05-2124. Federal Travel Regulation; Privately Owned Vehicle Mileage Reimbursement

AGENCY:

Office Governmentwide Policy, GSA.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

This final rule amends the mileage reimbursement rate for use of a privately owned vehicle on official travel to reflect current costs of operation as determined in cost studies conducted by the General Services Administration (GSA). The governing regulation is revised to increase the mileage allowance for advantageous use of a privately owned airplane from $0.995 to $1.07 per mile, the cost of operating a privately owned automobile from $0.375 to $0.405 per mile, and the cost of operating a privately owned motorcycle from $0.285 to $0.305 per mile.

DATES:

Effective Date: The provisions of this final rule are effective February 4, 2005, and applies to travel performed on or after that date.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

The Regulatory Secretariat (VIR), Room 4035, GS Building, Washington, DC, 20405, [phone], for information pertaining to status or publication schedules. For clarification of content, contact Devoanna R. Reels, Program Analyst, Office of Governmentwide Policy, Travel Management Policy, at [phone]. Please cite FTR case 2005-301, FTR Amendment 2005-01.

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 conducted an investigation of the costs of operating a POV and is reporting the cost per mile determination. The results of the investigation have been reported to Congress and a copy of the report appears as an attachment to this document. GSA's cost studies show the Administrator of General Services has determined the per-mile operating costs of a POV to be $1.07 for airplanes, $0.405 for automobiles, and $0.305 for motorcycles. 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 $0.405 per mile effective January 1, 2005. Additionally, based on updated data for the two-tiered reimbursement rates reflecting costs to an agency of operating a Government-furnished vehicle (GFV), the current reimbursement rate of $0.270 per mile increased to $0.285 per mile (when a GFV is available to an employee). The current reimbursement rate of $0.105 per mile (when a GFV is assigned directly to an employee) will remain the same.

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 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 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: January 25, 2005.

Stephen A. Perry,

Administrator of General Services.

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

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

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 5707; 40 U.S.C. 121(c); 49 U.S.C. 40118.

2. In section 301-10.303 revise the last three entries in the table to read as follows:

§ 301-10.303

What am I reimbursed when use of a POV is determined by my agency to be advantageous to the Government?

For use of a	Your reimbursement is
* * * * *	* * * * *
Privately owned airplane	1 $1.07
Privately owned automobile	1 $0.405
Privately owned motorcycle	1 $0.305
1 Per mile.

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

Attachment to Preamble—Report To Congress On The Costs Of Operating Privately Owned Vehicles

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 (POVs) (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(b)(2)(B) further requires that the Administrator of General Services determine the average, actual cost per mile for the use of each type of POV based on the results of the cost investigation. 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 requirements of 5 U.S.C. 5707(b)(1)(A), the General Services Administration (GSA), in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Transportation, and representatives of Government employee organizations, 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 $0.405 effective January 1, 2005.

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 POV to be $1.07 for airplanes, $0.405 for POAs, and $0.305 for motorcycles.

I will issue a regulation to increase the current $0.995 to $1.07 for privately owned airplanes, $0.375 to $0.405 for POAs, and $0.285 to $0.305 for privately owned motorcycles. This report to Congress on the cost of operating POVs will be published in the Federal Register.