63748 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 231 / Tuesday, December 2, 1997 / Notices

1The Board will grant a stay if an informed

decision on environmental issues (whether raised

by a party or by the Board’s Section of

Environmental Analysis in its independent

investigation) cannot be made before the

exemption’s effective date. See Exemption of Outof-Service Rail Lines, 5 I.C.C.2d 377 (1989). Any

request for a stay should be filed as soon as possible

so that the Board may take appropriate action before

the exemption’s effective date.

2Each offer of financial assistance must be

accompanied by the filing fee, which currently is

set at $900. See 49 CFR 1002.2(f)(25).

employees, a petition for partial

revocation under 49 U.S.C. 10502(d)

must be filed. Provided no formal

expression of intent to file an offer of

financial assistance (OFA) has been

received, this exemption will be

effective on January 1, 1998, unless

stayed pending reconsideration.

Petitions to stay that do not involve

environmental issues,1 formal

expressions of intent to file an OFA

under 49 CFR 1152.27(c)(2),2 and trail

use/rail banking requests under 49 CFR

1152.29 must be filed by December 12,

1997. Petitions to reopen or requests for

public use conditions under 49 CFR

1152.28 must be filed by December 22,

1997, with: Surface Transportation

Board, Office of the Secretary, Case

Control Unit, 1925 K Street, N.W.,

Washington, DC 20423.

A copy of any petition filed with the

Board should be sent to applicant’s

representative: Larry D. Starns, Esq.,

Leonard, Street & Deinard, 150 South

Fifth Street, Suite 2300, Minneapolis,

MN 55402.

If the verified notice contains false or

misleading information, the exemption

is void ab initio.

Soo has filed an environmental report

which addresses the abandonment’s

effects, if any, on the environment and

historic resources. The Section of

Environmental Analysis (SEA) will

issue an environmental assessment (EA)

by December 5, 1997. Interested persons

may obtain a copy of the EA by writing

to SEA (Room 500, Surface

Transportation Board, Washington, DC

20423) or by calling SEA, at (202) 565–

1545. Comments on environmental and

historic preservation matters must be

filed within 15 days after the EA

becomes available to the public.

Environmental, historic preservation,

public use, or trail use/rail banking

conditions will be imposed, where

appropriate, in a subsequent decision.

Pursuant to the provisions of 49 CFR

1152.29(e)(2), Soo shall file a notice of

consummation with the Board to signify

that it has exercised the authority

granted and fully abandoned the line. If

consummation has not been effected by

Soo’s filing of a notice of consummation

by December 2, 1998, and there are no

legal or regulatory barriers to

consummation, the authority to

abandon will automatically expire.

Decided: November 25, 1997.

By the Board, David M. Konschnik,

Director, Office of Proceedings.

Vernon A. Williams,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–31557 Filed 12–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4915–00–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

[Treasury Directive Number 74–13]

Premium-Class Travel, Authority

Delegation

Dated: November 24, 1997.

1. Purpose. This Directive establishes

policy and responsibilities for the

approval of premium-class

transportation accommodations, in

accordance with Chapters 301 and 304

of the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR)

(41 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations)

parts 301 and 304) and White House

and Office of Management and Budget

(OMB) guidance on perquisites.

2. Definitions. The terms ‘‘premiumclass,’’ ‘‘first-class,’’ ‘‘reasonably

available,’’ and ‘‘security reasons’’ are

defined in FTR 301.3 (41 CFR 301.3).

3. Scope.

a. This Directive applies to all

bureaus, the Departmental Offices (DO),

and the Office of Inspector General

(OIG) for travel by officers and

employees of the Department when they

travel in support of the Department’s

programs, including programs funded

from sources other than appropriations,

e.g., fees or assessments. It also applies

to travel paid for by a non-Federal

source pursuant to FTR Chapter 304 (41

CFR part 304), and to travel by persons

other than employees whose travel is on

an invitational basis and paid for by the

Department.

b. Neither this Directive nor the

restrictions on premium-class travel

apply to travel:

(1) for which an employee is

reimbursed by certain tax exempt

organizations or a State, county, or

municipality, incident to attendance at

meetings, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 4111;

(2) which is accepted by an employee

pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 7342, concerning

foreign gifts and decorations; or

(3) for a partisan purpose in the case

of an employee who is exempt from the

statutory prohibitions on partisan

political activity, and the travel is not

paid for with Government funds.

