[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 97 (Thursday, May 18, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 31506-31507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-12443]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Line-of-Travel Sequencing for Basic Carrier Route Periodicals

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is soliciting comments on a proposed change 
to the Domestic Mail Manual that would require mailers to prepare basic 
rate carrier route Periodicals mail in line-of-travel sequence.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 19, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be sent to the Manager, Mail Preparation and 
Standards, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 6800, Washington, DC 20260-2405. 
Fax: 202-268-4336. Comments will be available for public viewing from 9 
a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Postal Service Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, 11th 
Floor, Washington, DC. Copies of comments also may be requested via fax 
or email.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne Emmerth, 202-268-2363, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1996, the Postal Service began requiring 
line-of-travel sequencing for all basic Enhanced Carrier Route Standard 
Mail (A). LOT sequencing generally approximates carriers' actual 
sequence of delivery. A cost study shows that this preparation has 
resulted in significant savings due to a reduction in time spent by 
carriers casing mail. Analysis indicates that implementing a line-of-
travel requirement for packages of basic rate carrier route Periodicals 
could produce significant savings.
    The Postal Service and representatives from the Periodicals 
industry are concerned about recent upward trends in mail processing 
costs for Periodicals and have been studying ways to lower costs. Out 
of these discussions came several ideas for further examination. One of 
these ideas is to require Periodicals mail qualifying for basic carrier 
route rates to be prepared in line-of-travel (LOT) sequence. A Postal 
Service cost study indicates that requiring LOT sequencing for basic 
rate carrier route Periodicals will result in reduced costs.
    Accordingly, the Postal Service is proposing to require that 
Periodicals mailers prepare basic rate carrier route mail in line-of-
travel sequence. Mailers would be required to sort their mail using the 
current USPS line-of-travel product within 90 days before the date of 
mailing. As an alternative, mailers may opt to prepare mail in actual 
walk sequence to qualify for basic carrier route rates.
    The line-of-travel product contains a list of each ZIP+4 code that 
a route serves. The ZIP+4 codes are numbered in sequence according to 
their first occurrence on the route as served by the carrier. Each 
ZIP+4 is appended with either an ``A'' (for ascending) or a ``D'' (for 
descending) to specify the order in which the addresses in that ZIP+4 
must be arranged. For Periodicals, all basic rate carrier route pieces 
would be sequenced in ascending ZIP+4 code line-of-travel order. As an 
alternative, mailers could prepare basic rate carrier route mail in 
actual walk sequence.
    The proposed effective date of this change is September 9, 2000.
    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 proposed revisions to the Domestic Mail Manual, 
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. Revise the following sections of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 
as set forth below:

E  Eligibility

* * * * *

E200  Periodicals

* * * * *

E230  Nonautomation Rates

* * * * *
2.0  CARRIER ROUTE RATES
* * * * *
    [Amend 2.2 by revising the heading and item a, renumbering item b 
as item c, and adding new item b to read as follows:]

[[Page 31507]]

2.2  Sequencing
    Preparation to qualify eligible pieces for carrier route rates is 
optional and is subject to M200. Carrier route sort need not be done 
for all carrier routes in a 5-digit area. Specific rate eligibility is 
subject to these standards:
    a. The carrier route rates apply to copies in carrier route 
packages of six or more letter-size pieces each that are sorted to 
carrier routes, 5-digit carrier routes, or 3-digit carrier routes 
trays; and six or more flat-size pieces or irregular parcel-size pieces 
each that are sorted to carrier route, 5-digit, or 5-digit scheme 
carrier routes sacks. (Preparation of 5-digit scheme carrier routes 
sacks is optional, but, if performed, must be done for all 5-digit 
scheme destinations.) The applicable sequencing requirements in M050 
and in 2.2b or 2.2c also must be met.
    b. Basic carrier route rate mail must be prepared either in carrier 
walk sequence or in line-of-travel (LOT) sequence according to LOT 
schemes prescribed by the USPS (M050).
    c. The high density and saturation rates apply to pieces that are 
eligible for carrier route rates under 2.2a, are prepared in carrier 
walk sequence, and meet the applicable density standards in 6.0 for the 
rate claimed.
* * * * *

M  Mail Preparation and Sortation

M000  General Preparation Standards

* * * * *

M050  Delivery Sequence

* * * * *
3.0  DELIVERY SEQUENCE INFORMATION
* * * * *
3.4  Line-of-Travel Sequence
    [Revise the first sentence to read as follows:]
    Unless the mail is prepared in carrier walk sequence, LOT sequence 
is required for mailings at Enhanced Carrier Route basic Standard Mail 
(A) rates and carrier route basic Periodicals rates.* * *
4.0  DOCUMENTATION
4.1  General
    [Revise the fourth sentence to read as follows:]
    * * * For Periodicals, the postage statement must be annotated in 
the ``Sequencing Date'' block on each of the lines where basic, high 
density, and saturation per piece rate postage is reported. * * *
* * * * *

M200  Periodicals (Nonautomation)

1.0  BASIC STANDARDS
* * * * *
1.3  Carrier Route and Walk Sequence
    [Revise the second sentence of 1.3 to read as follows:]
    * * * Periodicals for which a carrier route discount is claimed 
must be prepared as a carrier route mailing under this section and 
either the walk sequencing standard or the line-of-travel sequencing 
standard in M050; pieces prepared with a simplified address must also 
meet the standards in A040.
* * * * *
    An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to reflect these 
changes will be published if the proposal is adopted.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 00-12443 Filed 5-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P