[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 38 (Tuesday, February 26, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8719-8721]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-4213]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR PART 111


Price of Semipostal Stamps

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This rule amends the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) provisions 
relating to the pricing of semipostal stamps. This final rule 
implements legislative changes to the semipostal program and amends the 
Domestic Mail Manual provisions relating to the pricing and use of 
semipostal stamps.

DATES: This rule is effective on March 23, 2002.
    Applicability date: DMM P022.1.6(b) and R000.4.0 (last paragraph) 
are applicable on the date when the Heroes semipostal stamp is made 
available for purchase.

ADDRESSES: Questions about this rule may be addressed to the Manager, 
Stamp Services, ATTN: Semipostal Stamp Program DMM Rules, 475

[[Page 8720]]

L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 5670, Washington, DC 20260-2435.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Tackett (202) 268-6555.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service is amending Sections 
P014, P022, and R000 of the DMM to reflect the enactment of the 
following two acts: the Semipostal Authorization Act, Public Law No. 
106-253, 114 Stat. 634 (2000) and the 9/11 Heroes Stamp Act of 2001, 
Public Law No. 107-67, Sec. 652, 115 Stat. 514 (2001). This notice also 
adopts DMM standards implementing the decision of the Governors of the 
United States Postal Service on the prices of the Breast Cancer 
Research semipostal stamp (BCRS) and the Heroes semipostal stamp.

Background

    The Semipostal Authorization Act authorizes the Postal Service to 
establish a 10-year program to sell semipostal stamps. The 10-year 
period begins on the date that the Postal Service begins to sell the 
selected semipostal stamps to the public.
    Public Law No. 107-67 extends the sales period of the BCRS until 
the end of 2003 and directs the Postal Service to issue a semipostal 
stamp to provide assistance to families of the emergency relief 
personnel killed or permanently disabled in connection with the 
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The Heroes semipostal stamp is 
to be issued as soon as practicable and may remain on sale through 
December 31, 2004. Funds raised in connection with this semipostal 
stamp are to be transferred to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
    Under 39 U.S.C. 414 and 416, the Governors are authorized to 
determine the price of the BCRS stamp and other semipostal stamps. On 
January 8, 2002, the Governors voted to change the price of the BCRS 
from 40 cents to 45 cents. The Governors also voted to set the price of 
the Heroes semipostal stamp at 45 cents. The new price of the BCRS is 
effective on March 23, 2002. The price of the Heroes semipostal stamp 
is effective on the date of the stamp's issuance, which is yet to be 
determined.
    The refund provisions of Section P014 of the DMM are amended to 
apply to all existing and future semipostal stamps. In addition, the 
provisions of DMM P022 are amended to reflect the price change for the 
BCRS and the introduction of the Heroes semipostal stamp. Certain 
provisions of DMM P022 are revised to apply to all semipostal stamps. 
DMM R000 is amended to reflect the prices and postage values of the 
BCRS and the Heroes semipostal stamp.
    Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)) regarding 
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service hereby amends the 
following standards of the DMM, incorporated by reference into the Code 
of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR part 111.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.


    For the reasons set out in the preamble, 39 CFR part 111 is amended 
as follows:

PART 111--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 is revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 414, 416, 
3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.


    2. Revise the following sections of the Domestic Mail Manual as set 
forth below:

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

* * * * *

P  Postage and Payment Methods

* * * * *
P000  Basic Information
* * * * *
P010  General Standards
* * * * *
P014  Refunds and Exchanges
* * * * *

2.0  POSTAGE AND FEES REFUNDS

* * * * *
    [Revise the heading and text of 2.10 to read as follows:]
2.10  Semipostal Stamps
    Customers may exchange or convert semipostal stamps for their 
postage value (i.e., the price of the stamps less the contribution 
amount) to the extent exchange or conversion of postage stamps is 
permitted under P014. The postage the customer exchanges or converts is 
equal to the First-Class Mail single-piece rate in effect at the time 
of exchange. However, if the customer provides a receipt showing the 
date of purchase, the postage exchanged or converted is equal to the 
First-Class Mail single-piece rate in effect at the time of purchase. 
The contribution amount is not refundable and is not included in the 
exchange or conversion value.
* * * * *
P020  Postage Stamps and Stationery
P022  Postage Stamps

1.0  PURCHASE AND USE

* * * * *
[Revise the heading and text of 1.6 to read as follows:]
1.6  Semipostal Stamps
    Semipostal stamps are subject to special limitations and 
conditions:
    a. Semipostal stamps are stamps that are sold for a price that 
exceeds the postage value of the stamp. The difference between the 
price and postage value of semipostal stamps, also known as the 
differential, less an offset for the Postal Service's reasonable costs, 
as determined by the Postal Service, is a contribution for a specific 
cause. Semipostal stamps provide a means for customers to contribute to 
specific causes. Semipostal stamps are offered for sale for a limited 
time as provided by law or by the Postal Service.
    b. A brief description of semipostal stamps follows:
    1. The price of the Breast Cancer Research semipostal stamp (BCRS) 
is 45 cents. The difference between the purchase price and the First-
Class Mail nonautomation single-piece first-ounce letter rate in effect 
at the time of purchase constitutes a contribution to breast cancer 
research and cannot be used to pay postage. Funds (net of the Postal 
Service's reasonable costs) raised in connection with the BCRS are 
transferred to the Department of Defense and the National Institutes of 
Health.
    2. The price of the Heroes semipostal stamp is 45 cents. The 
difference between the purchase price and the First-Class Mail 
nonautomation single-piece first-ounce letter rate in effect at the 
time of purchase is a contribution to provide assistance to the 
families of the emergency relief personnel killed or permanently 
disabled in connection with the terrorist attacks of September 11, 
2001, and cannot be used to pay postage. Funds (net of the Postal 
Service's reasonable costs) raised in connection with the Heroes 
semipostal stamp are transferred to the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency.
    c. The postage value of each semipostal stamp is the First-Class 
Mail nonautomation single-piece first-ounce letter rate in R100.1.2 
that is in effect at the time of purchase. Additional postage must be 
affixed to pieces weighing in excess of 1 ounce, pieces subject to the 
nonstandard surcharge, or pieces for which special services have been 
elected. The postage value of semipostal stamps is fixed according to 
the First-Class Mail nonautomation single-piece

[[Page 8721]]

first-ounce letter rate in effect at the time of purchase; the postage 
value of semipostal stamps purchased before any subsequent change in 
the First-Class Mail nonautomation single-piece first-ounce letter rate 
is unaffected by any subsequent change in that rate.
* * * * *

R  Rates and Fees

R000  Stamps and Stationery
* * * * *
[Revise the table in item 4.0 as follows:]

------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Form per purpose                       Denomination
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*                  *                  *                  *
 
Breast Cancer Research, Panes of up  Purchase price of $0.45; postage
 to 20.                               value equivalent to First-Class
                                      Mail nonautomation single-piece
                                      rate (currently $0.34); remainder
                                      is contribution to fund breast
                                      cancer research.
Heroes, Panes of up to 20..........  Purchase price of $0.45; postage
                                      value equivalent to First-Class
                                      Mail nonautomation single-piece
                                      rate (currently $0.34); remainder
                                      is contribution to provide
                                      assistance to the families of the
                                      emergency relief personnel killed
                                      or permanently disabled in
                                      connection with the terrorist
                                      attacks of September 11, 2001.
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* * * * *
    An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 will be published to 
reflect these changes.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 02-4213 Filed 2-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P