DATE: Published in the Federal Register November 23, 2015.

International Service Changes – Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles.

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
At the request of the designated operator for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba, the Postal Service is adding this country to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®), to reflect these islands’ status as special municipalities of the Netherlands with their own designated operator.

DATES: Effective date: January 17, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Paula Rabkin at 202-268-2537.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Postal Service® gives notice that on October 22, 2015, the Postal Service filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission a notice of a minor classification change to add Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba to the Mail Classification Schedule (MCS). The Commission concurred with the notice in its Order No. 2808, issued on November 9, 2015. Documents are available at www.prc.gov, Docket No. MC2016-10. Consequently, the Postal Service will revise IMM sections 213.5, 292.45, 293.45, the Index of Countries and Localities, the Country Price Groups and Weight Limits, and the Individual Country Listings, to add a new listing for Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba and to modify Curaçao’s listing.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register October 26, 2015

Domestic Competitive Products Pricing and Mailing Standards Changes

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is amending Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM^®), to reflect changes to prices and mailing standards for competitive products.

DATES: Effective date: January 17, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Karen Key at (202) 268-7492 or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule describes new prices and product features for competitive products, by class of mail, established by the Governors of the United States Postal Service. New prices are available under Docket Number CP2016-# on the Postal Regulatory Commission's (PRC) web site at http://www.prc.gov, and also located on the Postal Explorer^® website at http://pe.usps.com.

The Postal Service will revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), to reflect changes to prices and mailing standards for the following competitive products:

• Priority Mail Express^®.
• Priority Mail^®.
• First-Class Package Service^®.
• Parcel Select^®.
• Standard Post™.
• Extra Services.
• Return Services.
• Mailer Services.
• Recipient Services.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register October 26, 2015

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.

DATES: Effective date: January 17, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Paula Rabkin at 202-268-2537.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
New prices will be posted under Docket Number CP2016-X on the Postal Regulatory Commission's website at http://www.prc.gov.

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^®).
• Priority Mail Express Internationa™.
• Priority Mail International^®.
• First-Class Package International Service™.
• International Priority Airmail® (IPA^®).
• International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL^®).
• Direct Sacks of Printed Matter to One Addressee (Airmail M-bags).
• International Extra Services:

• Insurance.
• International Postal Money Orders.
• International Money Order Inquiry Fee.
• International Money Transfer Service.

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

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register May 8, 2015.

International Mailing Services Approved Price Changes — Summary

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Notice of approval of price changes for international mailing services.

SUMMARY:
On Friday, January 23, 2015, the Postal Service published a notice in the Federal Register of proposed price adjustments to international mailing services, to reflect a notice of price adjustments that we filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on January 15, 2015. The PRC has found that price adjustments contained in the Postal Service’s notice may go into effect on May 31, 2015. The Postal Service will revise Notice 123, Price List to reflect the new prices.

DATES: Effective date: May 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Paula Rabkin at 202-268-2537.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Proposed Rule and Response
On January 15, 2015, the Postal Service filed a notice of international mailing services price adjustment with the PRC, effective on April 26, 2015. On January 23, 2015, the USPS™ published a notice of proposed price changes in the Federal Register entitled "International Mailing Services: Proposed Price Changes" (80 FR 3536). The notice included price changes that we would adopt for products and services covered by Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) and publish in Notice 123, Price List, on Postal Explorer® at pe.usps.com. We received one comment, simply requesting no price change.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register May 4, 2015.

New Mailing Standard for Domestic Mailing Services Products – final

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
On April 16, 2015, the Postal Service filed a notice of mailing services price adjustments with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), effective May 31, 2015. This final rule contains the revisions to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service adjustments and other minor DMM changes.

DATES: Effective date: May 31, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Karen Key, 202-268-7492, John Rosato, 202-268-8597, or Suzanne Newman, 202-695-0550.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Prices are available under Docket Number R2015-4 on the Postal Regulatory Commission’s Web site at www.prc.gov. The Postal Service’s final rule includes changes to certain market dominant prices. Directly below, we discuss comments on proposed price changes, and the Postal Service’s responses to those comments, followed by a summary of minor DMM changes.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register March 17, 2015.

Clarification of Content Eligibility for SM Marketing Parcels – final summary

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual to (DMM®) to reaffirm basic eligibility standards for Standard Mail Marketing Parcels.

DATES: Effective date: April 16, 2015

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Lizbeth Dobbins at 202-268-3789, John F. Rosato at 202-268-8597, or Suzanne Newman at 202-695-0550.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Proposed Rule
The Postal Service published a proposed rule (80 FR 1872-1873) on January 14, 2015, with a comment period ending February 13, 2015, to recertify the definition of Standard Mail Marketing Parcels, remind customers about the basic eligibility and address format standards, and ensure compliance with the rule that this product line not be used for fulfillment.

