[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 51 (Friday, March 14, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13784-13785]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5091]


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GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

41 CFR Part 301-10

[FTR Amendment 2008-02; Docket 2008-0004, Sequence 1; FTR Case 2008-
301]
RIN 3090-AI46


Federal Travel Regulation; Privately Owned Automobile Mileage 
Reimbursement

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The General Services Administration (GSA) is amending the 
Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), by increasing the mileage 
reimbursement rate for use of a privately owned automobile (POA) when 
used for official travel. This new rate reflects current costs of 
operating a POA as determined in cost studies conducted by GSA. The 
governing regulation increases the mileage allowance for the cost of 
operating a POA for official travel from $0.485 to $0.505 per mile.

DATES: Effective Date: March 19, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT The Regulatory Secretariat (VPR), Room 
4035, GS Building, Washington, DC, 20405, (202) 501-4755, for 
information pertaining to status or publication schedules. For 
clarification of content, contact Ms. Umeki G. Thorne, Program Analyst, 
Office of Governmentwide Policy, Travel Management Policy, at (202) 
208-7636. Please cite FTR Amendment 2008-02; FTR case 2008-301.

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, in 
consultation with the Secretaries of Defense and Transportation, and 
representatives of Government employee organizations, of the cost of 
travel and the operation of POVs to employees while engaged on official 
business. As required, GSA has conducted an investigation of the costs 
of operating a privately owned automobile. The results of this 
investigation has 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 study 
shows that the Administrator of General Services has determined the per 
mile operating costs for official use of a privately owned automobile 
to be $0.505. 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 $0.505 
per mile effective January 1, 2008. GSA is currently undergoing studies 
to review cost analyses of operating a privately owned motorcycle and a 
privately owned aircraft. Consequently, the costs of operating a 
privately owned motorcycle and a privately owned aircraft remain 
unchanged at this time.

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 final 
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 (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: February 20, 2008.
Lurita Doan,
Administrator of General Services.

0
For the reasons set forth in the preamble, under 5 U.S.C. 5701-5709, 
GSA amends 41 CFR part 301-10 as set forth below:

PART 301-10--TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES

0
1. The authority citation for 41 CFR part 301-10 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 5707, 40 U.S.C. 121 (c); 49 U.S.C. 40118, 
Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A-126, ``Improving the 
Management and Use of Government Aircraft.'' Revised April 28, 2006.


301-10.303   [Amended]

0
2. Amend the table in Sec.  301-10.303, in the second column, by 
removing ``\1\$0.485'' and adding ``\1\$0.505'' in its place.

    Note: The following will not appear in the Code of Federal 
Regulations.

    Attachment to Preamble

[[Page 13785]]

    GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION
    REPORTING TO CONGRESS--THE COSTS OF OPERATING PRIVATELY OWNED 
AUTOMOBILES
    Paragraph (b) of Section 5707 of Title 5, United States Code, 
requires the Administrator of General Services to periodically 
investigate the cost to Government employees of operating privately 
owned vehicles (airplanes, automobiles, and motorcycles) while on 
official travel, to report the results of the investigations to 
Congress, and to publish the report in the Federal Register. This 
report on the privately owned automobile mileage reimbursement rate is 
being published in the Federal Register. The investigations pertaining 
to the reimbursement rates for airplanes and motorcycles are still 
pending. Therefore, there are no changes to these rates at this time.
    Dated: February 20, 2008.
    Lurita Doan,
    Administrator of General Services.
    Reporting To Congress--The Costs of Operating Privately Owned 
Automobiles
    5 U.S.C. 5707(b)(1)(A) requires that the Administrator of General 
Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary 
of Transportation, and representatives of Government employee 
organizations, conduct periodic investigations of the cost of travel 
and operation of privately owned vehicles (airplanes, automobiles, and 
motorcycles) to Government employees while on official travel, and 
report the results to the Congress at least once a year. 5 U.S.C. 
5707(a)(1) requires that the Administrator of General Services issue 
regulations prescribing mileage reimbursement rates and determine the 
average, actual cost per mile for the use of each type of privately 
owned vehicle based on the results of these cost investigations. Such 
figures must be reported to the 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 above, the General Services Administration (GSA), 
in consultation with the above-specified parties 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 POAs of $0.505, which was effective January 
1, 2008. 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 POA to be 
$0.505. Reimbursement rates for the use of a privately owned airplane 
and a privately owned motorcycle remain unchanged at this time as these 
investigations are still pending.
    This report to Congress on the cost of operating POAs will be 
published in the Federal Register.
[FR Doc. E8-5091 Filed 3-13-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6820-14-S