[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 206 (Friday, October 24, 2003)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60847-60848]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-26945]


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NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

14 CFR Part 1204

[Notice (03-134)]
RIN 2700-AC57


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

AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This is a final rule announcement to facilitate the efficient 
use of Government resources during temporary duty travel. Specifically, 
this rule will 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 can 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 can be returned on 
the next regular working day. This authority may be exercised only if 
there will be significant savings in time. The proposed rule was 
published in the Federal Register on June 23, 2003. No comments were 
received as a result of the proposed rule.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective immediately upon publication in 
the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: 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 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' residences are 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 rule will allow such employees to be issued vehicles at 
the close of the preceding working day, so that they can 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 such employees are scheduled to return after working hours, they can 
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 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 Part 109-6.400.
    Regulatory Evaluation: This rule in 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), NASA has 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 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, Subpart 16

    Government employees, Government property, and Government property 
management.

0
For the reasons discussed above, NASA proposes to amend 14 CFR Part 
1204:

PART 1204--ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY AND POLICY

0
Add subpart 16 to read as follows:

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

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

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

[[Page 60848]]

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 and the official authorizing the travel determines that 
there will be a significant savings in time, the motor vehicle may be 
taken to the employee's residence and returned the next regular working 
day.

    Dated: October 10, 2003.
Sean O'Keefe,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 03-26945 Filed 10-23-03; 8:45 am]
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