[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 54 (Monday, March 21, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-6313]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: March 21, 1994]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111

 

Revisions to Standards Related To Deposit and Delivery of Mail

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service proposes changes in several Domestic Mail 
Manual (DMM) standards concerning how customers' mail is deposited with 
or delivered by the Postal Service. These changes to Domestic Mail 
Manual (DMM) standards arise from suggestions presented during the 1993 
DMM redesign project.
    This proposal focuses on matters related to the deposit of mail by 
Express Mail or Priority Mail drop shipment, on the delivery of 
accountable mail, on conditions for use of post office box service and 
general delivery, and on the elimination of firm holdout service.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 5, 1994.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to Manager, 
Mailing Standards, USPS Headquarters, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., 
Washington, DC 20260-2419. Copies of all written comments will be 
available for inspection and photocopying between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, in room 5610 at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leo F. Raymond, (202) 268-5199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service proposes to make the 
following changes to the DMM.
    1. D910.1.6 and D920.1.7 and 4.6 are amended to eliminate the 
specific limitation on the number of post office boxes that may be 
assigned to one party. In place of this limit, language is added to 
allow local postmasters latitude to vary post office box service 
limitations based on local conditions. For example, if demand for boxes 
is high, the postmaster could refuse to assign additional boxes to one 
customer if the postmaster determined that other customers (such as 
those on a waiting list) would likely be unable to obtain post office 
box service as a result. Conversely, the postmaster with low demand for 
box service would be able to assign more than five boxes per customer. 
The postmaster could also use customer service expectations and mail 
volume as criteria for limiting or expanding post office box 
availability. (D920.1.6 already allows the postmaster to limit caller 
service.)
    Provisions are also added to allow customers whose mail volume 
overflows the capacity of the box(es) already assigned the option of 
applying for additional post office box service (if available) to which 
the excess volume can be addressed.
    Fees for post office box and caller service are not affected by 
these proposals.
    2. D910.4.8 and D930.1.0 are amended to allow postmasters to limit 
the use of general delivery service under specific conditions. As with 
the proposals above, these revisions are to allow postmasters 
reasonable latitude in offering service based on local conditions. It 
is not the intent of the Postal Service to deprive current or potential 
general delivery customers of access to this form of delivery service. 
Rather, this proposal seeks to allow the postmaster's assessment of 
local conditions to predicate extension or limitation of general 
delivery service in accordance with local needs.
    3. D930.2.0 is amended to eliminate firm holdout service. This 
traditional form of general delivery functionally resembles caller 
service, for which the Postal Service is entitled to a fee. Elimination 
of firm holdout service should not effectively limit customers' access 
to delivery service, nor limit their options for other forms of 
delivery: Rural or city carrier service may be used where available, 
caller service, or post office box service may be used. Current firm 
holdout customers would have the same options as other customers with 
comparable delivery needs. Firm holdout customers would not be allowed 
to redesignate themselves as general delivery customers unless the 
customer meets the eligibility criteria for general delivery service. 
If the proposal is adopted, the actual date for termination of the 
service would be set at 90 days after publication of the final rule to 
allow for an orderly adjustment of service to current firm holdout 
customers.
    4. P070.6.2 is amended to reduce the 10-day advance notice 
requirement for adding destinations to existing Express Mail or 
Priority Mail drop shipment arrangements to three business days. The 
requirement for a 10-day notice at the initiation of a drop shipment 
program is retained. While this proposal is more accommodating to 
customers, it does not change the realities that bear on revisions to 
transportation or handling of drop shipments. As a result, it remains 
both reasonable and necessary for the Postal Service to continue to 
require at least three business days advance notice, and for drop 
shipment customers to be as timely and informative as possible about 
their service needs to ensure that those needs can be met.
    5. D500, S911.4.0, S912.3.0, S913.3.0, S915.3.0, S916.3.0, 
S917.3.0, and S921.4.0 are amended to relocate common requirements to 
new D042.1.7. That section includes a proposed new standard that 
requires the person signing for an item to print as well as sign his or 
her name. This proposed change will apply to Express Mail and mail 
receiving registered, certified, insured, return receipt, restricted 
delivery, return receipt for merchandise, and COD service, and is 
intended to improve the usefulness of the record of delivery that 
demonstrates that the mail was delivered and the service rendered. 
Whether on a Postal Service delivery record or on a receipt returned to 
the sender, an illegible signature may compromise the value of the 
service for which the sender paid; the proposed new standard is 
designed to avoid that potential problem. Because most persons can 
provide a printed name that is more legible than their handwritten 
signature, the Postal Service believes the former will be valuable to 
the sender in those instances when it becomes necessary to identify the 
person who received an accountable mailpiece. Concurrently, the 
proposed language in D042.1.7 consolidates and standardizes generally 
preexisting language, and includes a definition of ``recipient,'' a 
description of limitations on the recipient's access to the mail prior 
to delivery, and a notice that positive identification might be 
required by the Postal Service when the recipient is not known to the 
Postal Service employee delivering the item. To allow for an orderly 
implementation of those provisions that represent new requirements, if 
adopted, the actual date for their implementation would be set at 90 
days after publication of the final rule.
    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 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, 5001.

