[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 3 (Monday, January 6, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 493-494]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-136]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

41 CFR Part 301-10

[FTR Amendment 112]
RIN 3090-AH77


Federal Travel Regulation; Privately Owned Vehicle Mileage 
Reimbursement

AGENCY: Office of Governmentwide Policy, GSA.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule decreases the mileage reimbursement rate for 
use of a privately owned vehicle (POV) on official travel to reflect 
current costs of operation as determined in cost studies conducted by 
the General Services Administration (GSA). The governing regulation is 
revised to decrease the mileage allowance for advantageous use of a 
privately owned airplane from 97.5 to 95.5 cents per mile, the cost of 
operating a privately owned automobile from 36.5 to 36.0 cents per 
mile, and the cost of operating a privately owned motorcycle from 28.0 
to 27.5 cents per mile.

DATES: Effective Date: January 1, 2003.
    Applicability Date: This final rule applies to travel performed on 
or after January 1, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The Regulatory Secretariat, Room 4035, 
GSA Building, Washington, DC, 20405, (202) 208-7312, for information 
pertaining to status or publication schedules. For clarification of 
content, contact Devoanna R. Reels, Program Analyst, Office of 
Governmentwide Policy, Travel Management Policy, at (202) 501-3781. 
Please cite FTR Amendment 112.

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 airplanes, 
automobiles (including trucks), and motorcycles. In order to set these 
rates, GSA is required to conduct periodic investigations. Subsection 
(b) of section 5707 of title 5, U.S.C., requires the Administrator of 
General Services, in consultation with the

[[Page 494]]

Secretaries of Defense and Transportation, and representatives of 
Government employee organizations, to periodically investigate 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 POV 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. The report is being published to comply with the requirements 
of the law. GSA's cost studies show the Administrator of General 
Services has determined the per-mile operating costs of a POV to be 
95.5 cents for airplanes, 36.0 cents for automobiles, and 27.5 cents 
for motorcycles. 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 36.0 
cents effective January 1, 2003.

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 (OMB) 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 Part 301-10

    Government employees, Travel and transportation expenses.

    Dated: December 24, 2002.
Stephen A. Perry,
Administrator of General Services.


    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, amend 41 CFR part 301-10 
as set forth below:

PART 301-10--TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES

    1. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 301-10 is revised to read 
as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707; 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 49 U.S.C. 40118.

    2. Revise section 301-10.303 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?

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              For use of a                    Your reimbursement is
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Privately owned aircraft (e.g.,          Actual cost of operation (i.e.,
 helicopter, except an airplane).         fuel, oil, plus the additional
                                          expenses listed in Sec.   301-
                                          10.304).
Privately owned airplane...............  195.5.\1\
Privately owned automobile.............  136.0.\1\
Privately owned motorcycle.............  127.5.\1\
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\1\ Cents per mile.

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 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). 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 36.0 cents effective January 1, 2003.
    As required, GSA is reporting the results of the investigation 
and the cost per mile determination. Based on cost studies conducted 
by GSA, I have determined the per-mile operating costs of a POV to 
be 95.5 cents for airplanes, 36.0 cents for automobiles, and 27.5 
cents for motorcycles.
    I have issued a regulation decreasing the current 97.5 to 95.5 
cents for privately owned airplanes, 36.5 to 36.0 cents for 
privately owned automobiles, and 28.0 to 27.5 cents for privately 
owned motorcycles. This report to Congress on the cost of operating 
POVs will be published in the Federal Register.

[FR Doc. 03-136 Filed 1-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-24-P