4. Policy. It is the policy of the

Department of the Treasury that:

a. prior authorization by the Assistant

Secretary for Management and Chief

Financial Officer is required for firstclass travel in all bureaus, except for

U.S. Secret Service (USSS) agents on

protective missions;

b. first-class travel shall not be

authorized, unless no other commercial

service is reasonably available, or such

travel is necessary for reasons of

disability or physical impairment, or for

security reasons, as these terms are

defined in FTR 301–3.3 (41 CFR 301–

3.3); and

c. first-class airline accommodations

shall not be authorized or approved

when obtained as an accommodations

upgrade through the redemption of

frequent traveler benefits accumulated

while traveling on official business,

unless the first-class accommodations

are justified independently under the

FTR (41 CFR part 301).

5. Responsibilities For First-Class

Travel. The Deputy Assistant Secretary

(Administration), Heads of Bureaus, and

the Inspector General:

a. shall submit Treasury Department

Form (TD F) 70–02.6, ‘‘First-Class

Travel Request and Authorization,’’ by

mail or facsimile (FAX) to the Assistant

Secretary for Management and Chief

Financial Officer at least ten working

days prior to travel for review and

authorization, unless extenuating

circumstances or emergency situations

make advance authorization impossible.

If advance authorization cannot be

obtained, the traveler shall obtain

written authorization at the earliest

possible time;

b. except as specifically permitted

under paragraph 6., shall not authorize,

pay for, or reimburse employees or

others for the use of first-class travel

accommodations without the prior

authorization of the Assistant Secretary

for Management and Chief Financial

Officer; and

c. shall submit an annual report on all

approved first-class travel that began

during the fiscal year to the Deputy,

Chief Financial Officer (DCFO), Office

of Accounting and Internal Control, DO,

(Attention: Travel Program

Coordinator). The report is due to the

General Services Administration by

November 30 of each year. See FTR

301–3.3(e) (41 CFR 301–3.3) for data

collection and submission requirements.

Negative reports are required in writing.

6. Exceptions.

a. The Director, USSS, is delegated

authority to approve first-class travel

accommodations solely with respect to

Secret Service agents’ protective details

when necessary for security reasons.

Such approval does not require the

advance or subsequent authorization by
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 231 / Tuesday, December 2, 1997 / Notices 63749

the Assistant Secretary for Management

and Chief Financial Officer. The

Director may redelegate this authority,

in writing, only to the Deputy Director.

b. To the extent that information is

protected from disclosure by statute or

Executive Order, data shall be submitted

by the Director, USSS, in accordance

with FTR 301–3.3(e)(4) (41 CFR 301–

3.3(e)(4)), as prescribed in paragraph

5.c. herein.

7. Other Premium-Class Travel

Accommodations. The Deputy Assistant

Secretary (Administration), Heads of

Bureaus, and the Inspector General are

delegated authority to approve

premium-class other than first-class

transportation accommodations when

such accommodations meet the criteria

in FTR 301–3.3 (41 CFR 301–3.3). This

authority may be redelegated, in

writing, only to the principal deputy,

with the exception of:

a. the USSS, who may redelegate to

the Assistant Special Agent in Charge

(ASAIC), Office of Administration; and

b. the U.S. Customs Service, who may

redelegate to the U.S. Customs Service

Assistant Commissioners, Offices of

Investigations and Internal Affairs for

covert investigative assignments only.

Use of premium-class other than firstclass accommodations shall be

approved only when use of such

accommodations is clearly consistent

with the criteria in the FTR; the

justification on the travel authorization

should address any additional costs

involved. Approval of business-class

accommodations by a non-Federal

source shall be in accordance with FTR

Chapter 304 (41 CFR part 304). Further,

in situations where the business-class

travel accommodations are provided by

a non-Federal source on a

reimbursement, rather than an in-kind

basis, the use of premium-class other

than first-class must be justified

independently and in accordance with

the criteria in FTR 301–3.3 (41 CFR

301–3.3). The use of premium-class

other than first-class airline

accommodations for ‘‘security purposes

or exceptional circumstances’’ as

permitted by FTR 301–3.3(d)(5)(iv) (41

CFR 301–3.3(d)(5)(iv)) shall be strictly

limited to those situations where their

use is essential to the successful

performance of the agency’s mission.

