[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 86 (Monday, May 5, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24340-24341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-11523]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Address Correction Information; Standard Mail (A)

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule sets forth the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 
standards adopted by the Postal Service to change the ancillary service 
endorsements for Standard Mail (A) that mailers use to request an 
addressee's new address and to provide the Postal Service with 
instructions on how to handle undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) mail.
    Unendorsed single-piece rate Standard Mail (A) that is 
undeliverable as addressed will be discarded by the Postal Service. An 
endorsement will be required on the piece if forwarding or return 
service is desired by the mailer. This change will benefit mailers who 
deposit large mailings of bulk rate Standard Mail (A) and do not want 
to be charged for the return of undeliverable pieces.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rocky Matthews, (202) 268-5790, or 
Neil Berger, (202) 268-2859.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 10, 1996, the Postal Service 
published for public comment in the Federal Register (61 FR 53280-
53285) a proposed rule to change the ancillary service endorsements 
that mailers use to request an addressee's new address and to provide 
the Postal Service with instructions on how to handle undeliverable-as-
addressed (UAA) mail.
    After evaluating the comments received, the Postal Service 
published a final rule on March 28, 1997, in the Federal Register (62 
FR 15056-15066) that contained three additional standards not 
previously set forth in the proposed rule:
    1. A fourth ancillary service endorsement, ``Forwarding Service 
Requested,'' is added. For First-Class Mail and Standard Mail (B), the 
optional use of this endorsement ensures that UAA pieces receive the 
same treatment accorded these classes of mail not bearing this or any 
other endorsement. For Standard Mail (A), this endorsement provides for 
the forwarding and return of mail without requiring a separate address 
correction notification.
    2. The ``Change Service Requested'' endorsement is restricted 
within First-Class Mail to electronic Address Change Service (ACS) 
participants only. This restriction is sensible, because it limits this 
service to mailers who are most likely to be familiar with the 
consequences of electing this option--that is, disposal of UAA pieces 
bearing this endorsement. The mailer receives a separate notice of an 
address change or reason for nondelivery.
    3. Unendorsed single-piece rate Standard Mail (A) that is 
undeliverable as addressed will be discarded by the Postal Service. An 
endorsement is required on the piece if forwarding or return is 
desired.
    Owing to the differences between what the Postal Service had 
proposed and what the Postal Service had published as a final rule and 
the substance of the change in the treatment of UAA single-piece rate 
Standard Mail (A), the Postal Service accepted further public comments 
for an additional 15 days (through April 14, 1997) after the final rule 
was published only on the change in treatment of UAA single-piece rate 
Standard Mail (A).
    Currently, a mailer has the option of endorsing a single-piece rate 
Standard Mail (A) piece ``Do Not Forward'' to request that the Postal 
Service discard the piece if it is undeliverable, with no forwarding, 
no return, and no address correction provided.

[[Page 24341]]

    Under the new rule, the current treatment given to pieces bearing 
the endorsement ``Do Not Forward'' will become the default method of 
handling unendorsed UAA single-piece rate Standard Mail (A). Thus, 
single-piece rate Standard Mail (A) mailers not desiring forwarding 
will be able to choose among three options:
    1. Using no endorsement, in which case a UAA piece (if uninsured) 
will be discarded if it is undeliverable;
    2. Using the endorsement ``Return Service Requested,'' in which 
case a UAA piece will be returned with the new address or reason for 
nondelivery attached, subject to return postage at the single-piece 
rate; or
    3. Using the endorsement ``Change Service Requested,'' in which 
case a UAA piece will be discarded and the mailer provided with a 
separate notice of new address or reason for nondelivery, subject to 
the address correction fee.
    No comments were received on the final rule for the treatment of 
single-piece rate Standard Mail (A). Therefore, the Postal Service 
adopts the corresponding DMM standards as published in the final rule 
on March 28, 1997, in the Federal Register (62 FR 15056-15066). For the 
convenience of the public, the Postal Service republishes the specific 
rules relating to the change in the treatment of single-piece rate 
Standard Mail (A).

