DATE: Published in the Federal Register December 8, 2010.

Domestic Shipping Services Pricing and Mailing Standards Changes

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule; correction.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service published in the Federal Register of November 8, 2010 (75 FR 68430-68447), a document revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), to reflect changes to prices and mailing standards for the following Shipping Services: Express Mail®, Priority Mail®, Parcel Select®, and Recipient Services. This document clarifies and amends mailing standards and shipping package information.

DATES: January 2, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Gullo at 202-268-8057, or Carol Lunkins at 202-268-7262.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Postal Service published a document in the Federal Register on November 8, 2010, (75 FR 68430-68447), citing the standards for the January 2, 2011, Shipping Services price change. Under this correction, the Postal Service amends the final rule to make revisions to the standards for determining single-piece weight; to clarify how to order Critical Mail envelopes; and to clarify the eligibility standards for Priority Mail Commercial Plus prices.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register December 2, 2010.

International Service Changes — Israel

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) section 243.13, the Country Price Groups and Weight Limits, and the Individual Country Listings to incorporate a change in Israel’s First-Class Mail International® price group.

DATES: January 2, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obataiye B. Akinwole at 202-268-2260.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On July 9, 2010, the Postal Service published a proposed rule Federal Register notice (75 FR 39475-39477) that included a change to Israel’s First-Class Mail International price group from Price Group 8 to Price Group 5 in order to align operational efficiencies more closely with costs.

This minor classification change was required to be filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). The Postal Service did so as part of its request for an exigent price increase on July 6, 2010. Although the PRC rejected the exigent price filing, it invited the Postal Service to file separately the classification changes incorporated in the exigent price request. On November 3, 2010, the Postal Service filed such a request to implement the change to Israel’s Price Group for First-Class Mail International. The Commission concurred with the notice on November 22, 2010.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register November 26, 2010.

Express Mail Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and Distribute

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 705.16 to require the use of a single-ply address label containing a service barcode with unique Service Type Code “723” or a “DB” prefix along with new Tag 257, Tag 267, or Label 257S, on all Express Mail® Open and Distribute containers. The Postal Service is also revising the service commitment for Express Mail Open and Distribute as a guaranteed end of day product; and adding a five-pound minimum weight requirement for Express Mail Open and Distribute and Priority Mail® Open and Distribute sacks.

DATES: January 2, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jewelyn Harrington at 202-268-7648 or Garry Rodriguez at 202-268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On September 17, 2010, the Postal Service published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (75 FR 56920-56922) to change the standards for Express Mail Open and Distribute. After reviewing the comments, and upon further consideration of the proposed revisions, the Postal Service has decided to adopt the proposed regulations with a minor revision.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register November 24, 2010.

Clarification of the Post Office Box Lock Replacement Fee

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 508.4.8.4 to clarify the applicability of the lock replacement fee for Post Office™ boxes to reflect current practice.

DATES: January 2, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nan McKenzie at 202-268-3089 or David Rubin at 202-268-2986.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On July 9, 2010, the Federal Register published the Postal Service proposed rule, New Standards for Domestic Mailing Services (75 FR 39477-39492). The applicability of the lock replacement fee for Post Office (PO) Boxes was included in this proposed rule.

Current DMM standards require payment of the lock replacement fee when a customer requests that the lock be changed. The Postal Service also applies this fee when customers renew PO Box™ service more than 10 days after the renewal due date. This provides an incentive for customers to pay their PO Box rental fee on time. For those customers who do not renew until after the 10-day grace period, the Postal Service often changes the lock or incurs other related costs, such as plugging the lock and bundling and holding mail separately for the owner of the PO Box. The lock replacement fee is treated as a late payment fee, even in those cases in which the Postal Service does not actually change the lock.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register November 24, 2010.

Group E Post Office Box Service

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 508.4.6 to clarify eligibility, to simplify the standards, and to facilitate uniform administration for Group E (free) Post Office™ (PO) Box service.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before December 27, 2010.

ADDRESSES:
Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing Standards, U.S. Postal Service®, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446, Washington DC 20260-4446. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments at USPS® Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor N, Washington DC between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Email comments concerning the proposed box eligibility, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: MailingStandards@usps.gov, with a subject line of "Group E PO Box comments." Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laurence Welling at 202-268-7792 or Yvonne Gifford at 202-268-8082.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Group E PO Box™ service is provided free, with restrictions, to customers whose physical addresses do not receive any form of USPS carrier delivery service.

For this proposed rule, the Postal Service removes the descriptive term, "business location”, in favor of the general term “physical address”. The latter describes residential locations as well as business locations and no distinction between the two terms was intended.

