[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 5 (Friday, January 7, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 1268-1269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-302]



[[Page 1267]]



Part III





General Services Administration





_______________________________________________________________________



41 CFR Part 301-10



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

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 5 / Friday, January 7, 2000 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 1268]]



GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

41 CFR Part 301-10

[FTR Amendment 88]
RIN 3090-AH19


Federal Travel Regulation; Privately Owned Automobile Mileage 
Reimbursement

AGENCY: Office of Governmentwide Policy, GSA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

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