[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 246 (Thursday, December 23, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 72044-72045]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33339]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Loading Requirements for PVDS Mailings

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Postal Service is seeking comments on a proposed revision 
to the Domestic Mail Manual to require that if Periodicals mail is on 
the same vehicle as Standard Mail prepared for Plant Verified Drop 
Shipment (PVDS), then the Periodicals mail must be loaded toward the 
tail of the vehicle so that, for each destination entry, Periodicals 
mail can be offloaded first.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 24, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to the 
Manager, Mail Preparation and Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 
L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 6800, Washington DC 20260-2405. Copies of all 
written comments will be available for inspection and photocopying at 
USPS Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor N, 
Washington DC 20260-1540 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through 
Friday. Photocopies cost $0.15 per page.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn Martin, (202) 268-6351 or Anne 
Emmerth, (202) 268-2363.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service has been working closely 
with the National Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) 
Periodicals Service Improvement Team to resolve service issues related 
to the processing and delivery of Periodicals mail. One item discussed 
in these meetings was the proper positioning of Periodicals mail in 
vehicles when it is part of a mixed load (i.e., loaded in the same 
vehicle as Standard Mail) for destination entry. For service reasons, 
the Postal Service generally handles Periodicals mail before Standard 
Mail. Some members of the National Periodicals Service Improvement Team 
were in favor of adding a requirement mandating that, for vehicles 
containing both Standard Mail and Periodicals mail prepared for 
destination entry, the Periodicals mail be loaded toward the tail of 
the vehicle to allow the Periodicals mail to be offloaded first. This 
could improve service and also allow the Postal Service to more readily 
track the arrival and unloading of the Periodicals mail. This issue was 
also recently discussed at a Periodicals Advisory Group (PAG) meeting, 
which consisted of both publishers and printers. The PAG also voiced a 
majority opinion in support of a policy that would require such loading 
of vehicles containing both Periodicals and Standard Mail.
    In view of the support expressed by a number of Periodicals 
publishers and printers, the Postal Service is hereby soliciting 
comments on a proposed Domestic Mail Manual revision for PVDS mail to 
require that if Periodicals mail is on the same vehicle as Standard 
Mail, then the Periodicals mail must be loaded toward the tail of the 
vehicle so

[[Page 72045]]

that, for each destination entry, Periodicals mail can be offloaded 
first.
    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

    Administrative practice and procedure, 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, 414, 
3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.

    2. Amend the following sections of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 
as set forth below:

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

E  Eligibility

* * * * *

E600  Standard Mail

* * * * *

E651  Regular, Nonprofit, and Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail

* * * * *
2.0 VERIFICATION
* * * * *

2.2  Mail Separation and Presentation

    [Revise item 2.2c to read as follows:]
    c. For destination entry of PVDS mail, if Periodicals mail is on 
the same vehicle as Standard Mail (A), then the Periodicals mail must 
be loaded toward the tail of the vehicle so that, for each destination 
entry, Periodicals mail can be offloaded first.
* * * * *

E652  Parcel Post

* * * * *
4.0  DEPOSIT
* * * * *

4.2  Mail Separation and Presentation

    [Revise item 4.2e to read as follows:]
    e. For destination entry of PVDS mail, if Periodicals mail is on 
the same vehicle as Parcel Post, then the Periodicals mail must be 
loaded toward the tail of the vehicle so that, for each destination 
entry, Periodicals mail can be offloaded first.
* * * * *

P750  Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS)

* * * * *
2.0  PROGRAM PARTICIPATION
* * * * *
    [Amend 2.12 to add the following as the next to last sentence:]

2.12  Mailer Transport of PVDS

    * * * If Periodicals mail is on the same vehicle as Standard Mail, 
then the Periodicals mail must be loaded toward the tail of the vehicle 
so that, for each destination entry, Periodicals mail can be offloaded 
first. * * *
    [Amend 2.13 to add the following as the last sentence:]

2.13  Separation of PVDS Mailings

    * * * If Periodicals mail is on the same vehicle as Standard Mail, 
then the Periodicals mail must be loaded toward the tail of the vehicle 
so that, for each destination entry, Periodicals mail can be offloaded 
first.
    An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 will be published to 
reflect these changes if the proposal is adopted.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 99-33339 Filed 12-22-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P