USPS further deletes the reference to “out-of-bounds delivery receptacles” in favor of language recognizing that Group E PO Box service is not available when a physical address receives any form of USPS carrier delivery. Confusion over the intent of the meaning of “out-of-bounds” obscured the larger context wherein Group E service should never supplement a physical location’s carrier delivery service. Clarifying the intent and eliminating this confusion may cause existing Group E customers to lose Group E eligibility for their physical addresses, while others whose physical locations the USPS chooses not to provide carrier service to may become eligible for Group E service.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register November 17, 2010.

2011 Changes for Domestic Mailing Services

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to incorporate standards for the introduction of Address Information System services, for the discontinuation of rigid flats claiming flats prices, and other clarifications.

DATES: January 2, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Chatfield, 202-268-7278.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On July 9 2010, the Federal Register published the Postal Service proposed rule, New Standards for Domestic Mailing Services (75 FR 39477-39492). We are re-filing separately with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) our request for two incentive programs and for changes in the Move Update tolerance and will publish related standards in a separate Federal Register notice. The Postal Service is postponing implementation of any changes directly related to a price change.

This final rule includes changes in terminology for some Standard Mail letter prices, discontinuation of the current exception that allows some rigid flats to claim flats prices, a change in the expression of decimal pounds for Package Services parcels, the list of Address Information System services, and the mailing standards in the DMM to implement the changes. We received no customer comments on these elements of the prior proposed rule.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register November 17, 2010.

New Incentive Programs and Other Changes for Domestic Mailing Services

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service will revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to incorporate standards for the two new Mailing Services incentive programs filed in November 2010 with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). This final rule also includes DMM revisions related to Move Update standards, also in the November 2010 PRC filing.

DATES: January 2, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Chatfield, 202-268-7278.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On July 9 2010, the Federal Register published a Postal Service proposed rule, New Standards for Domestic Mailing Services (75 FR 39477-39492). We received comments from three mailer associations regarding the Reply Rides Free incentive program that was part of that filing and comments on the proposed changes to the Move Update tolerance. We have subsequently made a new filing with the PRC to implement the two incentive programs (Reply Rides Free and the Saturation/High Density) and changes to the Move Update tolerance. The other changes proposed in July will be addressed in a separate final rule to be published in the Federal Register.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register November 12, 2010.

International Product and Price Changes

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®), to reflect the prices, product features, and classification changes to Competitive Services, as established by the Governors of the Postal Service.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 2, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Klutts at 813-877-0372.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
This final rule describes the international price and classification changes and the corresponding mailing standards changes for the following Competitive Services:

• Global Express Guaranteed® (GXG®)
• Express Mail International® (EMI)
• Priority Mail International® (PMI)
• International Priority Airmail™ (IPA®)
• International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL®)
• Direct Sacks of Printed Matter to One Addressee (M-bags)
• International Extra Services:

• International Postal Money Orders
• International Insurance for EMI and PMI service

New prices are located on the Postal Explorer® website at http://pe.usps.com.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register November 8, 2010.

Domestic Shipping Services Pricing and Mailing Standards Changes

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), to reflect changes to prices and mailing standards for the following Shipping Services:

• Express Mail®.
• Priority Mail®.
• Parcel Select®.
• Recipient Services.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 2, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Gullo (202) 268-8057 or Carol A. Lunkins (202) 268-7262.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
This final rule describes new prices and product features for Shipping Services, by class of mail, established by the Governors of the United States Postal Service®. New prices are located on the Postal Explorer® website at http://pe.usps.com.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register September 21, 2010.

Address Correction Notices for Letters and Flats Qualifying for Full-Service Intelligent Mail and Changes to Move Update Standards

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is proposing to revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to change the number of days that mailers may receive additional notices for the same unique change-of-address or nixie record through Full-Service Intelligent Mail® at no charge. The Postal Service also proposes to add new Move Update standards, regarding change-of-address orders.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before October 21, 2010.

ADDRESSES:
Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446, Washington DC 20260-5015. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments at USPS® Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor N, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Comments containing the name and address of the commenter may be sent by email to: MailingStandards@usps.gov, with a subject line of "Address Correction Notice and Move Update comments." Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Wilson at 901-681-4600, or Bill Chatfield at 202-268-7278.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Postal Service proposes to change the timeframe for providing address correction and nixie notices without charge for First-Class Mail®, Standard Mail®, and Bound Printed Matter (BPM) pieces that are eligible for Full-Service Intelligent Mail prices, and that also meet the applicable standards. Notices would be provided, without charge, for no longer than 95 days after the first notice is made available for a specific change-of-address or nixie notification for eligible Full-Service pieces mailed at First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, or BPM prices. This change will coincide with the current Move Update standard timeframe that applies to First-Class Mail and Standard Mail pieces. The Postal Service would retain the current 60 day timeframe for Periodicals pieces.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register September 17, 2010.

