B-147648, DEC. 18, 1961

B-147648, DEC. 18, 1961

TO MR. W. F. OWEN, JR., AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, BUREAU OF MINES, REGION V, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF NOVEMBER 17, 1961, TRANSMITTING A VOUCHER, AND PERTINENT PAPERS, IN FAVOR OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY IN THE AMOUNT OF $110 WHICH REPRESENTS PAGE CHARGES FOR PRE MEETING PUBLICATION IN A VOLUME OF PREPRINTS PREPARED BY THE DIVISION OF FUEL CHEMISTRY OF THE SOCIETY. YOU REQUEST OUR DECISION AS TO WHETHER THE VOUCHER PROPERLY MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.

THE ARTICLE, TOGETHER WITH OTHER ARTICLES, APPEARED IN A VOLUME OF PREPRINTS DISTRIBUTED AT THE SEPTEMBER 1961 MEETING OF THE DIVISION OF FUEL CHEMISTRY. THE ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY BUREAU OF MINES EMPLOYEES AND THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT WAS APPROVED FOR PUBLICATION BY THE DIRECTOR, BUREAU OF MINES. YOU SAY THAT REGULAR PUBLICATION IS PROPOSED AS A REPORT INVESTIGATIONS (BUREAU OF MINES PUBLICATION) ABOUT JANUARY 1962 AND THAT WHEN PUBLISHED, THE DOCUMENT WILL BE PRINTED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE OR AT THE BUREAU OF MINES FIELD PRINTING PLANT.

APPARENTLY, IT IS NORMAL PROCEDURE FOR THE DIVISION OF FUEL CHEMISTRY TO PREPARE PREPRINTS FOR DISTRIBUTION AT ITS MEETINGS. YOU STATE THAT THE AUTHORS MUST BEAR THE EXPENSE OF PREPRINTING ARTICLES WHICH EXCEED SIX PAGES IN LENGTH. THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARATION OF MANUSCRIPTS FOR THE DIVISION OF FUEL CHEMISTRY, HOWEVER, STATE,"IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE AUTHOR'S INSTITUTION WILL HONOR THIS CHARGE, OTHERWISE THE CHARGE WILL BE WAIVED.' IN THIS INSTANCE, THE EXCESS PRINTING AMOUNTED TO 11 DOUBLE PAGES, WHICH WAS CHARGED AT THE RATE OF $10 PER DOUBLE PAGE, OR $110.

IF THE PRINTING JOB IN QUESTION WERE A REPRINT OF A PUBLISHED ARTICLE YOU SAY THERE WOULD BE NO DOUBT AS TO THE PROPRIETY OF PAYMENT SINCE THE BUREAU OF MINES HAS A WAIVER FROM THE PUBLIC PRINTER TO PURCHASE REPRINTS. HOWEVER, IN THIS CASE THE ARTICLE WAS PRINTED PRIOR TO PUBLICATION AND IS, THUS, NOT A REPRINT.

YOUR DOUBT ARISES FROM THE FACT THAT UNDER 44 U.S.C. 111 ALL PRINTING FOR GOVERNMENT AGENCIES MUST BE PERFORMED AT THE GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, DESIGNATED FIELD PRINTING PLANTS, OR FROM COMMERCIAL SOURCES IN THE CASE OF SPECIAL JOBS FROM WHICH WAIVERS HAVE BEEN GRANTED BY THE PUBLIC PRINTER, AND THAT THIS PARTICULAR JOB DOES NOT FALL INTO ANY OF THOSE CATEGORIES.

SECTION 3 OF TITLE 30, U.S.C. PROVIDES THAT THE BUREAU OF MINES SHALL CONDUCT INQUIRIES AND SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGIC INVESTIGATIONS CONCERNING MINING, AND THE PREPARATION, TREATMENT, AND UTILIZATION OF MINERAL SUBSTANCES WITH A VIEW TO IMPROVING HEALTH CONDITIONS, AND INCREASING SAFETY, EFFICIENCY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND CONSERVING RESOURCES THROUGH THE PREVENTION OF WASTE IN MINING, QUARRYING, METALLURGICAL, AND OTHER MINERAL INDUSTRIES; SHALL INVESTIGATE THE MINERAL FUELS AND UNFINISHED MINERAL PRODUCTS BELONGING TO, OR FOR THE USE OF THE UNITED STATES, WITH A VIEW TO THEIR MOST EFFICIENT MINING, PREPARATION, TREATMENT, AND USE; AND SHALL DISSEMINATE INFORMATION CONCERNING THESE SUBJECTS. UNDER 30 U.S.C. 5, THE BUREAU OF MINES IS DIRECTED TO PREPARE AND PUBLISH REPORTS OF SUCH INVESTIGATIONS AND INQUIRIES.

IT IS WELL ESTABLISHED THAT WHERE, SUCH AS HERE, THE ENTIRE COST OF PRINTING IS NOT BORNE BY THE UNITED STATES, OR WHERE THE PRINTING IS NOT EXCLUSIVELY FOR THE GOVERNMENT, 44 U.S.C. 111 IS NOT FOR APPLICATION. COMP. GEN. 487; 3 ID. 785; 27 COMP. DEC. 842.

ACCORDINGLY, IF IT IS ADMINISTRATIVELY DETERMINED NECESSARY TO PAY THIS PORTION OF THE PREPRINTING COSTS IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT THE STATUTORY FUNCTIONS OF THE BUREAU, THE VOUCHER, WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH WITH PERTINENT PAPERS, MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.