866

GSA has determined that this final rule is not a significant

regulatory action for the purposes of Executive Order 12866 of

September 30, 1993.

D. Paperwork Reduction Act

The Paperwork Reduction Act does not apply because this final rule

does not impose recordkeeping or information collection requirements,

or the collection of information from offerors, contractors, or members

of the public which require the approval of the Office of Management

and Budget under 44 U.S.C. 501 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.

For the reasons set forth in the preamble, 41 CFR part 301-10 is

amended to read as follows:

PART 301-10--TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES

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. 486(c); 49 U.S.C. 40118.

2. Section 301-10.303 is amended by revising the entry ``Privately

owned automobile'' 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

------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

Privately owned automobile............................... \1\ 32.5

* * * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------

\1\ Cents per mile.

Dated: December 30, 1999.

David J. Barram,

Administrator of General Services.

Attachment to Preamble--Report to Congress on the Costs of

Operating Privately Owned Vehicles

Subparagraph (b)(1)(A) of Section 5707 of Title 5, United States

Code, requires the Administrator of General Services, in consultation

with the Secretaries of Defense and Transportation, and representatives

of Government employee organizations, to periodically investigate the

cost of travel and the operation of privately owned vehicles

(airplanes, automobiles, and motorcycles) to Government employees while

on official business, to report the results of the investigations to

Congress, and to publish the report in the Federal Register. This

report is being published to comply with the requirements of the law.

Dated: December 30, 1999.

David J. Barram,

Administrator of General Services.

Report to Congress

Subparagraph (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. Subparagraph (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 subparagraph (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

[[Page 1269]]

investigation of the cost of operating a privately owned automobile

(POA). Additionally, 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 32.5

cents effective January 1, 2000.

As required, GSA is reporting the results of the investigation and

the cost per mile determination. Based on the cost study conducted by

GSA, I have determined the per-mile operating costs of a POA to be 32.5

cents. With regard to motorcycles and airplanes, the mileage rates for

these two modes of transportation are being updated to reflect current

operating costs. We are currently collecting the data from sources

outside of Government; updated data will be incorporated upon

completion of the investigation.

I will issue a regulation to increase the current 31 cents to 32.5

cents per mile for POAs. This report to Congress on the cost of

operating POAs will be published in the Federal Register.

[FR Doc. 00-302 Filed 1-6-00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6820-34-P