Express Mail Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and Distribute

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service proposes to revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 705.16 to require the use of a single-ply address label containing a service barcode with unique Service Type Code “723” or a “DB” prefix along with new Tag 257, Tag 267, or Label 257S, on all Express Mail® Open and Distribute containers. The Postal Service also proposes to revise the service commitment for Express Mail Open and Distribute as a guaranteed end of day product; and to add a five-pound minimum weight requirement for Express Mail Open and Distribute and Priority Mail® Open and Distribute sacks.

DATES: Submit comments on or before October 18, 2010.

ADDRESSES:
Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446, Washington, DC 20260-4446. Copies of all written comments will be available for inspection and photocopying between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Postal Service Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor North, Washington, DC, 20260-0004. Email comments, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: MailingStandards@usps.gov, with a subject line of "Open and Distribute Changes Comments." Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jewelyn Harrington at 202-268-7648 or Garry Rodriguez at 202-268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Express Mail Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and Distribute service is designed to provide mailers with expedited service to destination delivery units and other mail processing facilities. The proposed changes to these services will provide better visibility of the product and enable the Postal Service to monitor service performance based on the product.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register September 17, 2010.

Implementation of the Intelligent Mail Package Barcode

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is proposing to incorporate standards into Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) for the optional use of Intelligent Mail® package barcodes (IMpb), no later than January of 2011; and expects to require the mandatory use of IMpb on all domestic packages beginning in January 2012.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 27, 2010.

ADDRESSES:
Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing Standards, Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446, Washington, DC 20260-4446. Copies of all written comments will be available for inspection and photocopying between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the Postal Service Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor North, Washington, DC 20260-0004. Email comments containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: MailingStandards@usps.gov, with a subject line of "Intelligent Mail Package Barcode comments." Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Juliaann Hess at 202-268-7663 or Kevin Gunther at 202-268-7208.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
This advance notice of proposed rulemaking is intended to provide information and assistance to mailers in planning for future mailings and preparing for system changes necessary to adopt the new IMpb format and electronic files. The subsequent proposed rule to this advance notice, will provide standards for the optional use of IMpb no later than January of 2011, and will propose the mandatory use of IMpb barcodes on all domestic packages in January 2012. The Postal Service looks forward to receiving and considering industry feedback on its proposed timeline prior to publishing final standards.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register September 7, 2010.

Submission of Electronic Documentation with Comailed and Copalletized Mailings

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 705 and 707 to require mailers preparing comailed or copalletized mailings, or mail owners who contribute mailpieces to a consolidated comailed or copalletized mailing, to submit electronic documentation to the USPS® by an approved method.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 2, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Guinther at 202-268-7769 or Kevin Gunther at 202-268-7208.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The support of electronic documentation for a comailed and copalletized mailing enhances the electronic visibility of the mailpiece, allows for a reduction in postal handling, and improves efficiency of USPS processing.

The Postal Service published a proposed rule Federal Register notice, Submission of Electronic Documentation with Comailed and Copalletized Mailings, (75 FR 32143-32145) on June 7, 2010.

This final rule will require comailed and copalletized mailings to include Intelligent Mail® tray labels on trays or sacks. Intelligent Mail container placards must also be used on pallets or similar containers when making comailed or copalletized mailings.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register August 24, 2010.

Mailing of Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco Products to APO/FPO/DPO Destination Addresses

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 503.9 and 601.11 to permit the mailing of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to APO/FPO/DPO destination addresses via Express Mail® Military Service or Priority Mail® service with Delivery Confirmation™.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 27, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Collins, 202-268-5440, Anthony Alverno, 202-268-2997 or Jeff Burger, 202-268-7251.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On May 5, 2010, the Postal Service published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (75 FR 24534-24541) to implement the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act of 2009, Pub. L. No. 111-154. After solicitation and consideration of the comments received in response to the proposed rule, the Postal Service published a Federal Register final rule on May 27, 2010 (75 FR 29662-29671) to implement the PACT Act effective June 29, 2010.

