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B-272711.2 1 (1996-12-17)

handle is hein.gao/gaocrptaejs0001 and id is 1 raw text is: oComptroller General of the United States Washington, D.C. 20548 Decision Matter of: Michael R. Coulter File: B-272711.2 Date: December 17, 1996 DIGEST The FAA erroneously authorized relocation expenses for an employee on his transfer from old Denver Stapleton Airport to new Denver International Airport, even though the airports are only 17 miles apart. After issuing travel orders and paying employee's voucher for expenses incurred, FAA determined that he was not entitled to expenses and seeks repayment of the expenses paid. Employee's request for waiver of the debt is granted. Before incurring expenses, employee questioned officials as to his eligibility, both before and after issuance of orders, and was repeatedly assured that he was eligible for relocation benefits. GAO finds that he incurred the expenses in good faith reliance on his travel orders and was without fault in accepting payments for those expenses. DECISION This decision is in response to one of 29 requests forwarded to us by the Manager, Financial Policy and Administrative Branch, Office of Financial Services, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), for waiver of erroneous payments of relocation expenses and allowances in connection with the relocation of FAA employees to the new Denver International Airport. This particular claim concerns an FAA employee, Michael R. Coulter, whose claim for waiver of repayment of over $19,000 in erroneous payments made to him in reliance on his permanent change of station (PCS) orders was denied by FAA officials. The denial was based on findings of the DOT Office of Inspector General and the office of the FAA Chief Financial Officer, concluding that the employee's PCS move resulted in the employee having an increased commuting time and distance. BACKGROUND Mr. Coulter is employed by the FAA as an Air Traffic Control Specialist in Denver, Colorado. In October 1993, the new Denver International Airport was scheduled to open, and, in anticipation of this opening, Mr. Coulter received travel orders authorizing him to make a PCS move in connection with his transfer from Denver's 3581216

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