[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 244 (Wednesday, December 21, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 75734]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-24209]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


New Preparation Requirements for Bundles of Mail on Pallets

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule changes preparation requirements for bundles 
of Periodicals, Standard Mail, and Package Services flat-size mail or 
irregular parcels on pallets. The rule gives the conditions under which 
mailers must prepare an area distribution center, bulk mail center/
auxiliary service facility, or sectional center facility pallet with 
250 or more pounds of bundles.

DATES: Effective Date: May 11, 2006.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia Carroll, 202-268-2108.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 30, 2005, the Postal 
ServiceTM published for comment in the Federal Register (70 
FR 57237) a proposal to change preparation requirements for bundles of 
mail on pallets.
    Bundles of flat-size mailpieces or irregular parcels on pallets are 
easier and less costly for us to handle than bundles in sacks. In 
addition, bundles on pallets maintain their integrity to a greater 
degree than bundles in sacks. Our new standards will help increase the 
volume of mail on pallets by revising the requirements for pallet 
preparation.
    Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic 
Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 705.8.5.2 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.
    Under this final rule, after preparing all other pallets at the 
500-pound required minimum, if there are 250 or more pounds of bundles 
labeled to destinations within the ZIP Code range for an area 
distribution center (ADC), a mailer who prepares bundles of Periodicals 
flat-size mail or irregular parcels on pallets must prepare the ADC 
pallet. If there are 250 or more pounds of bundles labeled to 
destinations within the ZIP Code range for a bulk mail center/auxiliary 
service facility (BMC/ASF), a mailer who prepares bundles of Standard 
Mail and Package Services flat-size mail or irregular parcels on 
pallets must prepare the BMC/ASF pallet. If a mailing does not contain 
any ADC or BMC/ASF pallets and there are 250 or more pounds for an SCF, 
the mailer must prepare the SCF pallet.
    In addition to these changes, we 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.

Comments Received

    We requested comments on the proposal by October 31, 2005. We 
received two comments, one from a publisher and one from a mailing 
association. Both supported the proposal.
    For the reasons discussed above, the Postal Service adopts the 
following amendments 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]

0
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, 414, 416, 
3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.

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2. Revise the following sections of 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, except Parcel Post mailed at BMC Presort, OBMC 
Presort, DSCF, and DDU rates.
    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 preparing all possible pallets 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), mailers must 
prepare the ADC or BMC/ASF pallet, as applicable for the class of mail. 
Exception: If there are no ADC or BMC/ASF pallets in a mailing and 250 
or more pounds remain for an SCF, mailers must prepare the SCF pallet.
    c. If bundles remain that cannot be prepared on an ADC, BMC/ASF, or 
SCF pallet, mailers must place those bundles in sacks (8.9.1).
* * * * *

Neva R. Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 05-24209 Filed 12-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P