The final rule established eligibility requirements under which shipments of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco could be sent via U.S. mail under the PACT Act. One of the exceptions in the PACT Act allows for gift shipments sent by certain individuals. The Postal Service implemented this requirement in the final rule by providing that shipments sent by individuals in non-commercial transactions must be sent by Express Mail with Hold for Pickup for domestic shipments. With respect to shipments to Air Force/Army Post Offices (APOs), Fleet Post Offices (FPOs), or Diplomatic Post Offices (DPOs) destination addresses, the standards in DMM section 601.11.6.2 provided that shipments of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco must be sent via Express Mail. This is consistent with the PACT Act requirement that shipments by certain individuals must be sent using "the systems of the Postal Service that provide for the tracking and confirmation of delivery." 18 U.S.C. § 1716E(b)(4)(ii)(IV). Express Mail service offers both tracking and confirmation of delivery and was accordingly required for shipments to APO/FPO/DPO destination addresses.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register August 23, 2010.

Optional Mail Preparation Standards for Flat-Size Mailpieces in FSS Zones

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service™ is revising the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to provide optional mail preparation standards for flat-size Standard Mail, Periodicals, and Bound Printed Matter mailpieces prepared for delivery within ZIP® Codes served by Flats Sequencing System (FSS) processing.

DATES: Effective January 2, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Hawes at 202-268-8980 or Kevin Gunther at 202-268-7208.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Postal Service is revising the DMM to provide optional standards for bundle and pallet preparation of flat-size Standard Mail, Periodicals and Bound Printed Matter mailpieces prepared for delivery within the ZIP Codes served by Flats Sequencing System (FSS) processing. FSS is a critical element in the Postal Service’s strategic operations plan and will allow the Postal Service to improve delivery efficiency and control costs.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register August 9, 2010.

Content of Periodicals Mail

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule; revised

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 707.3, to update “content requirements” on materials eligible for mailing at Periodicals prices with authorized Periodicals publications.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 9, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Lease, 202-268-7264.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The final rule titled "Content of Periodicals Mail" published by the Federal Register on July 20, 2010 (75 FR 41989-41991) is revised to incorporate minor changes in text and an earlier effective date. The DMM standards will be updated during its regular monthly update on September 7, 2010.

After discussions with Periodicals customers, the Postal Service agreed to review the standards governing contents of Periodicals mail, and decided to update several standards. This rule removes the current advertising limitation on loose supplements, except for unwrapped copies of loose addressed supplements included in a mailing for an authorized Periodicals publication. The final rule also revises the regulations on pages, specifically multi-layer pages, giving publishers more latitude in page design. The provisions concerning the mailing of products and product samples have been updated and simplified. Finally, the standards governing protective covers and attachments have been updated for consistency with past rulings. This final rule was developed in collaboration with numerous publishers and Periodicals industry associations.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register July 19, 2010.

Address Management Services – Elimination of the Manual Card Option for Address Sequencing Services

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service proposes to revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 507.8 to eliminate the manual cards option for Address Sequencing service.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before August 18, 2010.

ADDRESSES:
Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing Standards, U.S. Postal Service®, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3436, Washington DC 20260-3436. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments at USPS® Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor N, Washington DC between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Email comments concerning the proposed price eligibility, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: MailingStandards@usps.gov, with a subject line of "Address Management Services comments." Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ruth Jones at 901-681-4585, or Bill Chatfield at 202-268-7278.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Current mailing standards provide for the sequencing of address lists into carrier route walk sequence order by ZIP™ Code. Mailers use this service to become eligible for electronic Computerized Delivery Sequence (CDS) service. CDS service is needed in order to qualify mailings for Enhanced Carrier Route pricing, which requires address sequencing. For the manual option of Address Sequencing service, customers send address cards to the appropriate Address Management Services district office or to the delivery unit for manual processing. Although there were approximately 12 customers in Fiscal Year 2009; for 2010 year-to-date only 3 customers have requested this service. USPS recommends that these customers use the electronic option for Address Sequencing service which analyzes if a customer’s address list has sufficient saturation at the 5-digit ZIP Code level to qualify for CDS service. Electronic Address Sequencing (EAS) service provides mailers an electronic process that is more economical and efficient than manually sequencing cards. The electronic process provides customers with a faster processing turnaround and more consistent results.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register July 9, 2010.

International Mail: Proposed Changes in Prices and Fees

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:
In July 2010, the Postal Service filed a notice of mailing services price adjustments with the Postal Regulatory Commission, effective in January 2011. This proposed rule provides the mailing standards that would accompany new prices in 2011.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before August 9, 2010.

ADDRESSES:
Mail or deliver comments to the Manager, Mailing Standards, U.S. Postal Service®, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW., RM 3436, Washington, DC 20260-3436. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at USPS® Headquarters Library, 11th Floor North, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW., Washington, DC. Email comments, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: MailingStandards@usps.gov, with a subject line of “International January 2011 Price Change.” Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obataiye B. Akinwole at 703-292-5260.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Postal Service is proposing to change international postage prices and fees in January 2011. Proposed prices are, or will be available, under Docket Number(s) R2010-4 on the Postal Regulatory Commission’s website, www.prc.gov.

