[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 120 (Monday, June 23, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37108-37109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15693]


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

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

[Notice (03-072)]

14 CFR Part 1204

RIN 2700-AC57


Temporary Duty Travel--Issuance of Motor Vehicle for Home-to-Work 
Transportation

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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

SUMMARY: NASA is proposing this rule to facilitate the efficient use of 
Government resources during temporary duty travel. Specifically, this 
rule would permit a NASA employee who is authorized to use a Government 
motor vehicle for temporary duty travel to be issued such a vehicle at 
the close of business of the preceding day so that the vehicle could be 
taken to the employee's residence for use on the following day. 
Likewise, if the NASA employee returns from official travel after the 
close of working hours, the vehicle could be returned on the next 
regular working day. This authority may be exercised only if there 
would be significant savings in time.

EFFECTIVE DATE: All comments should be submitted by August 22, 2003.

ADDRESS: All comments should be addressed to William Gookin, Code JG, 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC 20546-
0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Gookin, 202-358-2306, FAX: 
202-358-3235; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This proposed rule is designed to remedy a 
situation that often arises at certain NASA Installations. Employees 
who are authorized to use motor vehicles for temporary duty travel must 
pick up their vehicles at the Installation at the start of the travel 
period, even in cases where the employees' residence is closer to the 
temporary duty destination than to the Installation. Such unnecessary 
travel can sometimes result in a significant waste of official time and 
resources. This proposed rule would allow such employees to be issued 
vehicles at the close of the preceding working day, so that they could 
commence travel from their residences immediately on the next day. Such 
authority may only be exercised, however, if the authorizing official 
determines that there will be a significant savings in time. Likewise, 
if

[[Page 37109]]

such employees are scheduled to return after working hours, they could 
take the vehicles to their residences and return them on the next 
regular working day. Although, the use of such vehicles for travel 
during the day preceding and subsequent to temporary duty travel is not 
official travel, NASA considers it to be ``in conjunction with official 
travel,'' 70 Comptroller General 196, and therefore, not prohibited by 
31 U.S.C. 1344. This rule is proposed pursuant to Section 503 of the 
Ethics Reform Act of 1989 (Pub. L. 101-194) 31 U.S.C. 1344 note which 
authorizes agency heads to ``prescribe by rule appropriate conditions 
for the incidental use, for other than official business,'' of 
Government vehicles. This rule also implements 40 U.S.C. 486(c), that 
authorizes agency heads to issue directives carrying out the 
regulations of the General Services Administration (GSA), in this case 
the GSA rules for the use of Government vehicles at 41 CFR part 301-10, 
subpart C, ``Government Vehicles.'' See similar Department of Energy 
regulations at 41 CFR 109-6.400.
    Regulatory Evaluation: This proposed rule is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866, 
Regulatory Planning and Review, and does not require an assessment of 
potential costs and benefits under section 6(a)(3) of that Order.
    Small Entities: As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 601-612), we have considered whether this proposed rule would 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities. The term ``small entities,'' comprises small businesses, not-
for-profit organizations that are independently owned and operated and 
are not dominant in their fields, and governmental jurisdictions with 
populations of less than 50,000. NASA certifies under 5 U.S.C. 605(b) 
that this proposed rule will not have a significant economic impact on 
small business entities.
    Collection of Information: This proposed rule does not contain any 
information collection requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520).

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 1204

    Government employees, Government property, and Government property 
management.

    For the reasons discussed above, NASA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 
1204 as follows:

PART 1204--[AMENDED]

    Add subpart 16 to read as follows:

Subpart 16--Temporary Duty Travel--Issuance of Motor Vehicle for 
Home-to-Work Transportation Authority

Sec.
1204.1600 Issuance of motor vehicle for home-to-work.

    Authority: 31 U.S.C. 1344 note, 40 U.S.C. 486(c).


Sec.  1204.1600  Issuance of motor vehicle for home-to-work.

    When a NASA employee on temporary duty travel is authorized to 
travel by Government motor vehicle, and the official authorizing the 
travel determines that there will be a significant savings in time, a 
Government motor vehicle may be issued at the close of the preceding 
working day and taken to the employee's residence prior to the 
commencement of official travel. Similarly, when a NASA employee is 
scheduled to return from temporary duty travel after the close of 
working hours, the motor vehicle may be taken to the employee's 
residence and returned the next regular working day.

    Dated: June 5, 2003.
Sean O'Keefe,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-15693 Filed 6-20-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7510-01-P