[Request for Waiver of BPA Employee's Debt]

The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) requested a waiver of an employee's debt resulting from an erroneous relocation travel authorization. BPA advised that: (1) it erroneously authorized an advance payment to the newly hired employee for travel and relocation expenses, since new employees generally were not entitled to such payments; and (2) the employee used part of the advance to pay for substantial travel and household goods shipment expenses. GAO held that the claimant: (1) was not at fault in accepting the advance payment; and (2) should reimburse BPA for the remainder of the advance which she did not spend on relocation expenses. Accordingly, waiver was granted for the relocation expenses the employee incurred.