[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 245 (Thursday, December 20, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 65668]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31386]



[[Page 65668]]

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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Domestic Mail Manual Changes for Bedloaded Bundles of Periodicals

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is seeking comments on a proposal to delete 
the standards in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) that allow bundles 
(more than one package strapped together) of Periodicals flat-size mail 
to be bedloaded instead of placed in a sack or on a pallet.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 22, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to the Manager, Mail Preparation and 
Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 1735 North Lynn Street, Room 3025, 
Arlington VA 22209-6038. Written comments may be submitted via fax to 
(703) 292-4058 or via email to [email protected] (please use 
``Fed Reg Bedloaded Bundles'' as the subject line of the message). 
Copies of all written comments will be available for inspection and 
photocopying between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the 
above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anne Emmerth at (703) 292-3641.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Current DMM M210.5.0 and M220.5.0 allow 
authorized mailers to place packages of Presorted rate and carrier 
route rate Periodicals flats directly into a truck or trailer if the 
packages are secured together into bundles containing a minimum of 20 
pounds of mail (instead of sacking or palletizing those packages). Such 
preparation requires Postal Service authorization from Business Mailer 
Support (BMS). It should be noted that DMM M820 does not include any 
provisions for bedloading bundles of automation rate flats. The records 
of the Postal Service indicate that there are no mailers who are 
preparing bedloaded bundles in this manner. Because of this, and 
because bedloaded bundles are generally not cost-efficient for the 
Postal Service to handle and process, the Postal Service is proposing 
to delete the options to prepare Periodicals flats as bedloaded 
bundles.
    If this proposal is adopted, then all Periodicals flats must be 
prepared in sacks or on pallets.
    This change does not apply to mailers who transport packages of 
Periodicals to destination delivery units under exceptional dispatch.
    Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedures 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 DMM, incorporated by reference 
into the Code of Federal Regulations (see 39 CFR part 111).

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    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:

M  Mail Preparation and Sortation

M000  General Preparation Standards

M010  Mailpieces

M011  Basic Standards

1.0  Terms and Conditions
* * * * *
1.3  Preparation Instructions
    [Delete item z, which defines a ``bundle.'' Renumber items aa 
through ac as items z through ab, respectively.]
* * * * *
M013  Optional Endorsement Lines
1.0  Use
1.1  Basic Standards
    [Revise 1.1 by deleting the entry for SCF.]
* * * * *

M200  Periodicals (Nonautomation)

M210  Presorted Rates

* * * * *
    [Delete section 5.0, Bedloaded Bundles (Flat-Size Pieces). Renumber 
section 6.0 as 5.0.]
* * * * *

M220  Carrier Route Rates

* * * * *
    [Delete section 5.0, Bedloaded Bundles (Flat-Size Pieces). Renumber 
section 6.0 as 5.0.]
* * * * *
    An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111 to reflect these changes 
will be published if the proposal is adopted.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 01-31386 Filed 12-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P