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. Amend the Domestic Mail Manual as set forth below:

F  Forwarding and Related Services

F000  Basic Services

F010  Basic Information

* * * * *
[Revise the heading of 5.0 to read as follows:]

5.0  CLASS TREATMENT FOR ANCILLARY SERVICES

* * * * *

5.3  Standard Mail (A)

[Amend 5.3 by revising 5.3a, 5.3e, 5.3f, and the chart to read as 
follows:]
    Undeliverable Standard Mail (A) is treated as described in the 
chart below and under these conditions:
    a. Insured Standard Mail (A) is treated as though endorsed 
``Address Service Requested.''
* * * * *
    e. When a large volume of identical-weight pieces originates 
from a single mailer and is endorsed ``Return Service Requested,'' 
the USPS may use the weight of a sample of at least 25 pieces and 
divide that weight by the number of pieces in the sample. After the 
average per piece weight is determined, the pieces are weighed in 
bulk to determine the number of pieces subject to the single-piece 
rate for return. Pieces of identical weight counted in this manner, 
regardless of weight, are returned to the sender with the new 
address or the reason for nondelivery endorsed on the piece.
    f. The weighted fee is the appropriate Standard Mail (A) single-
piece rate, multiplied by a factor of 2.472 and rounded up to the 
next whole cent (if the computation yields a fraction of a cent). 
The weighted fee is computed (and rounded if necessary) for each 
mailpiece individually. Neither the applicable postage, the factor, 
nor any necessary rounding is applied cumulatively to multiple 
pieces. The fee is charged when an unforwardable or undeliverable 
piece is returned to the sender and the piece bears the endorsement 
``Address Service Requested'' or ``Forwarding Service Requested.'' 
Use of these endorsements obligates the sender to pay the weighted 
fee on any returns.
* * * * *

                                                Standard Mail (A)                                               
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Mailer endorsement                                   USPS Action on UAA pieces               
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
``Address Service Requested'' 1........................  Months 1 through 12: mailpiece forwarded; no charge;   
                                                          separate notice of new address provided; address      
                                                          correction fee charged.                               
                                                         Months 13 through 18: mailpiece returned with new      
                                                          address attached; only Standard Mail (A) weighted fee 
                                                          charged (address correction fee not charged).         
                                                         After month 18, or if undeliverable: mailpiece returned
                                                          with reason for nondelivery attached; only Standard   
                                                          Mail (A) weighted fee charged (address correction fee 
                                                          not charged).                                         
``Forwarding Service Requested''.......................  Months 1 through 12: mailpiece forwarded; no charge.   
                                                         Months 13 through 18: mailpiece returned with new      
                                                          address attached; only Standard Mail (A) weighted fee 
                                                          charged (address correction fee not charged).         
                                                         After month 18, or if undeliverable: mailpiece returned
                                                          with reason for nondelivery attached; only Standard   
                                                          Mail (A) weighted fee charged (address correction fee 
                                                          not charged).                                         
``Return Service Requested''...........................  Mailpiece returned with new address or reason for      
                                                          nondelivery attached; only return postage at Standard 
                                                          Mail (A) single-piece rate charged (address correction
                                                          fee not charged).                                     
``Change Service Requested'' 1.........................  Separate notice of new address or reason for           
                                                          nondelivery provided; in either case, address         
                                                          correction fee charged; mailpiece disposed of by USPS.
No endorsement.........................................  Mailpiece disposed of by USPS. (No exception for Single-
                                                          Piece Standard Mail, which must be endorsed if        
                                                          forwarding or return is desired.)                     
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Valid for all mailpieces, including Address Change Service (ACS) participating mailpieces.                  

* * * * *
    An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 will be published to 
reflect these changes.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 97-11523 Filed 5-2-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P