[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60180-60181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29405]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Ancillary Service Endorsements for Perishable Contents
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This final rule extends the use of the endorsement ``Change
Service Requested'' to Priority Mail pieces containing perishable
articles (excluding live animals) under two conditions: the mail
participates in Address Change Service (ACS) and the pieces bear the
proper ACS codes, and the pieces bear the appropriate endorsement for
change service and the endorsement ``Perishable.'' This final rule also
precludes use of the endorsement ``Change Service Requested'' with
matter mailed at First-Class rates that contains live animals.
DATES: This final rule is effective on November 7, 1997. Comments must
be received on or before December 8, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Address
Management, National Customer Support Center, 6060 Primacy Pkwy STE
201, Memphis TN 38188-0001. 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: Audrey Conley, (901) 681-4474.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) F010.5.1,
electronic Address Change Service (ACS) mailers may opt to receive a
notice of new address or reason for nondelivery by placing the
endorsement ``Change Service Requested'' on prescribed subclasses of
First-Class Mail. Consistent with DMM F010.5.1, undeliverable as
addressed (UAA) pieces bearing this endorsement are disposed of by the
Postal Service. Under present standards, the ``Change Service
Requested'' endorsement is available
[[Page 60181]]
only for First-Class Mail letters and sealed parcels and stamped and
postcard subclass mail for which electronic ACS service has been
elected. DMM F010.5.1 expressly provides that this endorsement option
is not available in conjunction with Priority Mail.
Since the implementation of the ``Change Service Requested'' option
on July 1, 1997, the Postal Service has received requests from mailers
of perishable articles, such as fruits, to have the ``Change Service
Requested'' endorsement apply to Priority Mail pieces. Some mailers of
such items indicate that they would prefer that UAA pieces whose
contents include perishables be destroyed, rather than returned or
forwarded, because such items may spoil before reaching the addressee
at a new address or the sender if returned. This measure would,
moreover, improve customer satisfaction for these mailers, in that they
would acquire the information that they need to send a fresh
replacement to an addressee at a new address, if appropriate, in lieu
of having spoiled contents forwarded to the addressee or returned to
sender. This measure also benefits the Postal Service by eliminating
the need to forward or return pieces containing perishable items which
would be of no use or value to either the sender or the recipient.
To accommodate mailers of perishable items, the Postal Service has
determined to extend the availability of the ``Change Service
Requested'' endorsement option to Priority Mail pieces that also bear
the marking ``Perishable'' and for which electronic ACS service has
been elected. Since this option is available only to ACS mailers and
only for Priority Mail pieces bearing the additional ``perishable''
marking, and given that the use of this endorsement is already
permitted for pieces sent via letters and sealed parcels, it is
reasonable to conclude that all mailers who elect this option will be
aware of the nature of the service provided and the consequences in the
event a piece bearing the endorsement is undeliverable as addressed.
This change is accordingly effective immediately.
The Postal Service is also amending DMM F010.5.1 for consistency
with DMM C022.3.10 and C022.3.12, which establish procedures for
acceptance and handling of mail-pieces containing mailable live
animals. The Postal Service does not intend that the handling
procedures for the endorsement ``Change Service Requested'' replace
those established for accepting, marking, and handling, of mail
containing live animals; consequently, DMM F010.5.1 is amended to
preclude mailers from electing the ``Change Service Requested'' option
for mail pieces containing live, mailable animals.
The Postal Service is soliciting comments on this 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 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, 3001-3011,
3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.
2. Revise the following sections of the Domestic Mail Manual as set
forth below:
F FORWARDING AND RELATED SERVICES
F010 Basic Information
* * * * *
5.0 CLASS TREATMENT FOR ANCILLARY SERVICES
5.1 Priority Mail and First-Class Mail
[Revise the ``Change Service Requested'' portion of the table in
5.1 to read as follows:]
* * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
``Change Service Requested''...... Separate notice of new address or
reason for nondelivery provided; in
either case, address correction fee
charged, piece disposed of by USPS.
Use of this endorsement is limited
to mail participating in electronic
Address Change Service (ACS). It
may be used only for: (1) pieces
mailed at First-Class rates
(excluding live animals) that bear
the proper ACS codes, and (2) mail
pieces mailed at Priority Mail
rates that contain perishable
matter (excluding live animals),
bear the proper ACS codes, and that
bear the endorsement
``Perishable.''
This endorsement must not be used
for mail with special services
(e.g., certified or registered
mail) or for Priority Mail
containing non-perishable matter,
or for any mail that contains live
animals.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
F030 Address Correction, Address Change, FASTforward
SM, and Return Services
* * * * *
5.0 RETURNING MAIL
* * * * *
5.3 Express Mail, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail
[Amend 5.3 to read as follows:]
Undeliverable-as-addressed mail pieces sent as Express Mail,
Priority Mail, and First-Class Mail (including stamped cards and
postcards) that cannot be forwarded or delivered as addressed are
returned when possible to the sender at no additional charge.
Exception: First-Class Mail pieces, and Priority Mail pieces containing
perishable contents, that bear the endorsement ``Change Service
Requested'' and that cannot be forwarded or delivered as addressed and
that do not contain live animals are disposed of by the USPS. Mail of
all other classes may be returned to the sender if appropriately
endorsed to guarantee return postage.
* * * * *
An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 will be published to
reflect these changes.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 97-29405 Filed 11-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P