GSA alters per diem rules for areas hit by Katrina

Federal employees traveling on official government business in the areas ravaged by Hurricane Katrina are eligible to be reimbursed at up to three times the normal per diem rate, according to the General Services Administration.

GSA also is waiving certain provisions of the Federal Travel Regulation, including the rules governing house-hunting trips for federal employees relocating to areas affected by the hurricane, because of the expected difficulty in finding lodging facilities and adequate meals. For example, GSA has lifted the provision requiring temporary lodging for relocated employees to be in "reasonable proximity" to their new place of work.

The waivers--announced in a Sept. 2 bulletin signed by G. Martin Wagner, head of GSA's governmentwide policy office and published on the agency's per diem Web page--will remain in effect through March 1, 2006, unless extended.

GSA is encouraging agencies to postpone nonessential travel to regions affected by Hurricane Katrina for 90 days from Aug. 29, the day President Bush declared disaster areas in Alabama, Louisiana, and Mississippi. If that isn't possible, then agencies can authorize expense reimbursements at the actual cost up to three times the normal per diem rate. Employees typically have to petition for reimbursements above the normal rate.

The bulletin also urges agencies to consider delaying employee relocations to regions affected by Katrina, since the FTR prohibits extending the 120-day limit for reimbursing employees for temporary living accommodations after a relocation. GSA is concerned that employees will have a difficult time finding permanent housing in hurricane-ravaged areas.

GSA announced fiscal 2006 per diem rates earlier this month. They will take effect on Oct. 1. The 2006 rates include a $133 maximum lodging rate per night in New Orleans through May 31, 2006, and a $103 limit from June 1 through Sept. 30, 2006.

A search on a number of hotel booking Web sites found one hotel available in New Orleans this week--Le Pavillon Hotel, near the city's French Quarter. Room rates ranged from $279 to $1,695 per night.