________________________

                               June 4, 1997
                         ________________________



                             GSBCA 13674-RELO


                     In the Matter of DIETER P. KOHLER

     
     Dieter P. Kohler, APO AE, Claimant.

     T.J. Heavyside, Director, Finance and Accounting Systems
Transition, Department of Defense, Indianapolis, IN, appearing for
Department of Defense.

HYATT, Board Judge.

     Claimant, Mr. Dieter P. Kohler, was improperly terminated from
position his position overseas with the Department of Defense (DOD)
and subsequently reinstated.  After the termination, claimant was
forced to vacate his living quarters, but remained in Germany
pending the outcome of his appeal of the termination action to the
Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB).  Upon full reinstatement,
Mr. Kohler was detailed to another city in Germany.  Mr. Kohler
claims temporary quarters subsistence allowance (TQSA) for the
period from September 1 through November 17, 1994.  During this
period he lived in temporary quarters while awaiting issuance of
overseas permanent change of station orders.  This matter was
pending at the General Accounting Office (GAO) and was transferred
by GAO to the Board when we were given the authority to decide
claims for expenses incurred by federal civilian employees for
travel, transportation, and relocation. 

     After reviewing the materials received from GAO in detail, we
conclude that a claim for TQSA is not an expense of travel,
transportation, or relocation within chapter 57 of title 5 of the
United States Code.  Rather, TQSA is an allowance authorized under
chapter 59 of title 5 of the United States Code.  See Michael J.
Krell, GSBCA 13710-RELO (May 30, 1997); Susan Drach, GSBCA 13863-
RELO, 97-1 BCA  28,862; Donald Guenther, GSBCA 14032-RELO, 97-1
BCA  28,795.  As such, we lack the authority to settle this claim. 
Since the authority to decide this matter has been delegated to the
Office of Personnel Management (OPM), we are dismissing this case
from our docket and transferring it to OPM for resolution.  





                                   _____________________________
                                   CATHERINE B. HYATT
                                   Board Judge