This proposed rule includes price changes and several minor classification changes for First-Class Mail International®, and extra services.

This proposed rule contains the revisions to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) that we would adopt to implement the new prices.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register July 9, 2010.

New Standards for Domestic Mailing Services

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:
In July 2010, the Postal Service filed a notice of mailing services price adjustments with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), effective in January 2011. This proposed rule provides the mailing standards that would accompany the new prices in 2011.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before August 9, 2010.

ADDRESSES:
Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446, Washington DC 20260-4446. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments at USPS® Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor N, Washington DC between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Email comments, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: MailingStandards@usps.gov, with a subject line of "January 2011 Domestic Mailing Standards Proposal." Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Chatfield, 202-268-7278.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed prices are or will be available under Docket Number(s) R2010-4 on the Postal Regulatory Commission's website at www.prc.gov.

The Postal Service's proposed rule includes: two incentive programs, several mail classification changes, modifications to mailpiece characteristics, and changes in classification terminology. This proposed rule contains the revisions to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) that we would adopt to implement the new prices.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register June 28, 2010.

Express Mail Next Day Delivery Postage Refund Amendment

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 114.2, 414.3, and 604.9, to state the conditions for Express Mail® Next Day Delivery postage refunds when shipments are mailed each year during the time period of December 22 through December 25.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 2, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Key (202) 268-7492 or Carol A. Lunkins (202) 268-7262.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On April 30, 2010, the Postal Service published a Federal Register proposed rule (75 FR 22725-22727) inviting comments on our proposal to revise the standards for Express Mail Next Day Delivery postage refunds during the time period of December 22 through December 25. When items are made available for pickup at the destination office, attempted for delivery, or delivered within two business days, postage refunds will not be available for Express Mail Next Day Delivery during this period. However, when items are not available for customer pickup at the destination office or delivery to the addressee was not attempted within two business days, Express Mail Next Day Delivery postage refunds will be authorized.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register June 22, 2010 and June 29, 2010.

Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco – Prohibited in All Outbound and Inbound International Mail

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) 136.4, pertaining to the mailing of tobacco cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. These provisions implement specific requirements of the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act, which restricts the mailability of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 29, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rick Klutts at 813-877-0372.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
In the Postal Service’s final rule titled “Treatment of Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco as Nonmailable Matter” published in the Federal Register on May 27, 2010 (75 FR 29662-29671), the Postal Service implemented prohibitions and exceptions for the mailing of cigarettes, including roll-your-own tobacco, and smokeless tobacco under the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act (Pub. L. 111-154). That final rule introduced new provisions in Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) section 601.11 that, among other things, provide that the exceptions for mailing cigarettes and smokeless tobacco under the PACT Act do not apply to inbound and outbound international mail. As explained in the corresponding proposed rule published in the Federal Register on May 5, 2010 (75 FR 24534, 24535), the complex verification requirements for the PACT Act’s exceptions, combined with the strict consequences of any noncompliance, render it impracticable for these requirements to be made applicable to mail originating or destinating outside of the Postal Service’s service area. The Postal Service does not believe that any alternative exists at this time to allow U.S. mailers to tender cigarettes and smokeless tobacco as outbound international mail or to receive them as inbound international mail under the PACT Act’s exceptions. This final rule makes conforming changes to the mailability provisions in IMM chapter 136.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register June 7, 2010.

Submission of Electronic Documentation with Comailed and Copalletized Mailings

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is proposing to revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 705 and 707 to require mail owners participating in a comailing or copalletization process for letters or flats to provide electronic documentation, through an approved method, to support their contributed mailpieces. The Postal Service also proposes to require comail and copalletization mailers to submit electronic documentation to the USPS® by an approved method.

DATES: Submit comments on or before July 7, 2010.

ADDRESSES:
Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3436, Washington, DC 20260-3436. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments at USPS Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor North, Washington, D.C., between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Email comments, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: MailingStandards@usps.gov, with a subject line of "EDOC." Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Guinther at 202-268-7769 or Kevin Gunther at 202-268-7208.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Current mailing standards do not require mailers preparing comailed or copalletized mailings, or mailers who contribute mailpieces to a consolidated comail or copalletized mailing, to submit electronic documentation to the USPS. The receipt of electronic documentation, when received prior to USPS acceptance of copalletized mailings, will enhance the electronic visibility of the mailpieces, will result in a reduction in postal handling, and will improve efficiency in the processing of copalletized mailings.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register June 3, 2010.

Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) – Nonpostal Documentation

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 705.15. 2.14 to clarify that PS Form 8125, Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) Verification and Clearance, is the sole source of evidence for USPS® purposes of the transfer of the custody of pieces entered as a mailing at the time of induction; to clarify that Postal employees may, upon request, sign additional nonpostal documents when presented by transportation providers; and to require segregation of documentation presented at the time of induction.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 6, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Susan Thomas at 202-268-8069.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
As a result of reviews of USPS policy concerning practices at induction points of plant-verified drop shipment mailings, the Postal Service is adopting this final rule to clarify the use and purpose of PS Form 8125 as well as other documents that mailers’ nonpostal transportation providers (carriers) may present at the time of induction. The final rule provides that PS Forms 8125 must be segregated from any other documentation presented at the time of mailing. This measure ensures that postal personnel will be able to easily identify and process necessary postal documentation at the time of induction, thereby promoting the efficiency of operations. Further, the final rule clarifies that a PS Form 8125 serves as the sole source of evidence for USPS purposes of the transfer of the custody of pieces entered at the time of induction. No other form of documentation serves this purpose.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register June 1, 2010.

Restricting the Mailing of Replica or Inert Explosive Devices

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 601.11, to implement a new standard restricting the mailing of replica or inert explosive devices, such as simulated grenades that are not dangerous but bear a realistic appearance to explosive devices, to Registered Mail™ service only.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 6, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Evans King, 202-268-4982 or Mary J. Collins 202-268-5440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Postal Service published a proposed rule in the Federal Register on January 5, 2010 (75 FR 282-283) which added restrictions to the mailing of replica and inert explosive devices in the mail. The Postal Service did not receive any comments in response to this proposal. Therefore, we will be revising the DMM as proposed. The Postal Service will specifically identify these items using the term “replica or inert explosive devices” rather than the proposed “replica or inert munitions.” The Postal Service is also implementing a revised process for mailing such items via Registered Mail service only rather than prohibiting them from the mail altogether.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register May 28, 2010.

Business Reply Mail Online Application Option

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service™ will revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 507.9.3.2 and 507.9.5.2 to eliminate the option to obtain a Business Reply Mail® (BRM) permit online. Additionally, the electronic version of PS Form 6805, Qualified Business Reply Mail (QBRM) Application, will also be removed.

DATES: Effective July 6, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jenny Kalthoff, 202-268-5466 or Yvonne Gifford, 202-268-8082.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Currently, customers can apply for BRM permits and QBRM authorization online or in person at any Post Office™ facility. The ability to obtain a BRM permit online has been available since 2004 and has not sustained the volume of users to support maintaining the system.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register May 27, 2010.

Treatment of Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco as Nonmailable Matter

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 601.11, pertaining to the mailing of tobacco cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. These provisions implement specific requirements of the Prevent All Tobacco Cigarettes Trafficking (PACT) Act, Pub. L. No. 111-154, which restricts the mailability of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 29, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Alverno, 202-268-2997, or Mary Collins, 202-268-5440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On May 5, 2010, the Postal Service published a proposed rule Federal Register (75 FR 24534-24541) to implement the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act of 2009, Pub. L. No. 111-154. The Act’s purposes include requiring Internet-based and other remote sellers of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to comply with laws applied to other tobacco retailers by:

• creating disincentives for the illegal smuggling of tobacco products;
• enhancing enforcement tools to deal with cigarette smuggling;
• stemming trafficking, which increases the collection of federal, state, and local excise taxes on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco; and
• preventing youth access through Internet and contraband sales.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register May 5, 2010.

Treatment of Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco as Nonmailable Matter

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service proposes to revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 601.11, pertaining to the mailing of tobacco cigarettes and smokeless tobacco. These provisions implement specific requirements to be in compliance with the Prevent All Tobacco Cigarettes Trafficking (PACT) Act, Pub. L. No. 111-154, which restricts the mailability of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

DATES: Submit comments on or before May 17, 2010

ADDRESSES:
Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3436, Washington, DC 20260-3436. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments at USPS Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor North, Washington, D.C., between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Email comments, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: MailingStandards@usps.gov, with a subject line of "PACT Act." Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Alverno, 202-268-2997, or Mary Collins, 202-268-5440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On March 31, 2010, the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act of 2009, Pub. L. No. 111-154 was enacted. The Act’s purposes include:

• requiring Internet-based and other remote sellers of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to comply with laws applied to other tobacco retailers;
• creating disincentives for the illegal smuggling of tobacco products;
• enhancing enforcement tools to deal with cigarette smuggling;
• stemming trafficking;
• increasing collection of federal, state, and local excise taxes on cigarettes and smokeless tobacco; and
• preventing youth access through Internet and contraband sales.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register April 30, 2010.

