[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 189 (Friday, September 30, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 57237-57238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-19531]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


New Preparation Requirements for Bundles of Mail on Pallets

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service TM is seeking comments on a 
proposal that would affect mailers who prepare bundles of Periodicals, 
Standard Mail, and Package Services flat-size mail or irregular parcels 
on pallets. The proposal would not affect mailers who prepare sacks, 
unbundled parcels, or trays on pallets.
    Currently, mailers who prepare bundles of flat-size mail or bundles 
of irregular parcels on pallets must prepare a pallet if the mailing 
contains 500 or more pounds of bundles for a required sortation level. 
(``Sortation level'' refers to the distribution or separation of mail 
by ZIP Codes, range of ZIP Codes, or carrier route.) After all required 
pallets are prepared, mailers must place any remaining bundles in 
sacks.
    Under this proposal, before placing any bundles in sacks, if there 
are 250 or more pounds of bundles addressed within the ZIP Code range 
for an area distribution center (ADC) or a bulk mail center/auxiliary 
service facility (BMC/ASF), mailers must prepare the ADC pallet (for 
Periodicals) or the BMC/ASF pallet (for Standard Mail and Package 
Services). If a mailing does not contain any ADC or BMC/ASF pallets--
for example, the mailer has set the presort software to stop at the 
sectional center facility (SCF) level--but there are 250 or more pounds 
for an SCF, the mailer must prepare the SCF pallet.

DATES: We must receive comments on or before October 31, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver comments to the Manager, Mailing Standards, 
U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Rm. 3436, Washington, DC 
20260-3436. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments between 
9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at USPS Headquarters Library, 
11th Floor North, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, DC 20260.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia Carroll at 202-268-2108 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service TM is finding 
ways to process mail more efficiently, thereby improving service to our 
customers and reducing costs.
    Bundles of flat-size mailpieces or bundles of irregular parcels 
prepared on pallets are easier and generally less costly for us to 
handle than bundles in sacks. When customers present mail in sacks, the 
sacks must be opened and the contents unloaded before processing on our 
automated sorting equipment. In addition, we have found that bundles on 
pallets maintain their integrity to a greater degree than bundles in 
sacks. This proposal would help increase the volume of mail on pallets 
by revising the standards for required pallet preparation.
    Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic 
Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 705.8.5.2 provides required pallet 
preparation for Periodicals, Standard Mail, and Package Services mail 
(except specified discount rate Parcel Post). DMM 705.8.5.2a requires 
mailers who prepare bundles of flat-size mail or bundles of irregular 
parcels on pallets to prepare a pallet to a required sortation level if 
a mailing contains 500 or more pounds of bundles. Additional standards 
in DMM 705.8.9.1 require these mailers to place in sacks any bundles 
that cannot go on one of the required pallets.
    Under this proposal, after preparing all other required pallets at 
the 500-pound required minimum, mailers who prepare bundles of flat-
size mailpieces or bundles of irregular parcels on pallets must prepare 
additional pallets, under the following conditions:
     If 250 or more pounds of bundles remain for an ADC (for 
Periodicals) or for a BMC/ASF (for Standard Mail and Package Services), 
mailers must prepare the ADC or BMC/ASF pallet(s), as applicable for 
the class of mail.
     If there are no ADC or BMC/ASF pallets in a mailing--for 
example, if a mailer's presort software is set to stop at the SCF 
level--and 250 or more pounds remain for an SCF, mailers must prepare 
the SCF pallet.
    We are proposing an effective date of March 1, 2006, for mailers to 
begin mailing under the revised standards.
    In addition to the above changes, we also are removing text in 
705.8.5.2 about labeling pallets and optional bundle reallocation, 
because we cover these topics in detail elsewhere in the DMM.
    Although we are 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), we invite public comments on 
the following proposed revisions to Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by 
reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1.

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, 3001-
3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.

    2. Revise Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, 
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), as follows:

700 Special Standards

* * * * *

705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems

* * * * *
8.0 PREPARATION FOR PALLETS
* * * * *
8.5 General Preparation
* * * * *
8.5.2 Required Preparation
    [Revise 8.5.2 to require ADC, BMC/ASF, or SCF pallets at 250 pounds 
of bundles, as follows:]
    The following standards apply to Periodicals, Standard Mail, and 
Package Services mail, except Parcel Post mailed at BMC Presort (8.17), 
OBMC Presort (8.18), DSCF (8.19, 8.20), and DDU rates (8.21).

[[Page 57238]]

    a. Mailers must prepare a pallet to the required sortation level(s) 
for the class of mail when a mailing contains 500 or more pounds of 
bundles, sacks, or parcels or 72 linear feet or six layers of letter 
trays for the destination.
    b. For bundles of flat-size mailpieces or bundles of irregular 
parcels on pallets, after all possible pallets are prepared under 
8.5.2a, when 250 or more pounds of bundles remain for an ADC 
(Periodicals) or for a BMC/ASF (Standard Mail and Package Services), 
the ADC or BMC/ASF pallet must be prepared as applicable for the class 
of mail. Exception: If there are no ADC or BMC/ASF pallets in a mailing 
(e.g., if the presort software is set to stop at the SCF level) and 250 
or more pounds remain for an SCF, prepare the SCF pallet.
    c. If bundles remain that cannot be prepared on an ADC, BMC/ASF, or 
SCF pallet, place those bundles in sacks (8.9.1).
* * * * *
    If we implement this proposal, we will publish an appropriate 
amendment to 39 CFR to reflect these changes.

Neva R. Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 05-19531 Filed 9-29-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P