[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 48 (Friday, March 10, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12946-12948]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5962]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Changes in Procedures for Standard Mail Destination Entry 
Mailings

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service, after considering the written responses to 
its proposed rule published in the Federal Register on December 22, 
1999 (64 FR 71702-71704), requesting public comment on proposed 
amendments to the Domestic Mail Manual, gives notice that it is 
implementing amendments to procedures for Standard Mail Destination 
Entry Mailings.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 12, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: RoseMarie Gay (202) 268-7810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 22, 1999, the Postal Service 
published in the Federal Register (64 FR 71702-71704) a proposal to 
amend the Domestic Mail Manual procedures for setting appointments for 
mailings of Standard Mail (A) and Standard Mail (B) from once a month 
to once a week for recurring appointments.
    In addition, the Postal Service proposed that if a mailer requests 
an appointment at a destination delivery unit (DDU) for a Standard Mail 
(A) or Standard Mail (B) mailing, then the 5-digit ZIP Codes of the 
mail being deposited must be provided at the time of request. Also, 
consistent with current standards for Standard Mail (A), a

[[Page 12947]]

change was proposed to provide for the redirection of Standard Mail 
(B).

Response to Comments

    The Postal Service requested comments by January 21, 2000. Two 
comments were received from the mailing industry.
    One mailer commented that there was no mention of how postage will 
be adjusted and calculated when mail is redirected by the Postal 
Service. The Postal Service will recalculate postage according to 
Domestic Mail Manual section E613.2.2.
    The mailer also commented that there was no mention of destination 
delivery unit (DDU) appointments made by using the Drop Shipment 
Appointment System (DSAS). The commenter also questioned if mailers can 
make DDU appointments using DSAS and, if DSAS appointments are allowed, 
whether the procedures are different when contacting the DDU via DSAS.
    In response, the Postal Service notes that this comment is beyond 
the scope of the Federal Register notice; however, the commenter should 
be aware that the procedures for making DDU appointments have not 
changed.
    One other mailer agreed with the change of frequency from once a 
month to once a week. The mailer also suggested that DSAS be changed so 
that if a recurring appointment is made ``x'' days in advance, DSAS 
would require reconfirmation of the appointment two days prior to the 
appointment date. If the appointment is not reconfirmed within the 
assigned time period, then that time slot would be available for 
others. Currently, the DSAS system cannot perform this function, and 
adding this feature would require enhancements to this system. Due to 
considerable expense involved, the Postal Service has determined not to 
add this enhancement to the system at this time.
    This mailer also commented on the error rate of DDU addresses and 
asked that DDU acceptance hours be expanded. An additional comment by 
this mailer was that DDU acceptance hours be expanded. These comments 
are beyond the scope of this Federal Register notice and need not be 
addressed.
    The new amendments become effective on March 12, 2000. Until that 
date, mailers must follow current mailing standards.
    Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedures Act (5 U.S.C. 553 (b), (c)) regarding 
rulemaking by 39 USC 410, the Postal Service hereby gives notice of the 
following revisions to the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by 
reference in the Code of Federal Regulations (see CFR Part 111).

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure.

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 Domestic Mail Manual as set forth below:

E Eligibility

* * * * *

E600  Standard Mail

* * * * *

E650  Destination Entry

E651  Regular, Nonprofit, and Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail

* * * * *
3.0  DEPOSIT
* * * * *
    (Redesignate 3.3 through 3.11 as 3.4 through 3.12 respectively; add 
new 3.3 to read as follows:)

3.3  Appointments

    Appointments must be made for destination entry rate mail as 
follows:
    a. Except for a local mailer under 4.0 and mailings of perishable 
commodities, appointments for deposit of destination entry rate mail at 
BMCs, ASFs, and SCFs must be scheduled through the appropriate 
appointment control center at least one business day in advance. Same-
day appointments may be granted by a control center only through a 
telephone request. All appointments for BMC loads must be scheduled by 
the appropriate BMC control center. Appointments for SCFs and ASFs must 
be scheduled through the appropriate district control center. 
Appointments may be made up to 30 calendar days before a desired 
appointment date. The mailer must adhere to the scheduled mail deposit 
time and location. The mailer must cancel any appointment by notifying 
the appropriate control center at least 24 hours in advance of a 
scheduled appointment.
    b. Electronic appointments may be made by a mailer or agent using a 
USPS-issued computer logon ID. Electronic appointments or cancellations 
must be made at least 12 hours before the desired time and date. All 
information required by the USPS appointment system regarding a mailing 
must be provided.
    c. For deposit of DDU mailings, an appointment must be made by 
contacting the DDU at least 24 hours in advance. If the appointment 
must be canceled, the mailer must notify the DDU at least one business 
day in advance of a scheduled appointment. Recurring appointments are 
allowed if shipment frequency is once a week or more often.
    d. When Periodicals are transported together with Standard Mail (A) 
or Standard Mail (B) as a mixed load (E250), an appointment must be 
obtained for deposit at a destination entry facility.
    (Revise heading of redesignated 3.4 to read as follows:)

