Board of Contract Appeals
                 General Services Administration
                      Washington, D.C. 20405


                    _________________________

                         January 22, 1998
                    _________________________


                         GSBCA 14075-TRAV


               In the Matter of JAMES E. PATTERSON


     James E. Patterson, Washington, DC, Claimant.

     Peter Hogan, Head, International Fiscal Operations Section, Financial Management
Division, Farm Service Agency, Washington, DC, appearing for United States Department
of Agriculture.

WILLIAMS, Board Judge.

     On January 24, 1997, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requested
a decision pursuant to 31 U.S.C.   3529 regarding whether an employee can recover certain
expenses incurred in conjunction with his permanent change of station.  Specifically at issue
is whether claimant James E. Patterson is entitled to expenses incurred for retrieving his
personally owned vehicle (POV) from a U.S. port of entry, Laredo, Texas, and driving the
POV to Mexico City, Mexico, where he was posted as an agricultural attache.  Claimant had
suffered a back injury and could not drive the vehicle himself.  He sought expenses related
to an attendant accompanying him on the airplane and driving his vehicle from Laredo to
Mexico City.

     On January 15, 1998, USDA informed the Board that it was withdrawing the request
for a decision and will initiate the processing of Mr. Patterson's claim for $219.12 and pay
it in full.

     Accordingly, this claim is dismissed.




                                   __________________________
                                   MARY ELLEN COSTER WILLIAMS
                                   Board Judge