Background:
Previously the Postal Service published standards for the use of the Marketing Parcel product which limited its use to non-fulfillment activity. We affirmed that definition in Postal Bulletin 22327 (December 29, 2011), and reaffirmed it in Postal Bulletin 22406 (January 8, 2015).

Specifically, Standard Mail Marketing Parcels were designed for mailers to send non-requested items or samples to potential customers. Our intent was to build a low cost prospecting vehicle; therefore, the Postal Service built in factors to minimize handling costs. One factor, the alternative addressing format, was required so that the current resident became the recipient of the mailpiece if the named addressee moved from that address. This avoided extra delivery and forwarding costs. Another factor was the specification of size restrictions, including the requirement that pieces needed to be similar in shape and weight if sent in a single mailing.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register March 16, 2015.

DMM 2015 IBR Notice – final summary

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service announces the issuance of the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) dated January 25, 2015, and its incorporation by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations.

DATES: This final rule is effective on March 16, 2015. The incorporation by reference of the DMM dated January 25, 2015, is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of March 16, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Lizbeth Dobbins, (202) 268-3789.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The most recent issue of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) is dated January 25, 2015. This issue of the DMM contains all Postal Service domestic mailing standards, and continues to: (1) increase the user’s ability to find information; (2) increase confidence that users have found all the information they need; and (3) reduce the need to consult multiple chapters of the Manual to locate necessary information. The issue dated January 25, 2015, sets forth specific changes, including new standards throughout the DMM to support the standards and mail preparation changes implemented since the version issued on June 24, 2012.

Changes to mailing standards will continue to be published through Federal Register notices and the Postal Bulletin, and will appear in the next online version available via the Postal Explorer® website at: http://pe.usps.com.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register March 16, 2015.

IMM 2015 IBR Notice – final summary

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service announces the issuance of the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) dated January 26, 2015, updated with Postal Bulletin revisions through January 8, 2015, and its incorporation by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations.

DATES: This final rule is effective on March 16, 2015. The incorporation by reference of the IMM is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of March 16, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT Lizbeth Dobbins, (202) 268-3789.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The International Mail Manual was issued on January 26, 2015, and was updated with Postal Bulletin revisions through January 8, 2015. It replaced all previous editions. The IMM continues to enable the Postal Service to fulfill its long-standing mission of providing affordable, universal mail service. It continues to: (1) increase the user’s ability to find information; (2) increase the user’s confidence that they have found the information they need; and (3) reduce the need to consult multiple sources to locate necessary information. The provisions throughout this issue support the standards and mail preparation changes implemented since the version of June 24, 2012. The International Mail Manual is available to the public on the Postal Explorer® Internet site at http://pe.usps.com.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register February 5, 2015.

New Mailing Standards for Domestic Mailing Services Products - proposed summary

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:
In January 2015, the Postal Service™ filed a notice of mailing services price adjustments with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), effective April 26, 2015. 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 changes coincident with the price adjustments.

DATES: We must receive comments on or before March 9, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the manager, Product Classification, 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, by appointment only between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, by calling 1-202-268-2906 in advance. Email comments, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: ProductClassification@usps.gov, with a subject line of “April 2015 Domestic Mailing Services Proposal.” Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Key, 202-268-7492, John Rosato, 202-268-8597, or Suzanne Newman, 202-695-0550.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed prices (CPI prices plus Exigent surcharges) will be available in Attachment A, Part II in the Postal Service’s Notice, which was filed under Docket Number R2015-4. Materials related to this Docket are available on the Postal Regulatory Commission's website at www.prc.gov.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register February 3, 2015.

Domestic Competitive Products Pricing and Mailing Standards Changes

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service is amending Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®), to reflect changes to prices and mailing standards for certain competitive products.

DATES: Effective date: April 26, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Dixon Jr. (202) 268-2308, or Garry Rodriguez (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This final rule describes new prices and product features for competitive products, by class of mail, established by the Governors of the United States Postal Service. New prices are available under Docket Number CP2015-33 on the Postal Regulatory Commission's (PRC) web site at http://www.prc.gov, and also located on the Postal Explorer® website at http://pe.usps.com.

The Postal Service will revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), to reflect changes to prices and mailing standards for the following competitive products:

• Priority Mail Express®.
• Priority Mail®.
• First-Class Package Service®.
• Parcel Select®.
• Standard Post™.
• Extra Services.
• Return Services.
• Mailer Services.
• Recipient Services.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register February 3, 2015.

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.

DATES: Effective date: April 26, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula Rabkin at 202-268-2537.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: New prices will be posted under Docket Number CP2015-33 on the Postal Regulatory Commission's website at http://www.prc.gov.