8. Supply of Forms. TD F 70–02.6

may be obtained from the Records

Management and Resources Branch, DO,

or by submitting a printing requisition

through the bureau forms control

manager to the DCFO, Office of

Accounting and Internal Control, DO.

9. Authorities.

a. President’s Memorandum of

February 10, 1993, ‘‘Restricted Use of

Government Aircraft.’’

b. OMB Bulletin 93–11, ‘‘Fiscal

Responsibility and Reducing

Perquisites,’’ dated April 19, 1993.

c. FTR Chapter 301–3 (41 CFR 301.3),

‘‘Use of Commercial Transportation,’’

and Chapter 304 (41 CFR Part 304),

‘‘Payment from a Non-Federal Source

for Travel Expenses.’’

d. 5 U.S.C. 4111, ‘‘Acceptance of

Contributions, Awards, and Other

Payments.’’

e. 5 U.S.C. 7342, ‘‘Receipt and

Disposition of Foreign Gifts and

Decorations.’’

10. Cancellation. Treasury Directive

74–13, ‘‘Premium-Class Travel,’’ dated

October 26, 1994, is superseded.

11. Expiration Date. This Directive

expires three years after the date of

issuance unless superseded or canceled

by that date.

12. Offices of Primary Interest. Office

of Accounting and Internal Control;

Office of the Deputy Chief Financial

Officer; Office of the Assistant Secretary

for Management and Chief Financial

Officer.

Nancy Killefer,

Assistant Secretary for Management and

Chief Financial Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–31526 Filed 12–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4810–25–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

[Treasury Directive Number 16–21]

Disposal of Obligations, Including

Bonds, Notes or Other Securities;

Authority Delegation

Dated: November 25, 1997.

1. Delegation. By virtue of the

authority granted to the Fiscal Assistant

Secretary by Treasury Order (TO) 101–

05, the Commissioner, Bureau of the

Public Debt, is delegated the authority

to dispose of obligations, including

bonds, notes or other securities,

acquired by the Secretary of the

Treasury for the United States

Government or delivered by an

executive agency pursuant to 31 U.S.C.

324, and to perform any functions

necessary to effect such disposition. The

Commissioner, Bureau of the Public

Debt, shall be responsible for referring

to the Fiscal Assistant Secretary any

matters on which action should be

appropriately taken by the Fiscal

Assistant Secretary.

2. Redelegation. The Commissioner,

Bureau of the Public Debt, may

redelegate this authority, and it may be

exercised in the individual capacity and

under the individual title of each

official receiving such authority.

3. Authorities.

a. TO 101–05, ‘‘Reporting

Relationships and Supervision of

Officials, Offices and Bureaus,

Delegation of Certain Authority, and

Order of Succession in the Department

of the Treasury.’’

b. 31 U.S.C. 324.

4. Cancellation.

a. Treasury Directive 16–21, ‘‘Disposal

of Obligations, Including Bonds, Notes

or Other Securities,’’ dated May 3, 1995,

is superseded, except as provided

below.

b. Any matter being processed on the

date of this Directive by the

Commissioner, Financial Management

Service, that requires the disposal of

obligations, including bonds, notes or

other securities, may be completed

under the authority delegated to the

Commissioner, Financial Management

Service, in the May 3, 1995, Directive,

if the Fiscal Assistant Secretary so

directs.

5. Expiration Date. This Directive

expires three years from the date of

issuance unless cancelled or superseded

by that date.

6. Office of Primary Interest. Division

of Accounting Operations, Office of

Public Debt Accounting, Bureau of the

Public Debt.

Gerald Murphy,

Fiscal Assistant Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97–31527 Filed 12–1–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4810–25–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

Enhanced-Use Lease of Property at the

James H. Quillen Veterans Affairs

Medical Center at Mountain Home,

Tennessee

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice of designation and intent

to execute an Enhanced-Use Lease.

SUMMARY: The Secretary of the

Department of Veterans Affairs is

designating the James H. Quillen

Veterans Affairs Medical Center at

Mountain Home, Tennessee (the

Medical Center), for an Enhanced-Use

Lease development. The Department

intends to enter into a long-term lease

of real property at the Medical Center

with the State of Tennessee (through the

East Tennessee State University—ETSU)

in order to transfer the long-term

maintenance and development

responsibilities of 31 acres of land

(including 9 buildings) to the State of

Tennessee. The Enhanced-Use lease will