3.4  Advance Scheduling

    (Amend 3.4 by revising 3.4a, b, c, and d to read as follows:)
    Except under 4.0, a mailer must schedule deposit of destination 
rate mailings at least 24 hours in advance by contacting the proper 
district or BMC control center or destination delivery unit. 
Appointments at delivery units must be made by calling the delivery 
unit at least 24 hours in advance. Appointments for ASFs, SCFs, or for 
any multistop loads must be made through the USPS district control 
center. Appointments for BMC loads must be scheduled by the proper BMC 
control center. When making an appointment, or as soon as available, 
the mailer must provide the control center or DDU with the following 
information:
    a. Mailer's name and address and, when applicable, the name and 
telephone number of the mailer's agent or local contact.
    b. Description of what is being mailed, product name, number of 
mailings, volume of mail, how prepared, and whether containerized 
(e.g., pallets). For DDU entries, the mailer also must provide the 5-
digit ZIP Code(s) of the mail being deposited.
    c. Where mailing was verified.
    d. Postage payment method.
* * * * *

3.6  Redirection by USPS

    (Revise redesignated 3.6 to read as follows:)
    A mailer may be directed to transport destination entry rate 
mailings to a facility other than the designated DDU, SCF, or BMC due 
to facility restrictions, building expansions, peak season mail 
volumes, or emergency constraints.
* * * * *
    (Amend heading of 3.8 by changing ``standing'' to ``recurring'' to 
read as follows:)

[[Page 12948]]

3.8  Recurring Appointments

    (Revise redesignated 3.8 to read as follows:)
    A mailer may request recurring appointments, renewable for a 6-
month period, by writing to the BMC control center or the district 
control center that administers the service area in which the 
destination facility is located. The mailer must present comparable 
mailings (by product and volume) on a consistent frequency of at least 
once a week. Failure to adhere to scheduled appointment procedures can 
cause revocation of the recurring appointment.
* * * * *

E652  Parcel Post

* * * * *
4.0  DEPOSIT
* * * * *
    (Redesignate current 4.6 through 4.11 as 4.7 through 4.12, 
respectively; add new 4.6 to read as follows:)

4.6  Redirection by USPS

    With the exception of mail deposited under 1.3e, a mailer may be 
directed to transport destination entry rate mailings to a facility 
other than the designated DDU, SCF, or BMC due to facility 
restrictions, building expansions, peak season mail volumes, or 
emergency constraints.
    (Revise heading of redesignated 4.7 to read as follows:)

4.7  Advance Scheduling

    (Amend redesignated 4.7b by adding second sentence to read as 
follows:)
    When making an appointment, or as soon as available, the mailer 
must provide the control center or DDU with the following information:
* * * * *
    b. Description of what is being mailed, product name, number of 
mailings, volume of mail, how prepared, and whether containerized 
(e.g., pallets). For DDU entries, the mailer also must provide the 5-
digit ZIP Code(s) of the mail being deposited.
* * * * *

4.8  Deposit Conditions

    (Amend redesignated 4.8b by changing the frequency from ``once a 
month'' to ``once a week'' to read as follows:)
    Deposit of mail also is subject to these conditions:
* * * * *
    b. A mailer may request recurring appointments, renewable for a 6-
month period, by writing to the BMC control center or the district 
control center that administers the service area in which the 
destination facility is located. The mailer must present comparable 
mailings (by product and volume) on a consistent frequency of at least 
once a week. Failure to adhere to scheduled appointment procedures can 
cause revocation of the recurring appointment.
* * * * *

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 00-5962 Filed 3-9-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P