[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 232 (Friday, December 1, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 75167-75168]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-30581]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Invalid Ancillary Service Endorsements

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: On August 2, 2000 (65 FR 47362), the Postal Service published 
for comment a proposed rule amending the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) to 
eliminate the transitional provisions for the handling of mail bearing 
invalid ancillary service endorsements. This final rule sets forth 
changes to the DMM, allowing the Postal Service to reject mail bearing 
invalid endorsements and treat such items as unendorsed mail.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jackie Estes, (202) 268-3543.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In July 1997 the Postal Service simplified 
the endorsements used to request ancillary services by eliminating the 
existing endorsements and substituting four choices, ``Address Service 
Requested,'' ``Forwarding Service Requested,'' ``Return Service 
Requested,'' and ``Change Service Requested.'' As a transitional 
accommodation to mailers with stationery bearing the former 
endorsements, the Postal Service adopted standards providing for the 
handling of mail bearing the former endorsements. To reduce the risk of 
confusion and error created by conflicting and obsolete endorsements, 
the Postal Service proposed to eliminate

[[Page 75168]]

the transitional provisions. Based on its review, the Postal Service 
has determined to adopt the proposed changes without revision. As of 
January 1, 2001, the DMM is revised to eliminate the transitional 
accommodation to mailers with stationery bearing obsolete ancillary 
service endorsements.
    DMM F030.1.2 is revised to provide ancillary services only in 
accordance with the valid endorsements shown in DMM F010. Mail bearing 
obsolete, invalid, or conflicting ancillary service endorsements will 
no longer be considered acceptable for mailing and the Postal Service 
may refuse to accept this mail. If mail bearing invalid or conflicting 
endorsements is discovered in the mailstream it will be handled as 
unendorsed mail. In the case of Standard Mail (B), ``treatment as 
unendorsed mail'' effectively means that mail will be treated as if 
endorsed ``Forwarding Service Requested.'' This provision recognizes 
that the general public (in contrast with business mailers) is 
unfamiliar with ancillary service endorsements and ensures that 
packages will be delivered or returned.

Comments Received

    The Postal Service received two comments on the proposed rule. One 
comment was from an importer of material for domestic entry, and the 
other from an individual customer.
    The importer was concerned that mail bearing invalid or conflicting 
ancillary service endorsements would not be accepted for mailing, 
potentially creating a disadvantage for the importer, relative to 
foreign postal administrations, who enter mail in accordance with 
international postal conventions. Mailers who import material for 
domestic entry to the United States Postal Service, for the services, 
benefits, and opportunities that arrangement presents, must comply with 
domestic mailing requirements. Exceptions based on the origin or 
particular qualities of matter that is mailed domestically are not 
permitted. Commercial mailers are expected to communicate applicable 
DMM requirements to their clients and ensure the mailability of 
material intended for domestic entry. International mail received from 
foreign postal administrations is subject to the provisions of the 
Universal Postal Convention. The provisions of this agreement are 
different than domestic procedures and requirements and are generally 
binding on the Postal Service, which is signatory to the Convention. 
Changes to international mailing conditions must generally be 
negotiated and require amendment of multilateral conventions and 
agreements. Modifications to the conditions for entry of international 
mail are not being considered at this time.
    The individual customer comment concerned the lost value of 
stationery bearing obsolete or invalid endorsements and the treatment 
of items deposited in mail collection boxes which enter the mailstream 
and are therefore considered ``accepted.'' The proposed rule was 
asserted to be ``discriminatory,'' since improperly prepared mail that 
is presented to an employee could be refused, while mail deposited in a 
collection box can remain in the mailstream and be treated as 
unendorsed mail.
    Mailers have had an extended period of time to adopt correct 
ancillary service endorsements. Residual stationery inventory can be 
used if obsolete endorsements are obliterated, minimizing any hardship. 
Otherwise, acceptance employees routinely reject improperly prepared 
mail or require customers to correct irregularities. The fact that 
improperly prepared items may enter the mailstream through unstaffed 
collection points reflects the practicalities of providing convenient 
and universal access to the postal network and is not discriminatory. 
The final rule simply requires the proper endorsement of mail for which 
an ancillary service is desired and terminates the transitional 
provisions for servicing invalid endorsements.
    For the reasons discussed above, the Postal Service adopts the 
following amendments to the Domestic Mail Manual, which is incorporated 
by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations (see 39 CFS 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 Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) as follows:

F  Forwarding and Related Services

F000  Basic Services

* * * * *

F030  Address Correction, Address Change, FASTforward, and Return 
Services

1.0  ADDRESS CORRECTION SERVICE
* * * * *

1.2  Invalid Endorsement

    Any obsolete ancillary service endorsement or similar sender 
endorsement not shown in F010 is considered invalid. Material bearing 
invalid or conflicting ancillary service endorsements will not be 
accepted for mailing. If discovered in the mailstream, mail bearing an 
invalid ancillary service endorsement or conflicting endorsements is 
treated as unendorsed mail. Exception: Standard Mail (B) pieces that 
are unendorsed, or that bear invalid or conflicting ancillary service 
endorsements and are undeliverable, will be treated as if endorsed 
``Forwarding Service Requested.''
    This change will be published in a future issue of the Domestic 
Mail Manual. An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 to reflect these 
changes will be published.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 00-30581 Filed 11-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-U