[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 212 (Thursday, November 1, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55096-55097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-27462]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 501


Authorization To Manufacture and Distribute Postage Meters

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule clarifies and strengthens requirements for 
manufacturers/distributors of postage meters to destroy meters at the 
end of their useful life.

DATES: This rule is effective November 1, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wayne Wilkerson by fax at (703) 292-
4073.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When a postage meter, or other postage 
evidencing system, reaches the end of its useful life, it must be 
destroyed so as to eliminate potential misuse or fraud which could lead 
to loss of Postal Service revenue. To accomplish this objective, the 
Postal Service is publishing procedures for the destruction of meters.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 501

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

The Amendment

    For the reasons set out in this document, the Postal Service is 
amending 39 CFR part 501 as follows:

[[Page 55097]]

PART 501--AUTHORIZATION TO MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTE POSTAGE 
METERS

    1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 501 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 410, 
2601, 2605; Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended (Pub. L. 95-
452, as amended), 5 U.S.C. App. 3.


Secs. 501.18 through 501.29  [Redesignated as Secs. 501.19 through 
501.30]

    Sections 501.18 through 501.29 are redesignated as Secs. 501.19 
through 501.30 and new Sec. 501.18 is added to read as follows:


Sec. 501.18  Secure destruction.

    (a) Authorized meter manufacturers/distributors may destroy meters, 
when required, in accordance with methods approved in advance by the 
manager of Postage Technology Management. The postage meter must be 
rendered completely inoperable by the destruction process and 
associated postage-printing dies must be destroyed in accordance with 
Sec. 501.17. Manufacturers/distributors must submit the proposed 
destruction method; a schedule listing the meters to be destroyed, by 
serial number and model; and the proposed time and place of destruction 
to the manager of Postage Technology Management for approval prior to 
any meter destruction. Manufacturers/distributors must record and 
retain the serial numbers of the meters to be destroyed, and provide 
the list in electronic form in accordance with Postal Service 
requirements for postage meter accounting and tracking systems. 
Manufacturers/distributors must give sufficient advance notice of the 
destruction to allow the manager of Postage Technology Management to 
schedule observation by Postage Technology Management or its designated 
representative. The Postal Service representative must ensure that the 
serial numbers of the meters destroyed are the same as the serial 
numbers recorded by the manufacturer/distributor on the list of 
destroyed meters, and that the destruction is performed in accordance 
with a Postal Service-approved method or process.
    (b) These requirements for meter destruction apply to all postage 
meters, postage evidencing systems, and postal security devices 
included as a component of a postage evidencing system.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 01-27462 Filed 10-31-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P