[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 194 (Thursday, October 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60152-60153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-22528]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[GSA Bulletin FTR 05-2]


Waivers to Federal Travel Regulation for TDY and PCS in 
Presidentially Declared Individual Assistance Disaster Areas in 
Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi

AGENCY:  Office of Governmentwide Policy (MTT), GSA.

ACTION:  Notice of a bulletin.

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SUMMARY:  Due to the scope of destruction caused by the recent natural 
disasters in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi, agencies 
should consider delaying all non-essential TDY and PCS to the affected 
locations for a period of 90 days. This is especially important with 
PCS travel because the 120-day maximum for TQSE cannot be extended due 
to statutory restrictions. For travel which cannot be delayed, GSA 
adjusted several key allowances, as noted in the bulletin following 
this notice.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This bulletin is effective October 1, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Mr. Jim Harte, Office of 
Governmentwide Policy, Travel Management Policy Division (MTT), General 
Services Administration, Washington, DC 20405; e-mail, 
[email protected], or telephone (202) 501-0483.



    Dated: October 1, 2004.
G. MARTIN WAGNER,
Associate Administrator, Office of Governmentwide Policy.

October 1, 2004.

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

[GSA Bulletin FTR 05-2]

TO: Heads of Federal Agencies

SUBJECT: Reimbursement for actual subsistence expenses, and waivers of 
certain provisions of the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR) (41 CFR 301 
and 302) for temporary duty (TDY) or permanent change of station (PCS) 
travel of employees to Presidentially declared individual assistance 
disaster areas of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi

    1. Purpose. This bulletin informs agencies of the temporarily 
authorized use of actual subsistence expenses for official travel (both 
TDY and PCS) to the subject locations as a result of Hurricanes 
Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne, as well as Tropical Storm Bonnie, 
because it is expected that

[[Page 60153]]

finding temporary lodging facilities may be difficult, and distances 
involved may be great.
    The provisions in this bulletin are effective from the date of the 
Presidential declaration of a county as an individual assistance 
disaster area and apply only upon that designation for the subject 
states. The provisions of the bulletin expire as stated in paragraph 5.
    2. Background. Due to the scope of destruction caused by these 
natural disasters, agencies should consider delaying all non-essential 
TDY and PCS to the affected locations for a period of 90 days. This is 
especially important with PCS travel because the 120-day maximum for 
TQSE cannot be extended due to statutory restrictions. If such TDY and 
PCS travel cannot be delayed due to mission requirements or personal 
hardships, then the following applies:
    3. For PCS travel that cannot be delayed due to mission 
requirements or personal hardships the following applies: For temporary 
quarters subsistence expense (TQSE), the FTR provisions requiring that 
temporary quarters be in reasonable proximity to the new official 
station are hereby waived for the areas listed in paragraph 4. The 
maximum limit of 120 days that TQSE may be authorized remains in 
effect.
    Additionally, the provisions of FTR 302-6.102 limiting per diem 
reimbursement to the standard CONUS rate for TQSE are hereby waived to 
allow the reimbursement of subsistence expenses at the locality per 
diem rate under the provisions of FTR 301-11.101 or an actual expense 
reimbursement allowance under FTR 301-11.300-306, at the discretion of 
the agency, for the areas specified in paragraph 4. The provisions of 
FTR 302-6.200-203 providing for fixed amount reimbursement option for 
TQSE remain in effect. In addition, for house hunting trips (HHT), the 
provisions of FTR 302-5.13 that restrict reimbursement of subsistence 
expenses to the lodgings-plus method are hereby waived. Thus, actual 
expense allowances under FTR 301-11.300-306 may be authorized, at the 
discretion of the agency, for those areas listed in paragraph 4. The 
provisions of FTR 302-5.13 providing for fixed amount reimbursement 
option for HHT remain in effect. In all cases, the provisions of 41 CFR 
301-11.303 limiting actual expenses not to exceed 300 percent (rounded 
to the next higher dollar) of the applicable maximum per diem rate 
remains in effect.
    4. Maximum rates. As a result of Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, 
and Jeanne, and Tropical Storm Bonnie, the provisions of FTR 301-11.300 
and 301-11.70.200(f) requiring an agency determination that 
reimbursement under the actual expense method is appropriate are hereby 
waived for the locations specified below. Thus, agencies may approve 
actual subsistence expense reimbursement, not to exceed 300 percent of 
the applicable per diem rate, without further justification, for the 
following affected counties and parishes:

Florida (effective August 11, 2004):

    The counties of Brevard, Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, 
Flager, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Indian River, Lake, Lee, 
Levy, Manatee, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Polk, St. 
Johns, Sarasota, Seminole, and Volusia.

Florida (effective September 3, 2004):

    The counties of Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Brevard, Broward, 
Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Columbia, DeSoto, Dixie, Duval, Flagler, 
Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, 
Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Nassau, 
Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, 
Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Union and Volusia Counties.

Alabama effective September 13, 2004:

    The counties of Baldwin, Butler, Clarke, Coffee, Conecuh, 
Covington, Crenshaw, Escambia, Geneva, Mobile, Monroe, and Washington.

Florida (effective September 13, 2004):

    The counties of Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, 
Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Taylor, Wakulla, 
Walton, and Washington.

Louisiana (effective September 13, 2004):

    The parishes of Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. 
Bernard, St, Charles, St. Tammany, and Terrebonne.

Mississippi (effective September 13, 2004):

    The counties of George, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Perry, Stone, 
and Wayne.
    5. Expiration date. This bulletin expires on December 31, 2004, 
unless sooner rescinded by this office.
    6. For further information contact. Ms. Peggy Deprospero, Director, 
Travel Management Policy, at (202) 501-2826.
    By delegation of the Administrator, General Services 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-22528 Filed 10-6-04; 8:45 am]
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