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                             January 10, 1997
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                             GSBCA 13820-RELO


                     In the Matter of RONALD J. MORRIS


     Ronald J. Morris, Anchorage, AK, Claimant.

     Steven Pennoyer, Regional Administrator, National Marine
Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
Department of Commerce, Juneau, AK, appearing for Department of
Commerce.

WILLIAMS, Board Judge.

     Claimant Ronald J. Morris, an employee of the National Marine
Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), seeks reimbursement in the amount of $1,300 for shipping a
privately owned vehicle from Seattle, Washington, to his duty post
in Anchorage, Alaska, to replace another privately owned vehicle. 
Because the regulations provide for such reimbursement at the
discretion of the agency, and no abuse of discretion has been
demonstrated, we deny the claim.

                                Background

     Claimant was transferred to Anchorage, Alaska, in 1973.  At
that time the agency determined that claimant's privately owned
vehicle could be shipped at government expense to his post of duty
in Anchorage because it was in the Government's interest to do so.

     Since then, claimant, as a supervisor in the Anchorage field
office, has used his personal vehicle -- most recently, a 1984
Chrysler sedan -- to conduct official business.  However, in the
last three years the Anchorage office of the National Marine
Fisheries Service has been assigned a government owned vehicle for
the sole purpose of providing transportation required to conduct
official government business.

                                Discussion

     Claimant believes he is entitled to reimbursement for shipment
of a replacement vehicle because the agency had authorized shipment
of his privately owned vehicle when he was initially transferred in
1973.  Also, claimant points out that his use of the vehicle has
not changed and that the Government has benefitted from the use of
his vehicle.

     The governing regulation, 41 CFR 302-10.3(e)(2), provides:

     Other replacements.  A privately owned vehicle may be
     shipped to an employee at Government expense at a post of
     duty outside the continental United States to replace
     another privately owned vehicle if:

               (i)  it was determined that it was in the
          Government's interest for the employee to have
          the vehicle being replaced and that it will
          continue to be in the Government's interest
          for the employee to have such a vehicle;

               (ii) more than 4 years have elapsed since
          the date when the vehicle being replaced was
          transported; and

               (iii) the employee has been stationed
          continuously during the 4-year period at posts
          of duty located outside the continental United
          States.


Alaska is considered to be outside the continental United States. 
41 CFR 302-1.4(a) (1996).

     The Federal Travel Regulation permits, but does not require,
reimbursement for shipment of a replacement vehicle to Alaska. 
Here, the agency determined that it was not in the Government's
interest to authorize shipment of a replacement vehicle.  The
agency's position is well founded, since the office which employs
claimant recently acquired a government vehicle to be used
exclusively to provide transportation for official government
business.  Thus, the agency properly determined that it was not in
the Government's interest to authorize payment for shipment of a
privately owned replacement vehicle.  Conditions as they existed in
1973 are no longer relevant.

                                 Decision

     The claim is denied.



                                   __________________________
                                   MARY ELLEN COSTER WILLIAMS
                                   Board Judge