Express Mail Next Day Delivery Postage Refund Amendment

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is proposing to revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 114.2, 414.3, and 604.9, to state the conditions for Express Mail® Next Day Delivery postage refunds when shipments are mailed each year during the time period of December 22 through December 25.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before June 1, 2010.

ADDRESSES:
Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3436, Washington DC 20260-3436. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments at USPS® Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor N, Washington DC, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Email comments concerning the proposed rule, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: MailingStandards@usps.gov, with a subject line of "Express Mail Refunds." Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Key (202) 268-7492 or Carol A. Lunkins (202) 268-7262.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
During the time period of December 22 through December 25, air transportation is subject to delay or cancellation.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register April 8, 2010.

2010 Standard Mail Incentive Program

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), to replace existing section 709.2 with new standards for a volume incentive program for mailers of Standard Mail® letters and flats with mail volume exceeding their individual USPS®-determined threshold levels. The program period will be from July 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Krista Becker at 202-268-7345 or Kevin Gunther at 202-268-7208.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Postal Service is replacing the standards applicable to the Standard Mail Incentive Program that ended on September 30, 2009 with new standards describing the 2010 Standard Mail Incentive Program. The 2010 Standard Mail Incentive Program implements a volume incentive program for qualified high-volume mailers of Standard Mail, or Nonprofit Standard Mail, letters and flats, with volume mailed between July 1, 2010 and September 30, 2010, above their individual threshold level. The threshold level for this program will be set at five percent (5%) above the volume demonstrated by the participant mailer during the same period in 2009. This program encourages mailers to generate new volume and demonstrates the commitment of the Postal Service to the future health of the mailing industry.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register March 24, 2010.

Express Mail Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and Distribute Changes and Updates

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 705.16 to reflect changes and updates for Express Mail® Open and Distribute and Priority Mail® Open and Distribute to improve efficiencies in processing and to control costs.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 5, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Key, 202-268-7492 or Garry Rodriguez, 202-268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
On January 29, 2010, the Postal Service published a Federal Register proposed rule (75 FR 4741-4742) inviting comments on a revision to change the standards for Express Mail Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and Distribute shipments, to discontinue the use of Label 23 and facsimile Tags 190 and 161, and to update the mailing standards. After reviewing the comments, and upon further consideration of the proposed revisions, the Postal Service adopts the proposed rule with minor revisions.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register March 18, 2010.

Eligibility for Commercial Flats Failing Deflection

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service published a proposed rule regarding eligibility for commercial flats failing deflection in the Federal Register on December 14, 2009. This final rule provides revised mailing standards and price eligibility for commercial flats of all classes that fail to meet the deflection standard.

DATES: Basic standards effective June 7, 2010, with price consequences effective October 3, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill Chatfield, 202-268-7278

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
This final rule contains modifications to the original proposal, in response to customer comments. The final rule does not include changes to the deflection standards, but to the pricing eligibility. In response to the original deflection proposal and scheduled implementation in May 2009, customers expressed concerns about the potential additional postage due for pieces failing the deflection standards. Based on these concerns and to align with other quality efforts, in December 2009 the Postal Service proposed to change the price eligibilities applicable for pieces that fail the deflection standards.

In this final rule notice we provide background, summary of the comments received, our response to the comments, a summary of the changes and revisions to the applicable prices for pieces that do not meet the deflection standards, followed by changes to the mailing standards in Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®).

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register March 2, 2010

Nomenclature Change Relating to the Network Distribution Center Transition

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) and other related manuals and publications, pursuant to the ongoing transition of USPS® bulk mail centers (BMC) to network distribution centers (NDC), by replacing all text references to “BMC” with “NDC” concurrent with other DMM revisions scheduled for March, 2010. The Postal Service is planning to issue DMM Issue 300 in May, 2010, containing all DMM revisions from May 11, 2009 through the May, 2010 issue date. The changes to the DMM described in this document will be reflected in that Issue 300 of the DMM. We are similarly revising our regulations in Part 121 of Title 39, Code of Federal Regulations, to reflect the BMC to NDC terminology change.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 14, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Gunther at 202-268-7208 or Shibani Gambhir at 202-268-6256.

BACKGROUND:
The BMC network was established in the 1970s to process Parcel Post®, Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail®, Standard Mail® and Periodicals. Fluctuations in volume and changes in the mailing habits of the public and large mailers have necessitated changes to the USPS business model relative to BMC processing and transportation. To fully utilize our existing BMC facilities and consolidate transportation, we are changing our mail flow processes through the new NDC network. As part of this change, we are converting BMCs to NDCs. We began implementation of the NDC concept in May 2009 and this transition continues to date.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register January 29, 2010.

