[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 48 (Friday, March 10, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12946-12948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5962]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Changes in Procedures for Standard Mail Destination Entry
Mailings
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service, after considering the written responses to
its proposed rule published in the Federal Register on December 22,
1999 (64 FR 71702-71704), requesting public comment on proposed
amendments to the Domestic Mail Manual, gives notice that it is
implementing amendments to procedures for Standard Mail Destination
Entry Mailings.
EFFECTIVE DATE: March 12, 2000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: RoseMarie Gay (202) 268-7810.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 22, 1999, the Postal Service
published in the Federal Register (64 FR 71702-71704) a proposal to
amend the Domestic Mail Manual procedures for setting appointments for
mailings of Standard Mail (A) and Standard Mail (B) from once a month
to once a week for recurring appointments.
In addition, the Postal Service proposed that if a mailer requests
an appointment at a destination delivery unit (DDU) for a Standard Mail
(A) or Standard Mail (B) mailing, then the 5-digit ZIP Codes of the
mail being deposited must be provided at the time of request. Also,
consistent with current standards for Standard Mail (A), a
[[Page 12947]]
change was proposed to provide for the redirection of Standard Mail
(B).
Response to Comments
The Postal Service requested comments by January 21, 2000. Two
comments were received from the mailing industry.
One mailer commented that there was no mention of how postage will
be adjusted and calculated when mail is redirected by the Postal
Service. The Postal Service will recalculate postage according to
Domestic Mail Manual section E613.2.2.
The mailer also commented that there was no mention of destination
delivery unit (DDU) appointments made by using the Drop Shipment
Appointment System (DSAS). The commenter also questioned if mailers can
make DDU appointments using DSAS and, if DSAS appointments are allowed,
whether the procedures are different when contacting the DDU via DSAS.
In response, the Postal Service notes that this comment is beyond
the scope of the Federal Register notice; however, the commenter should
be aware that the procedures for making DDU appointments have not
changed.
One other mailer agreed with the change of frequency from once a
month to once a week. The mailer also suggested that DSAS be changed so
that if a recurring appointment is made ``x'' days in advance, DSAS
would require reconfirmation of the appointment two days prior to the
appointment date. If the appointment is not reconfirmed within the
assigned time period, then that time slot would be available for
others. Currently, the DSAS system cannot perform this function, and
adding this feature would require enhancements to this system. Due to
considerable expense involved, the Postal Service has determined not to
add this enhancement to the system at this time.
This mailer also commented on the error rate of DDU addresses and
asked that DDU acceptance hours be expanded. An additional comment by
this mailer was that DDU acceptance hours be expanded. These comments
are beyond the scope of this Federal Register notice and need not be
addressed.
The new amendments become effective on March 12, 2000. Until that
date, mailers must follow current mailing standards.
Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the
Administrative Procedures Act (5 U.S.C. 553 (b), (c)) regarding
rulemaking by 39 USC 410, the Postal Service hereby gives notice of the
following revisions to the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by
reference in the Code of Federal Regulations (see CFR Part 111).
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
Administrative practice and procedure.
PART 111--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a): 39 U.S.C 101, 401, 403, 404, 414,
3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.
2. Amend the Domestic Mail Manual as set forth below:
E Eligibility
* * * * *
E600 Standard Mail
* * * * *
E650 Destination Entry
E651 Regular, Nonprofit, and Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail
* * * * *
3.0 DEPOSIT
* * * * *
(Redesignate 3.3 through 3.11 as 3.4 through 3.12 respectively; add
new 3.3 to read as follows:)
3.3 Appointments
Appointments must be made for destination entry rate mail as
follows:
a. Except for a local mailer under 4.0 and mailings of perishable
commodities, appointments for deposit of destination entry rate mail at
BMCs, ASFs, and SCFs must be scheduled through the appropriate
appointment control center at least one business day in advance. Same-
day appointments may be granted by a control center only through a
telephone request. All appointments for BMC loads must be scheduled by
the appropriate BMC control center. Appointments for SCFs and ASFs must
be scheduled through the appropriate district control center.
