December 23, 1996
                                                     


                             GSBCA 13642-TRAV


                     In the Matter of LYNN D. JAMISON


     Lynn D. Jamison, Lakewood, CO, Claimant.

     Thomas R. Kalter, Director of Civilian Personnel, Fort Carson,
CO; and William G. Carter, Chief, Civilian Personnel Division, Fort
McPherson, GA, appearing for the Department of the Army.

GOODMAN, Board Judge.

     Mr. Lynn D. Jamison was employed as a civilian employee with
the Department of the Army Civilian Personnel Office in Fort
Carson, Colorado.  Mr. Jamison retired in June 1993.  He filed a
grievance with the Division head by memorandum dated May 29, 1993,
received on June 1, 1993, seeking reimbursement for all local POV
(privately-owned vehicle) travel on official business from 1986-
1993.  The total amount claimed was $844.41.  The claim was denied
at three different levels within the agency.  On July 3, 1995, Mr.
Jamison requested review of his claim by the General Accounting
Office (GAO). 

     On November 1, 1995, the GAO issued a settlement certificate
(Z-2869712) which contained a decision denying the claim.  The
basis of the decision was that the claim for the mileage accrued
prior to June 1, 1987, was barred by the statute of limitations,
31 U.S.C.  3702(b).  The claim for mileage accrued after June 1,
1987, was denied on the merits, with reference to applicable
regulations and a review of the documentation submitted.  Mr.
Jamison has requested reconsideration by this Board of the GAO s
decision.

     GAO s decision that the claim for mileage accrued prior to
June 1, 1987, was barred by the applicable statute of limitations
is correct.  The applicable statute, 31 U.S.C.  3702(b), states
that a claim must be received by the Comptroller General within six
years after the claim accrues.  Pursuant to 4 CFR part 31.5(a),
this requirement is met when a claim is received in either the
Office of the Comptroller General or the agency out of whose
activities the claim arose.  The claim was first received in the
Department of the Army on June 1, 1993.  Accordingly, that part of
the claim for POV mileage that accrued prior to June 1, 1987, is
barred.

     In denying reimbursement for mileage accrued after June 1,
1987, GAO applied paragraph C2150 of the Joint Travel Regulations
(JTR), the Department of Defense regulations which implement and
supplement the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR).  This paragraph
states, in relevant part:

     The use of POC [privately-owned conveyance] may be
     authorized or approved for employees or others rendering
     service to the Government when engaged on official
     business.  Travel by POC by owner or as a passenger may
     not be directed, but the use of such mode of
     transportation may be permitted when it is requested by
     the employee or encouraged when it is advantageous to the
     Government.  Whenever possible, any necessary travel by
     POC should be authorized in the travel orders, together
     with the appropriate mileage rate.  When such
     authorization is not made, the use of a POC may be
     approved after the fact with appropriate notation or
     limitations by the order approving official on the
     reimbursement voucher. 

     The GAO s decision on this issue is reasonable and supported
by documentation submitted. The GAO reviewed the documentation
submitted by Mr. Jamison and the Army, which indicated that Mr.
Jamison had not asked for authorization prior to using his own
vehicle, and that there had been no previous authorization of the
POV travel by competent authority and no agency determination that
the POV travel was advantageous to the Government.  The record also
indicated that the  Army had denied retroactive approval, based
upon the fact that Government transportation was available.  The
GAO concluded that any alleged direction by Mr. Jamison s
supervisor to use a POV does not allow for reimbursement, in the
absence of a determination that the POV travel at issue was
advantageous to the Government. 

      We have held previously that the first requirement for
reimbursement of employee travel expenses is that the travel be
authorized by an appropriate Government official.  Claims for
unauthorized travel, either in advance or after-the-fact, cannot be
settled in favor of the claimant.  See, e.g., Ronald H. Milligan,
GSBCA 13702-TRAV (Sept. 19, 1996) (citing the FTR, which provides
that  all travel shall be either authorized or approved by the head
of the agency or by an official to whom such authority has been
delegated.   41 CFR 301.1.101(b)(1994)).  While Mr. Jamison may
have acted under the assumption that he would be reimbursed, he
received no authorization before or after the fact.
 
     Accordingly, GAO s decision in this matter is affirmed.





                                   ______________________
                                   ALLAN H. GOODMAN
                                   Board Judge