[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48191-48193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24306]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Presort Requirements for Periodicals Mail
AGENCY: Postal Service.
[[Page 48192]]
ACTION: Proposed Rule.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service plans to add an SCF sack level to the
presort requirements for Periodicals automation and nonautomation
mailings of nonletter-size pieces. An SCF package level will not be
added. Only 5-digit and 3-digit packages will be permitted in the SCF
sack. SCF sacks will be prepared after 5-digit and 3-digit sacks, and
prior to preparing ADC sacks.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 15, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mail
Preparation and Standards, USPS Headquarters, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW,
Room 6800, Washington, DC 20260-2405. Copies of all written comments
will be available at the above address for inspection and photocopying
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn M. Martin, (202) 268-6351.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 1, 1996, the Postal Service
eliminated the optional preparation of SCF packages and sacks as part
of the streamlining of presort requirements under Classification
Reform. Some Periodicals mailers have indicated that they believe that
the inability to sack mail to the SCF level has affected the service of
their publications. Many mailers of Periodicals publications have been
preparing 3-digit sacks that contain fewer than the required 24 pieces,
to ensure good levels of service. This results in increased sack usage
by mailers and increased sack handlings by the Postal Service.
Reinstating SCF sacks would allow Periodicals mailers to direct sacks
to the applicable processing plant for service reasons without having
to prepare ``skin'' 3-digit sacks, and also provide the opportunity for
the Postal Service to receive mail sorted to a finer level than an area
distribution center (ADC) sack.
Accordingly, the Postal Service is proposing reinstate, for only
non-letter-size Periodicals publications, an SCF sack that would be
prepared after all required 5-digit and 3-digit sacks, and prior to
preparing required ADC sacks. It is proposed that preparation of the
SCF sack would be optional for the period beginning on the date the
final rule regarding this notice is published and ending on the
effective date of the preparation rules that are placed in effect as a
result of the Docket No. R97-1 rate case proceedings. Upon
implementation of the preparation rules resulting from the rate case
proceedings, it is proposed that preparation of the SCF sack would
become mandatory.
Preparation of an SCF package will not be permitted under this
planned rule change. An SCF package would increase piece distribution
for the Postal Service. Accordingly, SCF sacks would be permitted to
contain only 5-digit and 3-digit packages.
For nonautomation rate mailings, mail in SCF sacks would be
eligible for the basic per-piece rates. For SCF sacks in automation
rate mailings, 5-digit and unique 3-digit packages of 6 or more pieces
would qualify for the 3/5 automation rate, and nonunique 3-digit
packages as well as 5-digit and 3-digit packages of fewer than 6 pieces
would qualify for the basic automation per piece rates.
For the interim period when preparation of SCF sacks will be
optional, mailers who choose to prepare SCF sacks must prepare them for
each SCF in the mailing for which there are 24 or more pieces of mail
prepared in 5-digit and/or 3-digit packages. At the mailer's option SCF
sacks may also be prepared that contain fewer pieces (a minimum of one
package).
The standard to prepare required origin/optional entry 3-digit
sacks will not apply to Periodicals publications for which SCF sacks
are prepared. Instead, mailers opting to prepare SCF sacks must prepare
required origin/optional entry SCF sacks. At the time SCF sacks become
a required level of sortation, the standard to prepare required origin/
optional entry 3-digit sacks will be deleted and preparation of
required origin/optional entry SCF sacks will become the new standard.
Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)) regarding proposed
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invites comments on
the following proposed revisions of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM),
incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39
CFR part 111.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
Postal Service.
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, 3001-
3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.
2. Revise the following sections of the Domestic Mail Manual as set
forth below:
M Mail Preparation and Sortation
M000 General Preparation Standards
M010 Mailpieces
M011 Basic Standards
1.0 TERMS AND CONDITIONS
* * * * *
1.2 Presort Levels
[Redesignate current 1.2j through 1.2m as 1.2k through 1.2n
respectively; insert new 1.2j to read as follows:]
j. Origin/optional entry SCF: The separation includes packages for
one or more 3-digit areas served by the same sectional center facility
(SCF) (see L005) in whose service area the mail is verified/entered.
Subject to standard, this separation is required regardless of the
volume of mail.
* * * * *
1.3 Preparation Instructions
[Redesignate current 1.3j through 1.3p as 1.3k through 1.3q
respectively; insert new 1.3j to read as follows:]
j. An origin/optional entry SCF sack contains all 5-digit and 3-
digit packages (regardless of quantity) for the SCF in whose service
area the mail is verified. At the mailer's option such a sack may be
prepared for the SCF area of each entry post office. This presort level
applies only to non-letter-size Periodicals prepared in sacks.
