[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 61 (Wednesday, March 31, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15630-15631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-7830]



[[Page 15629]]

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Part VI





General Services Administration





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41 CFR Part 301-10



Federal Travel Regulation; Privately Owned Automobile Mileage 
Reimbursement; Final Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 61 / Wednesday, March 31, 1999 / 
Rules and Regulations  

[[Page 15630]]



GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

41 CFR Part 301-10

[FTR Amendment 78--1998 Edition]
RIN 3090-AG89


Federal Travel Regulation; Privately Owned Automobile Mileage 
Reimbursement

AGENCY: Office of Governmentwide Policy, GSA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: This final rule decreases the mileage reimbursement rate for 
use of a privately owned automobile (POA) on official business 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 decrease the mileage allowance for use of a 
POA from 32.5 to 31 cents per mile.

DATES: This final rule is effective April 1, 1999, and applies to 
official travel performed on or after April 1, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Devoanna R. Reels at 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 per-mile operating costs of a POA to be 31 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 31 
cents effective April 1, 1999. With regard to motorcycles and 
airplanes, the mileage rates established by GSA will remain the same.

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 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 the revisions 
do 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 Reform Act

    This 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 31
 
                  *        *        *        *        *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Cents per mile.

    Dated: March 24, 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 conduct 
periodic investigations of 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 at least once a year, and 
to publish the report in the Federal Register. This report is being 
published to comply with the requirements of the law.

    Dated: March 24, 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 investigation of the cost of 
operating a privately owned automobile (POA). GSA's cost study shows 
the per-mile operating costs of a PAO to be 31 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 31 cents effective 
April 1, 1999.
    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 PAO to be 31 cents. With regard to motorcycles and

[[Page 15631]]

airplanes, the mileage rates established by GSA will remain the 
same.
    I will issue a regulation to decrease the current 32.5 cents to 
31 cents per mile for POAs. This report to Congress on the cost of 
operating POAs will be published in the Federal Register.

[FR Doc. 99-7830 Filed 3-30-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-34-P