[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]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Loading Requirements for PVDS Mailings
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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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