[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 1 (Thursday, January 2, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 196-201]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32477]



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Part IV





General Services Administration





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41 CFR Chapter 301



Federal Travel Regulation; Maximum Per Diem Rates for Massachusetts, 
Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania; Final 
Rule

  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 1 / Thursday, January 2, 2003 / Rules 
and Regulations  

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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

41 CFR Chapter 301

[FTR Amendment 111]
RIN 3090-AH75


Federal Travel Regulation; Maximum Per Diem Rates for 
Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, and 
Pennsylvania

AGENCY: Office of Governmentwide Policy, General Services 
Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: To improve the ability of the per diem rates to meet the 
lodging demands of Federal travelers to high cost travel locations, the 
General Services Administration (GSA) has integrated the contracting 
mechanism of the new Federal Premier Lodging Program (FPLP) into the 
per diem rate-setting process. An analysis of FPLP contracting actions 
and the lodging rate survey data reveals that the maximum per diem rate 
for the State of Massachusetts, city of Boston, including Suffolk 
County, and city of Cambridge, including Middlesex Counties (except for 
the city of Lowell); State of Michigan, city of Detroit, including 
Wayne County; State of Missouri, city of St. Louis, including St. Louis 
and St. Charles Counties; State of New Mexico, city of Albuquerque, 
including Bernalillo County; State of North Carolina, city of 
Charlotte, including Mecklenburg County; State of Pennsylvania, city of 
Pittsburgh, including Allegheny County, should be adjusted to provide 
for the reimbursement of Federal employees' lodging expenses covered by 
the per diem. This final rule amends the final rule published in the 
Federal Register on August 30, 2002 and amended on November 18, 2002 by 
adjusting the maximum lodging amounts in the prescribed areas.

DATES: This final rule is effective December 15, 2002, and applies to 
travel performed on or after that date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Regulatory Secretariat, Room 4035, 
GS Building, Washington, DC, 20405, (202) 208-7312, for information 
pertaining to status or publication schedules. For clarification of 
content, contact Joddy P. Garner, Office of Governmentwide Policy, 
Travel Management Policy, at (202) 501-4857. Please cite FTR Amendment 
111.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. Background

    In the past, properties in high cost travel areas have been under 
no obligation to provide lodging to Federal travelers at the prescribed 
per diem rate. Thus, the General Services Administration (GSA) 
established the Federal Premier Lodging Program (FPLP) to contract 
directly with properties in high cost travel markets to make available 
a set number of rooms to Federal travelers at contract rates. FPLP 
contract results along with the lodging survey data are integrated 
together to determine reasonable per diem rates that more accurately 
reflect lodging costs in these areas. In addition, the FPLP will 
enhance the Government's ability to better meet its overall room night 
demand, and allow travelers to find lodging close to where they need to 
conduct business. After an analysis of this additional data, the 
maximum lodging amounts published in the Federal Register at 67 FR 
56160, August 30, 2002 and amended at 67 FR 69634, November 18, 2002 
are being changed in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts; Detroit, 
Michigan; St. Louis, Missouri; Charlotte, North Carolina; Albuquerque, 
New Mexico; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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 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 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 Chapter 301

    Government employees, Travel and transportation expenses.

    Dated: December 16, 2002.
Stephen A. Perry,
Administrator of General Services.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, under 5 U.S.C. 5701-
5709, GSA amends 41 CFR chapter 301 as set forth below:

CHAPTER 301--TEMPORARY DUTY (TDY) TRAVEL ALLOWANCES

    1. Amend the table in Appendix A to chapter 301 as follows:
    a. Under the State of Massachusetts, revise the entry for the city 
of Boston, including Suffolk County.
    b. Under the State of Massachusetts, revise the entry for city of 
Cambridge, including Middlesex County (except Lowell).
    c. Under the State of Michigan, city of Detroit, including Wayne 
County, amend the maximum lodging amount by removing ``109'' and adding 
``108'' in its place; and amend the maximum per diem rate by removing 
``159'' and adding ``158'' in its place.
    d. Under the State of Missouri, city of St. Louis, including St. 
Louis and St. Charles Counties, amend the maximum lodging amount by 
removing ``90'' and adding ``102'' in its place; and amend the maximum 
per diem rate by removing ``140'' and adding ``152'' in its place.
    e. Under the State of New Mexico, city of Albuquerque, including 
Bernalillo County, amend the maximum lodging amount by removing ``65'' 
and adding ``72'' in its place; and amend the maximum per diem rate by 
removing ``107'' and adding ``114'' in its place.
    f. Under the State of North Carolina, city of Charlotte, including 
Mecklenburg County, amend the maximum lodging amount by removing ``71'' 
and adding ``81'' in its place; and amend the maximum per diem rate by 
removing ``113'' and adding ``123'' in its place.
    g. Under the State of Pennsylvania, city of Pittsburgh, including 
Allegheny County, amend the maximum lodging amount by removing ``79'' 
and adding ``90'' in its place; and amend the maximum per diem rate by 
removing ``125'' and adding ``136'' in its place.
    The revised pages containing the amendments to the table set forth 
above read as follows:

Appendix A to Chapter 301--Prescribed Maximum Per Diem Rates for CONUS

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[FR Doc. 02-32477 Filed 12-31-02; 8:45 am]
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