[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 5, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39141-39143]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16666]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. A2011-19; Order No. 754]


Post Office Closing

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This document informs the public that an appeal of the closing 
of the Lafayette Postal Facility has been filed. It identifies 
preliminary steps and provides a procedural schedule. Publication of 
this document will allow the Postal Service, petitioners, and others to 
take appropriate action.

DATES: Administrative record due (from Postal Service): July 7, 2011; 
deadline for notices to intervene: July 25, 2011. See the Procedural 
Schedule in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for other dates of 
interest.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically by accessing the ``Filing 
Online'' link in the banner at the top of the Commission's Web site 
(http://www.prc.gov) or by directly accessing the Commission's Filing 
Online system at https://www.prc.gov/prc-pages/filing-online/login.aspx. Commenters who cannot submit their views electronically 
should contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section as the source for case-related information for advice 
on alternatives to electronic filing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel, 
at 202-789-6820 (case-related information) or [email protected] 
(electronic filing assistance).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice is hereby given that, pursuant to 39 
U.S.C. 404(d), the Commission received two petitions for review of the 
closing of the Lafayette Postal Facility in Freehold,

[[Page 39142]]

New Jersey.\1\ The first petition, which was filed by A. Richard Gatto 
on behalf of the Freehold Center Management Corporation, included an 
application for suspension of the determination. On June 24, 2011, a 
second petition for review was filed by Duane O. Davison on behalf of 
the Township of Freehold, New Jersey.
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    \1\ Petition for Review, Application for Suspension of 
Determination of the Postal Service to Close Lafayette Postal 
Trailer Pending Appeal and Petition for Review, Request for Oral 
Arguments, filed by A. Richard Gatto, Freehold Center Management 
Corporation, June 22, 2011. The Petition includes five exhibits. See 
also Petition for Review of Closure Decision--Postal Service 
Facility at 13 Lafayette Street, Freehold, New Jersey 07728, filed 
by Duane O. Davison, on behalf of the Township of Freehold, New 
Jersey, June 24, 2011 (Petition).
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    The Commission hereby institutes a proceeding under 39 U.S.C. 
404(d)(5) and designates the case as Docket No. A2011-19 to consider 
Petitioners' appeals. If Petitioners would like to further explain 
their positions with supplemental information or facts, Petitioners may 
either file a Participant Statement on PRC Form 61 or file an initial 
brief with the Commission no later than July 27, 2011.
    Categories of issues apparently raised. Petitioners raise two 
issues: (1) The failure of the Postal Service to follow the procedural 
requirements of 39 U.S.C. 404(d) and 39 CFR 241.3 for closing a post 
office; and (2) the failure of the Postal Service to consider the 
impact the closing would have on the community (see 39 U.S.C. 
404(d)(2)(A)(i)).
    After the Postal Service files the administrative record and the 
Commission reviews it, the Commission may find that there are more 
legal issues than those set forth above, or that the Postal Service's 
determination disposes of one or more of those issues. The deadline for 
the Postal Service to file the administrative record with the 
Commission is July 7, 2011. See 39 CFR 3001.113. In addition, the due 
date for any responsive pleading by the Postal Service to this notice 
is July 7, 2011.
    Application for Suspension of Determination. In addition to its 
Petition, Freehold Management Corporation filed an application for 
suspension of the Postal Service's determination (see 39 CFR 3001.114). 
Commission rules allow for the Postal Service to file an answer to such 
application within 10 days after the application is filed. The Postal 
Service shall file an answer to the application no later than July 5, 
2011.
    Availability; Web site posting. The Commission has posted the 
appeal and supporting material on its Web site at http://www.prc.gov. 
Additional filings in this case and participant's submissions will also 
be posted on the Commission's Web site, if provided in electronic 
format or amenable to conversion, and not subject to a valid protective 
order. Information on how to use the Commission's Web site is available 
online or by contacting the Commission's webmaster via telephone at 
202-789-6873 or via electronic mail at [email protected].
    The appeal and all related documents are also available for public 
inspection in the Commission's docket section. Docket section hours are 
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on Federal 
government holidays. Docket section personnel may be contacted via 
electronic mail at [email protected] or via telephone at 202-789-
6846.
    Filing of documents. All filings of documents in this case shall be 
made using the Internet (Filing Online) pursuant to Commission rules 
9(a) and 10(a) at the Commission's Web site, http://www.prc.gov, unless 
a waiver is obtained. See 39 CFR 3001.9(a) and 3001.10(a). Instructions 
for obtaining an account to file documents online may be found on the 
Commission's Web site or by contacting the Commission's docket section 
at [email protected] or via telephone at 202-789-6846.
    The Commission reserves the right to redact personal information 
which may infringe on an individual's privacy rights from documents 
filed in this proceeding.
    Intervention. Those, other than the Petitioners and respondent, 
wishing to be heard in this matter are directed to file a notice of 
intervention. See 39 CFR 3001.111(b). Notices of intervention in this 
case must be filed on or before July 25, 2011. A notice of intervention 
shall be filed using the Internet (Filing Online) at the Commission's 
Web site unless a waiver is obtained for hardcopy filing. See 39 CFR 
3001.9(a) and 3001.10(a).
    Further procedures. By statute, the Commission is required to issue 
its decision within 120 days from the date it receives the appeal. See 
39 U.S.C. 404(d)(5). A procedural schedule has been developed to 
accommodate this statutory deadline. In the interest of expedition, in 
light of the 120-day decision schedule, the Commission may request the 
Postal Service or other participants to submit information or memoranda 
of law on any appropriate issue. As required by Commission rules, if 
any motions are filed, responses are due 7 days after any such motion 
is filed. See 39 CFR 3001.21.
    It is ordered:
    1. The Postal Service shall file an answer to the application for 
suspension of the Postal Service's determination no later than July 5, 
2011.
    2. The Postal Service shall file the administrative record 
regarding this appeal no later than July 7, 2011.
    3. Any responsive pleading by the Postal Service to this notice is 
due no later than July 7, 2011.
    4. The procedural schedule listed below is hereby adopted.
    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Richard A. Oliver is designated officer 
of the Commission (Public Representative) to represent the interests of 
the general public.
    5. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this notice and 
order in the Federal Register.

                           Procedural Schedule
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June 22, 2011.....................  Filing of Appeal.
July 5, 2011......................  Deadline for the Postal Service to
                                     file answer responding to
                                     application for suspension.
July 7, 2011......................  Deadline for the Postal Service to
                                     file the administrative record in
                                     this appeal.
July 7, 2011......................  Deadline for the Postal Service to
                                     file any responsive pleading.
July 25, 2011.....................  Deadline for notices to intervene
                                     (see 39 CFR 3001.111(b)).
July 27, 2011.....................  Deadline for Petitioner's Form 61 or
                                     initial brief in support of
                                     petition (see 39 CFR 3001.115(a)
                                     and (b)).
August 16, 2011...................  Deadline for answering brief in
                                     support of the Postal Service (see
                                     39 CFR 3001.115(c)).
August 31, 2011...................  Deadline for reply briefs in
                                     response to answering briefs (see
                                     39 CFR 3001.115(d)).
September 7, 2011.................  Deadline for motions by any party
                                     requesting oral argument; the
                                     Commission will schedule oral
                                     argument only when it is a
                                     necessary addition to the written
                                     filings (see 39 CFR 3001.116).
October 20, 2011..................  Expiration of the Commission's 120-
                                     day decisional schedule (see 39
                                     U.S.C. 404(d)(5)).
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[[Page 39143]]

    By the Commission.
Shoshana M. Grove,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-16666 Filed 7-1-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P