Appointments may be made up to 30 calendar days before a desired
appointment date. The mailer must adhere to the scheduled mail deposit
time and location. The mailer must cancel any appointment by notifying
the appropriate control center at least 24 hours in advance of a
scheduled appointment.
b. Electronic appointments may be made by a mailer or agent using a
USPS-issued computer logon ID. Electronic appointments or cancellations
must be made at least 12 hours before the desired time and date. All
information required by the USPS appointment system regarding a mailing
must be provided.
c. For deposit of DDU mailings, an appointment must be made by
contacting the DDU at least 24 hours in advance. If the appointment
must be canceled, the mailer must notify the DDU at least one business
day in advance of a scheduled appointment. Recurring appointments are
allowed if shipment frequency is once a week or more often.
d. When Periodicals are transported together with Standard Mail (A)
or Standard Mail (B) as a mixed load (E250), an appointment must be
obtained for deposit at a destination entry facility.
(Revise heading of redesignated 3.4 to read as follows:)
3.4 Advance Scheduling
(Amend 3.4 by revising 3.4a, b, c, and d to read as follows:)
Except under 4.0, a mailer must schedule deposit of destination
rate mailings at least 24 hours in advance by contacting the proper
district or BMC control center or destination delivery unit.
Appointments at delivery units must be made by calling the delivery
unit at least 24 hours in advance. Appointments for ASFs, SCFs, or for
any multistop loads must be made through the USPS district control
center. Appointments for BMC loads must be scheduled by the proper BMC
control center. When making an appointment, or as soon as available,
the mailer must provide the control center or DDU with the following
information:
a. Mailer's name and address and, when applicable, the name and
telephone number of the mailer's agent or local contact.
b. Description of what is being mailed, product name, number of
mailings, volume of mail, how prepared, and whether containerized
(e.g., pallets). For DDU entries, the mailer also must provide the 5-
digit ZIP Code(s) of the mail being deposited.
c. Where mailing was verified.
d. Postage payment method.
* * * * *
3.6 Redirection by USPS
(Revise redesignated 3.6 to read as follows:)
A mailer may be directed to transport destination entry rate
mailings to a facility other than the designated DDU, SCF, or BMC due
to facility restrictions, building expansions, peak season mail
volumes, or emergency constraints.
* * * * *
(Amend heading of 3.8 by changing ``standing'' to ``recurring'' to
read as follows:)
[[Page 12948]]
3.8 Recurring Appointments
(Revise redesignated 3.8 to read as follows:)
A mailer may request recurring appointments, renewable for a 6-
month period, by writing to the BMC control center or the district
control center that administers the service area in which the
destination facility is located. The mailer must present comparable
mailings (by product and volume) on a consistent frequency of at least
once a week. Failure to adhere to scheduled appointment procedures can
cause revocation of the recurring appointment.
* * * * *
E652 Parcel Post
* * * * *
4.0 DEPOSIT
* * * * *
(Redesignate current 4.6 through 4.11 as 4.7 through 4.12,
respectively; add new 4.6 to read as follows:)
4.6 Redirection by USPS
With the exception of mail deposited under 1.3e, a mailer may be
directed to transport destination entry rate mailings to a facility
other than the designated DDU, SCF, or BMC due to facility
restrictions, building expansions, peak season mail volumes, or
emergency constraints.
(Revise heading of redesignated 4.7 to read as follows:)
4.7 Advance Scheduling
(Amend redesignated 4.7b by adding second sentence to read as
follows:)
When making an appointment, or as soon as available, the mailer
must provide the control center or DDU with the following information:
* * * * *
b. Description of what is being mailed, product name, number of
mailings, volume of mail, how prepared, and whether containerized
(e.g., pallets). For DDU entries, the mailer also must provide the 5-
digit ZIP Code(s) of the mail being deposited.
* * * * *
4.8 Deposit Conditions
(Amend redesignated 4.8b by changing the frequency from ``once a
month'' to ``once a week'' to read as follows:)
Deposit of mail also is subject to these conditions:
* * * * *
b. A mailer may request recurring appointments, renewable for a 6-
month period, by writing to the BMC control center or the district
control center that administers the service area in which the
destination facility is located. The mailer must present comparable
mailings (by product and volume) on a consistent frequency of at least
once a week. Failure to adhere to scheduled appointment procedures can
cause revocation of the recurring appointment.
* * * * *
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 00-5962 Filed 3-9-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P