* * * * *
M030 Containers
* * * * *
M032 Barcoded Labels
1.0 BASIC STANDARDS--TRAY AND SACK LABELS
* * * * *
1.3 Content Line (Line 2)
[Amend Exhibit 1.3a by inserting the following between 3-digit
sacks and ADC sacks for PER Flats--Automation to read as follows:]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Human readable content
Class and mailing CIN line
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PER Flats-Automation
* * * * *
SCF sacks............................. 377 PER FLTS SCF BC
* * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Amend Exhibit 1.3a by inserting the following between 3-digit
sacks and ADC sacks for PER Flats--3/5 and Basic to read as follows:]
[[Page 48193]]
PER Flats--3/5 and Basic
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Human readable content
Class and mailing CIN line
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
SCF sacks............................. 384 PER FLTS SCF NON BC
* * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Amend Exhibit 1.3a by inserting the following between 3-digit
sacks and ADC sacks for NEWS Flats--Automation to read as follows:]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Human readable content
Class and mailing CIN line
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS Flats-Automation
* * * * *
SCF sacks............................. 477 NEWS FLTS SCF BC
* * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Amend Exhibit 1.3a by inserting the following between 3-digit
sacks and ADC sacks for NEWS Flats--3/5 and Basic to read as follows:]
NEWS Flats--3/5 and Basic
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Human readable content
Class and mailing CIN line
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
SCF sacks............................. 484 NEWS FLTS SCF NON BC
* * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
M200 Periodicals (Nonautomation)
1.0 BASIC STANDARDS
* * * * *
1.5 Low-Volume Packages and Sacks
As a general exception to 2.4b through 2.4d and 3.1a through 3.1e,
non-letter-size Periodicals may be prepared in packages containing
fewer than six pieces, and in sacks containing as few as one such
package, when the publisher determines that such preparation improves
service. These low-volume packages may be placed on 5-digit, 3-digit,
and SCF pallets under M045.
1.6 Optional SCF Sack
Mailers of non-letter-size Periodicals have the option to prepare
an SCF sack level. If mailers choose to prepare SCF sacks, they must
prepare them for all SCF destinations in the mailing for which there
are 24 or more pieces prepared in 5-digit or 3-digit packages, under
3.1. When SCF sacks are prepared, required origin/optional entry 3-
digit sacks must not be prepared and required origin/optional entry SCF
sacks must be prepared.
3.0 SACK PREPARATION (FLAT-SIZE PIECES AND IRREGULAR PARCELS)
3.1 Sack Preparation
[Redesignate current 3.1e and 3.1f as 3.1f and 3.1g respectively;
insert new 3.1e to read as follows:]
Sack size, preparation sequence, and Line 1 labeling:
* * * * *
e. Optional SCF: required at 24 pieces (no minimum for required
origin/optional entry SCF), optional with one six-piece package minimum
except under 1.5; for Line 1, use L002, Column C.
* * * * *
M820 Flat-Size Mail
1.0 BASIC STANDARDS
* * * * *
1.7 Exception-Periodicals
As a general exception to 3.1a, 3.1b, and 3.2a through 3.2c,
Periodicals may be prepared in packages containing fewer than six
pieces, and in sacks containing as few as one such package, when the
publisher determines that such preparation improves service. These low-
volume packages may be placed on 5-digit, 3-digit, and SCF pallets
under M045.
1.8 Optional SCF Sack--Periodicals
Mailers of Periodicals have the option to prepare an SCF sack
level. If mailers choose to prepare SCF sacks, they must prepare them
for all SCF destinations in the mailing for which there are 24 or more
pieces prepared in 5-digit or 3-digit packages, under 3.2. When SCF
sacks are prepared, required origin/optional entry 3-digit sacks must
not be prepared and required origin/optional entry SCF sacks must be
prepared.
* * * * *
3.0 PERIODICALS
* * * * *
3.2 Sack Preparation
[Renumber 3.2c and 3.2d as 3.2d and 3.2e respectively; add new 3.1c
to read as follows:]
Sack size, preparation sequence, and Line 1 labeling:
* * * * *
c. Optional SCF: required at 24 pieces (no minimum for required
origin/optional entry SCF), optional with one six-piece package minimum
except under 1.7; for Line 1, use L002, Column C.
* * * * *
An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 to reflect these changes
will be published if the proposal is adopted.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 97-24306 Filed 9-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P