    2. Revise the following units of the Domestic Mail Manual as noted 
below:

D042  CONDITIONS OF DELIVERY

1.0  General Conditions

* * * * *

1.7  Express Mail and Accountable Mail

    The following specific conditions also apply to the delivery of 
Express Mail and accountable mail (registered, certified, insured for 
more than $50, or COD, as well as mail for which a return receipt or a 
return receipt for merchandise is requested or for which the sender has 
specified restricted delivery):
    a. The recipient (addressee or addressee's representative) may 
obtain the sender's name and address, and may look at the mailpiece 
while held by the USPS employee before accepting delivery and endorsing 
the delivery receipt.
    b. The mailpiece must not be opened or given to the recipient 
before the recipient signs and legibly prints his or her name on the 
delivery receipt (and return receipt, if applicable) and returns the 
receipt(s) to the USPS employee.
    c. Suitable identification can be required of the recipient (if not 
known to the USPS employee) before delivery of the article.
    d. When delivery is not restricted at the sender's request, mail 
addressed to a person at a hotel, apartment house, etc., may be 
delivered to any person in a supervisory or clerical position to whom 
mail for that location is usually delivered.
    e. USPS responsibility ends at the time the article is delivered to 
the recipient (or another party subject to 1.7d and 2.0 through 8.0).
    f. Notices are left for articles that cannot be delivered. If an 
article is not called for or redelivery is not requested, the article 
is returned to the sender after 15 days (30 days for COD) unless the 
sender specifies fewer days on the mail.
    g. A stamp approved by the postmaster may be used to provide the 
signature and name of the individual or organization receiving the 
article. To obtain approval for such a stamp, the company must submit a 
written statement to the postmaster that the person whose name appears 
on the stamp is the same as the person who is authorized to accept 
accountable mail, accompanied by a sample of the authorized employee's 
signature that can be verified against that appearing on the stamp. (On 
mail addressed to a federal or state official, the stamp need only show 
the name and location of the accepting organization.) After approval, 
the stamped signature and name are acceptable only if a clean legible 
impression is provided.
* * * * *

D500  EXPRESS MAIL

* * * * *

4.0  Delivery

    Delivery of Express Mail is subject to the standards in D042.
* * * * *

D910  POST OFFICE BOX SERVICE

1.0  Basic Information

* * * * *

1.6  Limitation on Service

    The postmaster may require a boxholder to use caller service based 
on the volume of mail received by the customer, the level of service 
requested by the customer, or the availability of boxes to meet demand. 
Existing post office box customers will not be allowed to use 
additional boxes at post offices having a waiting list for post office 
boxes. Not more than once per semiannual payment period, a customer who 
was required to use caller service based on the volume of mail received 
may submit a written request to the postmaster for a new determination 
of whether sufficient volume remains to still require use of caller 
service.
* * * * *

3.0  Use

* * * * *

3.5  Overflow

    When mail for a customer's post office box(es) exceeds the capacity 
of the box(es) on 12 of any 20 consecutive business days (excluding 
Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays), the customer must use 
caller service, change to a larger box, or use one or more additional 
boxes (subject to availability) to which mail will be addressed.
* * * * *

4.0  Fees

* * * * *

4.8  General Delivery

    [Replace the second sentence with the following:]
    For other customers, general delivery may be provided subject to 
the standards for that service.
* * * * *

D920  CALLER SERVICE

1.0  Basic Information

* * * * *

1.7  Uses

    Subject to D910, when mail for a customer's post office box(es) 
exceeds the capacity of the box(es) on 12 of any 20 consecutive 
business days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays), or 
when the customer seeks multiple caller service separations, the 
postmaster can require the customer to use caller service, change to a 
larger box, or use one or more additional boxes (subject to 
availability) to which mail will be addressed. Not more than once per 
semiannual payment period, a customer who was required to use caller 
service based on the volume of mail received may submit a written 
request to the postmaster for a new determination of whether sufficient 
volume remains to still require use of caller service.
* * * * *

4.0  Fees

* * * * *

4.6  Box Numbers

    [Delete the last sentence.]
* * * * *

D930  GENERAL DELIVERY

1.0  Basic Information

1.1  Purpose

    General delivery is intended for use primarily at:
    a. Post offices without carrier delivery service.
    b. Non-city delivery offices for customers who prefer not to use 
post office box service and for whom use of post office box or caller 
service, or delivery by carrier, would be an unreasonable 
inconvenience.
    c. Any post office to serve transients and customers not 
permanently located.

1.2  Restrictions on Service

    Postmasters may restrict the use of general delivery by customers:
    a. Who cannot present suitable identification.
    b. At post offices having city carrier service, even if customers 
neither advise the post office of their delivery address nor obtain 
post office box or caller service.
    c. Whose volume of mail or level of service (e.g., holding mail) 
cannot be reasonably accommodated.

1.3  Delivery to Addressee

    General delivery customers can be required to present suitable 
identification before mail is given to them.

1.4  Holding Mail

    General delivery mail is held for no more than 30 days, unless a 
shorter period is requested by the sender. Subject to 1.2, general 
delivery mail may be held for longer periods if requested by the sender 
or addressee.

2.0  Firm Holdouts

    [Delete the section.]

P072  EXPRESS MAIL AND PRIORITY MAIL DROP SHIPMENT

    [Note: P072.1.2 will be renumbered P070.6.2 in DMM issue 47 (4-10-
94).]

1.0  Permits and Authorizations

* * * * *

1.2  Listing Destination Offices

    [In the second sentence, replace ``10 workdays'' with ``3 business 
days.'']
* * * * *

S911  REGISTERED MAIL

* * * * *

4.0  Delivery Conditions

4.1  Basic Conditions

    Delivery of registered mail is subject to the standards in D042. 
The postmaster can require the addressee to call for registered mail at 
the post office if delivery by carrier would not be safe.
    [Delete existing 4.2 (the deleted material is relocated to 
D042.1.7); renumber 4.3 as 4.2.]
* * * * *

S912  CERTIFIED MAIL

* * * * *

3.0  Delivery

    [Replace existing 3.1 and 3.2 with the following:]
    Delivery of certified mail is subject to the standards in D042.
* * * * *

S913  INSURED MAIL

* * * * *


3.0  Delivery

    [Replace existing 3.1 and 3.2 with the following:]
    A parcel insured for $50 or less is delivered as ordinary mail. 
Delivery of insured mail is subject to the standards in D042.
* * * * *

S915  RETURN RECEIPTS

* * * * *

3.0  Delivery

    [Replace existing 3.1 and 3.2 with the following:]
    Delivery of mail for which a return receipt is requested is subject 
to the standards in D042.
* * * * *

S916  RESTRICTED DELIVERY

* * * * *

3.0  Delivery

3.1  Conditions

    [At the end of the first sentence, replace ``except that'' with 
``subject to D042 and these exceptions.'']
* * * * *

S917  RETURN RECEIPT FOR MERCHANDISE

* * * * *

3.0  Delivery

    [Replace existing 3.1 with the following:]
    Delivery of return receipt for merchandise mail is subject to the 
standards in D042.
* * * * *

S921  COLLECT ON DELIVERY (COD) MAIL

* * * * *

4.0  Delivery

    [Delete existing 4.2 and 4.3; renumber existing 4.1 and 4.4 as 4.2 
and 4.3; insert new 4.1 as follows:]

4.1  Basic Conditions

    Delivery of COD mail is subject to the standards in D042.
* * * * *
    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. 94-6313 Filed 3-18-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-U