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®).
• Priority Mail Express International™.
• Priority Mail International®.
• First-Class Package International Service™.
• International Priority Airmail™ (IPA®).
• International Surface Air Lift® (ISAL®).
• Direct Sacks of Printed Matter to One Addressee (Airmail M-bags).
• International Extra Services:

• Certificate of Mailing.
• Registered Mail™ Service.
• Return Receipt Service.

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

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register February 3, 2015.

International Service Changes Burma, Kiribati, Sao Tome, and Principe

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 classification changes to Competitive Services, as established by the Governors of the Postal Service.

DATES: Effective date: April 26, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula Rabkin at 202-268-2537.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: New classification changes are available under Docket Number CP2015-33 on the Postal Regulatory Commission's website at http://www.prc.gov.

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

Priority Mail Express International
Priority Mail Express International® service provides fast international delivery service to more than 180 countries. The following classification changes are made: Burma (Myanmar), Kiribati, and Sao Tome and Principe.

We are adding Burma (Myanmar), Kiribati, and Sao Tome and Principe as the most recent countries to establish an Express Mail Service (EMS) operational exchange agreement with the Postal Service. As a result, Priority Mail Express International service will become available to these destinations effective April 26, 2015, as described in the mailing standards below.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register January 26, 2015.

New Mailing Standards for Lithium Batteries

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service will revise Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail (Publication 52), in various sections to provide new standards for the mailing of lithium batteries. Publication 52 was developed to provide expanded requirements for the mailing of hazardous, restricted, and perishable materials.

DATES: Effective date: March 2, 2015.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan Hall (212) 330-5332 or Kevin Gunther (202) 268-7208.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Overview
U.S. Postal Service® Publication 52 provides mailing standards specific to hazardous, restricted and perishable items and materials. Pursuant to the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) 601.8.2, Publication 52 applies to the mailability of hazardous materials, including lithium batteries.

Revisions to Publication 52
The Postal Service is making these revisions in order to align with the Department of Transportation (DOT), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recent changes to regulations for the transportation of lithium batteries.

On August 6, 2014, PHMSA issued a final rule (79 FR 46012-46040) titled “Hazardous Materials: Transportation of Lithium Batteries” in which it describes new requirements governing the shipment of lithium cells and batteries for both air and surface transportation. In this final rule, PHMSA revises hazard communication and packaging provisions for lithium batteries and harmonizes the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) with applicable provisions of the United Nations (UN) Model Regulations, the International Civil Aviation Organization's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (ICAO Technical Instructions) and the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register January 23, 2015.

International Mailing Services: Proposed Price Changes

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Notice of proposed price adjustments, opportunity to comment.

SUMMARY:
On January 15, 2015, the Postal Service filed a notice of mailing services price adjustments with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for products and services covered by Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®), to be effective on April 26, 2015. Following the completion of this proceeding, the Postal Service will revise Notice 123, Price List, to reflect the new prices.

DATES: We must receive your comments on or before February 23, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Comments regarding this proposal are invited. Mail or deliver comments to the manager, Product Classification, U.S. Postal Service®, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, RM 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 by appointment only between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday by calling 1-202-268-2906 in advance. Email comments, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: ProductClassification@usps.gov, with a subject line of “April 2015 International Mailing Services Price Change.” Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paula Rabkin at 202-268-2537.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The Postal Service hereby gives notice that, pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3622, on January 15, 2015, it filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission a Notice of Market-Dominant Price Adjustment. Proposed prices and other documents relevant to this filing are available under Docket No. R2015-4 on the PRC’s website at www.prc.gov.

This proposed rule includes price changes for First-Class Mail International® and certain international extra services. All of the proposed price change percentages are based on CPI prices approved by the PRC in Docket No. 2103-10, plus the Exigent Surcharge approved by the PRC in Docket No. R2013-11.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT

DATE: Published in the Federal Register January 14, 2015.

Clarification of Content Eligibility for Standard Mail Marketing Parcels

AGENCY: Postal Service™.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY:
The Postal Service proposes to clarify Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to reaffirm basic eligibility standards for Standard Mail Marketing Parcels.

DATES: Submit comments on or before February 13, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Product Classification, 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 North, Washington, DC, by appointment only, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday by calling 202-268-2906 in advance. Email comments, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be sent to: ProductClassification@usps.gov, with a subject line of “Marketing Parcels.” Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lizbeth Dobbins at 202-268-3789, John F. Rosato at 202-268-8597, or Suzanne Newman at 202-695-0550.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
To ensure consistency and clarity about the content eligibility of Standard Mail Marketing Parcels, the Postal Service recently published an article in Postal Bulletin 22406 (January 8, 2015) to remind customers about the basic eligibility and address format standards for this classification of mail.

Published in the Federal Register TEXT