Express Mail Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and Distribute Changes and Updates

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service proposes to revise its standards to reflect changes and updates for Express Mail® Open and Distribute and Priority Mail® Open and Distribute to improve efficiencies in processing and to control costs.

DATES: Submit comments on or before March 1, 2010.

ADDRESSES:
Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3436, Washington, DC, 20260-3436. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments at USPS® Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor N, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Email comments, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: MailingStandards@usps.gov, with a subject line of "Open and Distribute Comments." Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Key, 202-268-7492 or Garry Rodriguez, 202-268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Open and Distribute feature of Express Mail and Priority Mail service allows customers to expedite the transportation of shipments of other classes of mail to destination facilities using Express Mail or Priority Mail service.

Currently, for customers using USPS-provided letter trays for Priority Mail Open and Distribute, the Postal Service provides the option to use sacks, USPS-supplied tray boxes, or Label 23, an adhesive label which must be affixed to the outside of the letter tray. Tray boxes were introduced April 6, 2009, to address Open and Distribute customers’ concerns that a USPS-provided letter tray sleeve might not maintain the integrity of all mail inside a letter tray during processing. Customers now have the option to place their trays in either sacks or Open and Distribute tray boxes, which are more secure. The Open and Distribute tray boxes are provided free of charge by the Postal Service to all Open and Distribute customers and are available for both half-size and full-size trays. Customers using the customer-supplied containers must affix the appropriate USPS-supplied tag (e.g., Tag 161, Tag 190). Label 23 is no longer needed since the letter trays will be enclosed in sacks or tray boxes and the Postal Service proposes to discontinue its use.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register January 26, 2010.

Streamlining Hard-copy Postage Statement Processing

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service™ is proposing to revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), to reflect changes in the processing of hard-copy postage statements accompanying commercial and permit imprint mailings at PostalOne!® facilities.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before February 25, 2010.

ADDRESSES:
Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3436, Washington, DC, 20260-3436. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments at USPS Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor N, Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Email comments concerning the proposed rule, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: MailingStandards@usps.gov, with a subject line of "Postage Statement Processing." Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cher Rupp-Ruggeri at 202-268-4019, Anthony Frost at 202-268-8093, or Michael F. Lee at 202-268-7263.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
In coordination with ongoing efforts to improve efficiencies of USPS® business mail acceptance operations, the Postal Service proposes to revise its procedures and policies relating to the processing of postage statements in facilities with PostalOne!® capability.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register January 12, 2010.

Treatment of Undeliverable Books and Sound Recordings

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual, for the disposal or treatment of books and sound recordings that are undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) in their original packaging. The disposal of these items as waste will simplify handling procedures and reduce costs.

EFFECTIVE DATE: February 1, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bert Olsen, 202-268-7276, Mary Collins, 202-268-5440.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Postal Service published a Federal Register proposed rule (73 FR 39272-39273) on July 9, 2008 to remove DMM section 507.1.9.2. The intent of this section was to facilitate a process for identifying and returning books and recordings that had become undeliverable as a result of being “loose in the mail” (contents separated from packaging and other address information), to the original publisher or distributor. This standard was misinterpreted to allow some publishers and distributors to reclaim ownership of all UAA mail and not just mail that was truly identified as “loose” in the mail.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register January 5, 2010.

Restricting the Mailing of Replica or Inert Explosive Devices

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Proposed rule; revised.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service proposes to revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to clarify that a proposed new standard to allow for the mailing of replica or inert explosive devices, such as grenades, be sent by Registered Mail™ only.

DATES: Submit comments on or before February 4, 2010.

ADDRESSES:
Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3436, Washington DC 20260-3436. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments at USPS Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor N, Washington DC between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Email comments, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: MailingStandards@usps.gov, with a subject line of "Inert Munitions". Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary J. Collins 202-268-5440 or Evans King, 202-268-4982.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Postal Service published a Federal Register proposed rule (73 FR 12321) on March 7, 2008 to prohibit replica and inert munitions from the mail. Upon further review and in consideration of respondents’ comments, we are revising our proposal to:

In the past, postal operations have been disrupted and facilities have been evacuated when replica or inert explosive devices have been discovered in the mail. Such evacuations result in unnecessary expense and loss of productivity to the Postal Service and can jeopardize USPS® service commitments. We believe this revised proposed rule will minimize the chances of operational disruptions caused by replica or inert explosive devices and at the same time allow mailers to continue to use the mail for shipping these items.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT