[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 198 (Friday, October 14, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62312-62313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22168]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

41 CFR Chapter 302

[Notice-MA-2022-11; Docket No. 2022-0002; Sequence No. 24]


Federal Travel Regulation (FTR); Relocation Allowances--Waiver of 
Certain Provisions of the FTR Chapter 302 for Official Relocation 
Travel to Locations in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico Impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Fiona

AGENCY: Office of Government-wide Policy (OGP), General Services 
Administration (GSA).

ACTION: Notification of waiver.

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

SUMMARY: GSA informs Federal agencies that certain provisions of the 
FTR governing official relocation travel are temporarily waived for 
Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico locations impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Fiona and that GSA 
Bulletin FTR 23-03, containing additional details of that waiver, is 
available.

[[Page 62313]]


DATES: October 14, 2022.
    Applicability Date: This waiver is retroactively applicable for 
official relocation travel performed on or after the incident period 
dates impacted by Hurricanes Ian and Fiona. The FTR Bulletin expires 
180 days from the respective effective dates, unless GSA publishes a 
document in the Federal Register extending or rescinding it.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Rick Miller, Senior Policy 
Analyst, Office of Government-wide Policy, Office of Asset and 
Transportation Management, at 202-501-3822 or by email at 
[email protected]. Please cite Notice of GSA Bulletin FTR 23-03.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Federal agencies authorize relocation entitlements to those 
individuals listed at FTR Sec.  302-1.1 and those assigned under the 
Government Employees Training Act (GETA) (5 U.S.C. chapter 41) which 
must be used within one year. Some agencies will authorize Temporary 
Quarters Subsistence Expenses (TQSE) and a Househunting trip (HHT) to 
assist employees with temporary expenses when relocating to the new 
duty station. The FTR limits the location of where temporary lodging 
may occur, how long they may receive assistance, and at what per diem 
rate expenses are based. Hurricanes Ian and Fiona have affected 
locations in Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, and the 
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, which has resulted in various travel-
related disruptions to relocating employees.
    As a result of the storm damage caused by Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, 
agencies should consider delaying all non-essential relocations to the 
affected areas given the statutory 120-day maximum for TQSE. Due to the 
lasting effects of the storm damage to these affected areas, finding 
lodging facilities and/or adequate meals may be difficult, and distance 
involved may be great, resulting in increased cost for relocation per 
diem expenses.
    Accordingly, GSA allows agencies to determine whether to implement 
waivers of time limits established by the FTR for completion of all 
aspects of relocation, temporary quarter's locations at the new duty 
station and per diem rates for TQSE, and per diem rates for HHTs as of 
the following dates for the locations specified: (a) September 23, 
2022, based on the Presidential Disaster Declaration DR-4673-FL dated 
September 29, 2022, to the locations in Florida, (b) September 23, 
2022, based on the Presidential Disaster Declaration DR-4675 dated 
September 30, 2022, to the locations in Florida, (c) September 25, 
2022, based on the Presidential Disaster Declaration EM-3585-SC dated 
September 29, 2022, to the locations in South Carolina, (d) September 
28, 2022, based on the Presidential Disaster Declaration EM-3586-NC 
dated October 1, 2022, to the locations in North Carolina, and (e) 
September 17, 2022, based on the Presidential Disaster Declaration DR-
4671-PR dated September 21, 2022, to the locations in the Commonwealth 
of Puerto Rico.
    GSA Bulletin FTR 23-03 can be viewed at https://www.gsa.gov/ftrbulletins.

Saul Japson,
Principal Deputy Associate Administrator, Office of Government-wide 
Policy.
[FR Doc. 2022-22168 Filed 10-13-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P