340-0 - Delegations of Authority to Approve Travel

Authorizing Officials are persons designated by this DIRECTIVE to approve official travel.

Continental United States (CONUS) is the contiguous 48 States and the District of Columbia.

Foreign Travel is travel outside the United States, except for areas included as nonforeign areas outside CONUS.

Nonforeign areas outside CONUS are the States of Alaska and Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and the possessions of the United States.

4. AUTHORITIES AND REFERENCES

5. POLICY

6. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

Only the Administrator, ARS, is authorized to approve positions eligible for either a Type B or Type N travel authorization. Officials who are authorized to approve travel by this DIRECTIVE may issue these travel authorizations for the positions shown in Exhibit 1. Any additions to this list must be approved on a case-by-case basis by the Administrator.

Specific delegations to approve travel are shown in Exhibit 2 of this DIRECTIVE.

Delegations to approve travel authorizations may not be made below the Research Leader level within ARS.

7. RESPONSIBILITIES

Act for the Administrator, ARS, to approve travel and expenses that can be authorized by the Administrator as indicated in Exhibit 2 of this DIRECTIVE.

All travel vouchers must be approved by the traveler's supervisor or higher management authority. No one in ARS may approve their own travel voucher.

Exhibits
1 Types of Travel Authorizations Approved by Position Title
2 Delegations of Authority

TYPES OF TRAVEL AUTHORIZATIONS APPROVED BY POSITION TITLE

A Officials who are authorized to approve travel by this DIRECTIVE in Exhibit 2 may issue travel authorizations for the following positions:

Position(s)	Type of Travel Authorization(s) that can be issued
Associate Administrator	Type N, B, C, or L
Assistant Administrator, OCI	Type N, B, C, or L
Administrator's Staff Officers	Type N, B, C, or L

Deputy Administrators (AM and NPS)	Type N, B, C, or L
Associate Deputy Administrators	Type N, B, C, or L
National Program Leaders	Type N, B, C, or L
AM Division/Staff Directors	Type N, B, C, or L
Area Administrative Officers	Type N, B, C, or L
AAO's Functional Heads (ABFO, PAO, etc.)	Type B, C, or L

Area Directors	Type N, B, C, or L
Associate Area Directors	Type N, B, C, or L
Assistant Area Directors	Type N, B, C, or L
Deputy Area Directors	Type N, B, C, or L

Center Directors	Type N, B, C, or L
Lab Directors	Type B, C, or L
Research Leaders	Type B, C, or L

Scientists	Type C or L

All Others	Type C or L

B    Type B authorizations may be issued by Area Directors on a case-by-case basis to those scientists/technicians, within an Area, who are required to travel on a recurring basis to field locations and plot sites on short notice. These authorizations must be confined to specific locations and the limitations associated with Type B authorizations. Authorizations must be issued quarterly as needed to complete trips associated with research operations.

C    Other employees may be issued either Type B or Type N authorizations, as appropriate, when their particular positions require extensive and frequent travel. These situations must be requested in writing by the Area Director toFMD for approval by the Administrator.

D    Issue travel authorizations only if the employee is entitled to claim reimbursement of non-local travel expenses (i.e., per diem or subsistence expenses). Payment of per diem or subsistence expenses will require a voucher be prepared and submitted to NFC to claim reimbursement.

E.    Do not issue a travel authorization to cover local travel expenses incurred at or near the official duty station for:

        1    Training

        2    Attendance at meetings

        3    Site visits or plot work where no per diem or subsistence is involved.

F.    Direct employees to claim local transportation expenses, registration fees, and other miscellaneous expenses on an SF-1164 and claim payment through the imprest fund.

DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY

Types of travel	Positions delegated toapprove travel
FOREIGN
1 International meetings on the Foreign Travel Plan.	Administrator, ARS
2 All foreign travel for work-related research projects.	Administrator, ARS Deputy Administrator, NPS Area Directors
3 Travel which establishes a post of duty outside the United States.	Administrator, ARS
4 Travel to or from an official station outside CONUS as follows: a Change of official station. (See ARS DIRECTIVE 416.2 for appointments to foreign posts of duty.) b Reporting by appointee to first duty station: - In CONUS, from a point outside CONUS. - Outside CONUS. (See ARS DIRECTIVE 416.2 for appointments to foreign posts of duty.) c Leave between tours of duty. d Returning to CONUS for separation from ARS. e Educational travel expenses of dependents according to the Standardized Regulations (Government Civilian, Foreign Areas) issued by the Department of State.	Administrator, ARS Deputy Administrator, NPS Area Directors
5 The use of actual subsistence expenses for foreign travel.	Administrator, ARS Deputy Administrator, NPS Area Directors
6 Foreign travel within areas of assignment.	Administrator, ARS Deputy Administrator, NPS Area Directors Center Directors Lab Directors Research Leaders
DOMESTIC AND NONFOREIGN
7 Nonforeign travel to attend international meetings.	Administrator, ARS Deputy Administrator, NPS Area Directors
8 Travel within CONUS to attend National scientific meetings.	Administrator, ARS Deputy Administrator, NPS Deputy Administrator, AM Area Directors (May be redelegated.)
9 Travel within CONUS for work-related temporary duty assignments.	Administrator, ARS Deputy Administrator, NPS Deputy Administrator, AM Area Directors AM Division Directors Area Administrative Officers Center Directors Lab Directors Research Leaders
10 Travel within CONUS to first duty station with the concurrence of the Personnel Division.	Administrator, ARS Deputy Administrator, NPS Deputy Administrator, AM Area Directors
11 Travel within CONUS for changes of station.	Administrator, ARS Deputy Administrator, NPS Deputy Administrator, AM Area Directors AAO for AM Employees
12 Nonforeign work-related travel between CONUS, and Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and other U.S. territories and possessions.	Administrator, ARS Deputy Administrator, NPS Area Directors (May be redelegated.)
13 Travel within Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and other U.S. territories and possessions.	Administrator, ARS Deputy Administrator, NPS Area Directors Area Administrative Officers Center Directors Lab Directors Research Leaders
14 Domestic travel for preemployment interviews. Note: Contact Personnel Division for information on positions covered, documentation required, and procedures for obtaining approval. See ARS DIRECTIVE 454.2.	Administrator, ARS Deputy Administrator, NPS Deputy Administrator, AM Area Directors
15 Domestic travel of persons not holding Federal appointments.	Administrator, ARS Deputy Administrator, NPS Deputy Administrator, AM Area Directors
16 The use of actual subsistence expenses for travel within CONUS and nonforeign areas outside CONUS.	Administrator, ARS Deputy Administrator, NPS Area Directors
TRAVEL USING NON-FEDERAL FUNDS
17 The use of non-Federal funds from foreign Governments, foreign organizations, private profit, and nonprofit organizations.	Administrator, ARS Deputy Administrator, NPS Area Directors

*Title:*	Delegations of Authority to Approve Travel

*Number:*	340.0

*Date:*	7/12/91

*Originating Office:*	Financial Management Division, Budget and Fiscal Services Branch

*This Replaces:*

*Distribution:*	ARS Offices in Headquarters, Areas, and Locations

1. ABBREVIATIONS

2. FORMS

3. DEFINITIONS

4. AUTHORITIES AND REFERENCES

5. POLICY

6. DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY

7. RESPONSIBILITIES

TYPES OF TRAVEL AUTHORIZATIONS APPROVED BY POSITION TITLE

DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY