[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 120 (Thursday, June 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15323]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 23, 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: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule amends Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) standards 
concerning how customers' mail is deposited with or delivered by the 
Postal Service, to improve the consistency and efficiency of delivery 
options.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 3, 1994.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 21, 1994, the Postal Service 
published for public comment several proposed changes to DMM standards 
related to the deposit of mail by Express Mail or Priority Mail drop 
shipment, the delivery of accountable mail, conditions for use of post 
office box service and general delivery, and the elimination of firm 
holdout service. (59 FR 13287-13289). The Postal Service received no 
comments on the proposed rule and, consequently, hereby adopts the 
proposed standards as a final rule. The revised standards include:
    1. Amendments to DMM D910.1.6, D920.1.7, and D920.4.6 to eliminate 
the specific limitation on the number of post office boxes that may be 
assigned to one party and replace it with language to allow local 
postmasters the latitude to vary post office box service limitations 
based on local conditions. 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.
    2. Revisions to DMM D910.4.8 and D930.1.0 to allow postmasters to 
limit the use of general delivery service based on local conditions.
    3. Removal of DMM D930.2.0 to eliminate firm holdout service. 
Current firm holdout customers would have the same options as other 
customers with comparable delivery needs. Firm holdout customers will 
not be allowed to redesignate themselves as general delivery customers 
unless the customer meets the eligibility criteria for general delivery 
service. The actual date for termination of the service is October 2, 
1994, to allow for an orderly adjustment of service to current firm 
holdout customers.
    4. Amendment of DMM P070.6.2 to reduce the 10-day advance notice 
requirement for adding destinations to existing Express Mail or 
Priority Mail drop shipment arrangements to 3 business days. The 
requirement for a 10-day notice at the initiation of a drop shipment 
program is retained.
    5. Revisions to DMM D500, S911.4.0, S912.3.0, S913.3.0, S915.3.0, 
S916.3.0, S917.3.0, and S921.4.0 to relocate common requirements to new 
DMM D042.1.7, which includes a new standard that requires the person 
signing for an item to print as well as sign his or her name. This 
change applies to Express Mail and mail receiving registered, 
certified, insured, return receipt, restricted delivery, return receipt 
for merchandise, and COD service. Concurrently, the language in DMM 
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 can 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, the actual date for their 
implementation is October 2, 1994.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Postal Service.

    For the reasons discussed above, the Postal Service hereby adopts 
the following amendments to the Domestic Mail Manual, which is 
incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations (see 39 
CFR part 111).

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 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 require continued 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 require continued 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.]
* * * * *

P070  Mixed Classes

    [Note: The revision below is to DMM Issue 47 (4-10-94); the 
revised section was shown as P072.1.2 in the proposed rule, based on 
DMM Issue 46 that was in effect at that time.]
* * * * *
6.0  EXPRESS MAIL AND PRIORITY MAIL DROP SHIPMENT
* * * * *

6.2  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.
* * * * *
    A transmittal letter making these changes in the pages of the 
Domestic Mail Manual will be published and will be transmitted to 
subscribers automatically. Notice of issuance will be published in the 
Federal Register as provided by 39 CFR 111.3.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 94-15323 Filed 6-22-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P