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B-191559 1 (1978-11-08)

handle is hein.gao/gaobadgod0001 and id is 1 raw text is: DECSIO -L~OF: TM19 UNITED`8 STATUE r.WASHINGTON. D.C. 020540 -,_t % B-191559 DATE: November 8, 1978 MATTER OF: DIGEST: Gary L. Hutchison - Lodgings-plus per diem when commercial lodging unavailable EPA employee may not be paid per diem based on hypothetical cost of commercial lodgings for second night in travel status. While lodgings were unavail- able because of severe snow cbhditions, preventing return to home station, and employee was forced to spend night in atrport awaiting next available flight, controlling FTR para. 1-7. 3(c)(1) requires compu- tation of per diem on average amount traveler pays for lodgihngs as a base for the lodgings-plus system. See, also, Bornhoft v. United States, 137 Ct. Cl. 134 (1956). AllU This action is in response to a request dated Marth 21, 1978, from Mr. Ivare P. Anteite, Chief, Financial Management Branch. Environ- mental Protection Agency (EPA), Region V, Chicago, Illinois, for a decision concerning a voucher submitted by Mr. Cary L. Hutchison for per diem in lieu of actual subsistunce while on a temporary duty assignment. It. is stated that Mr. Hutchison, an EPA eimployee, traveled on official business to Cleveland, Ohio, had lodgings at Clevelarid for one nightj however, he was forcedto stay at the Qleveland airport for one morr night due to heavy snow, and cancellation of flights. In this respect, the record shows that IVr. Hutchison, under travel authorization dated November 28, 1977, as amended, was to travel December 5 to 6, 1977, from Chicago (official station) to Painesville, Ohio, and return, with a per diem allowance ($16) plus the average cost of lodging being authorized. It is furthe r,stated that the regional certifying officer certified payment of per diem to Mr. Hutchison based on the average cost of lodgings, that is. $18 paid by the employee on the first night of tr&el (December 5), plus $0 for the second night (December 6-- lI ig unavailable), 'divided by 2 to yield an average cost of $9 for lodging for the two nights involved. Added to this average cost of lodging wa*s $16 allowance for meals and miscellaneous expenses to yield a per diem allowance of $25, payable for 2-1/4 days ($56. 26). The EPA Financial Minagement Division concurred with the certify- ing officer's posit'on on this allowance. However, the employee apparently feels that his per diem should not be decreased because I I FILE: I,-- L~.