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                             February 20, 1997
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                             GSBCA 13836-RELO


                     In the Matter of LEWIS T. MILLER


    Lewis T. Miller, Burley, WA, Claimant.

    Francis J. Sharkey, Director, Human Resources Office,
Department of the Navy, Bremerton, WA, appearing for the Department
of Defense.

VERGILIO, Board Judge.

    The claimant, Mr. Lewis T. Miller, a Department of Defense
civilian employee during the time in question, seeks reimbursement
for relocating from Charleston Naval Shipyard to the Puget Sound
Naval Shipyard.  He accepted the new position primarily for his own
benefit and with the understanding that the Government would not
reimburse his relocation expenses.  Factors referenced by the
claimant are not relevant--that others employed at the Charleston
facility later received relocation expenses, when they were subject
to separation by RIF (reduction in force), and that the facility
eventually shut down.  Neither statute nor regulation entitle Mr.
Miller to the claimed reimbursement.

    While employed at the Charleston Naval Shipyard, on July 23,
1991, Mr. Miller received from the agency a "change to lower grade
by reduction in force (RIF)" notice--under retention rights, an
offer to change to a lower grade, to become effective October 6,
1991.  On July 24, 1991, he accepted the change to lower grade
placement, which became effective on the stated date.  In December
1991, in response to a newspaper notice, Mr. Miller applied for a
position at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.  In January 1992, he
accepted a job offer at that shipyard, with the understanding that
the Government would not pay his relocation expenses.  In March
1992, Mr. Miller started his job at the new location.

    Mr. Miller seeks his relocation expenses, because of what
occurred unrelated to his relocation.  In February 1992, the Puget
Sound Naval Shipyard conducted a job fair at Charleston, offering
positions with relocation expenses under the Priority Placement
Program (PPP).  He maintains that his position at the Charleston
Naval Shipyard was not secure, in that the shipyard closed in April
1996.  He states that he took action into his own hands, doing what
the PPP is to do.  Having expended money and used annual leave for
the move, he wants what is "justifiably coming to [him] as a
federal employe."

    The agency has denied the claim for the appropriate reasons. 
Mr. Miller did not obtain his job through the PPP, under which
employees who have received separation RIF notices may be entitled
to relocation expenses.  Mr. Miller had a position at the
Charleston Naval Shipyard.  Statutes and regulations do not
obligate the Government to reimburse an employee for changing job
locations, particularly in a situation such as this where the
change was initiated by the employee, primarily for the benefit of
the employee, and the employee accepted the new position with the
understanding that the Government would not reimburse relocation
expenses.  5 U.S.C.  5724, 5724a (1994); Joint Travel Regulations
(JTR) C4100.B.2.



                                    ____________________________
                                         JOSEPH A. VERGILIO
                                         Board Judge