[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 7, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11366-11367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3143]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


New Preparation for Periodicals Flats in Mixed Area Distribution 
Center Bundles and Sacks

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service currently allows Periodicals mailers to 
prepare two types of mixed area distribution center (ADC) bundles and 
sacks, including a new type of optional mixed ADC bundle and sack that 
improves service for Periodicals without adding processing costs. We 
are proposing to make this optional separation a requirement beginning 
July 6, 2006.

DATES: We must receive comments on our proposed standards on or before 
April 6, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing 
Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 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, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., 11th Floor North, 
Washington DC 20260.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Donald Lagasse, 202-268-7269.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 27, 2005, the Postal Service 
provided Periodicals mailers an option to separate their residual mail 
prepared in mixed area distribution center (ADC) bundles and sacks and 
to create a new type of mixed ADC bundle and sack. We offered this 
option because it improves service for some Periodicals without adding 
processing costs. The new separation allows us to integrate Periodicals 
flats into the First-Class mailstream for Periodicals addressed to 
destinations within the First-Class Mail surface transportation reach 
of the office of entry.
    Under the new preparation, mailers separate some mixed ADC mail 
according to the destination ZIP Codes in new labeling list L201. 
Pieces prepared according to L201 are processed with First-Class Mail 
by the entry office. The remaining mixed ADC mail destined for ZIP 
Codes farther from the office of entry is sent to one of the 34 origin 
facilities designated in labeling list L009 for consolidated 
processing.
    To fully benefit from this new preparation, Periodicals mailers 
should begin preparing Periodicals mail under these standards as soon 
as possible. Having all mixed ADC mail prepared uniformly allows us to 
establish a consistent network and operating procedure for handling 
this mail across our processing facilities. Processing some Periodicals 
mail with the existing outgoing First-Class Mail at approximately 330 
locations will have little impact on the operations at these offices 
but will relieve the 34 locations currently processing this 
consolidated volume of a significant amount of work. Finally, splitting 
the mixed ADC mail currently prepared in one or more sacks into two 
separations will have minimal or, in some cases, no impact on the 
number of containers that are prepared in Periodicals mailings.
    Although we are exempt from the notice and comment requirements of 
the Administrative Procedure Act [5 U.S.C. of 553(b), (c)] regarding 
proposed rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), we invite 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

    Postal Service.

    Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is proposed to be amended as follows:

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

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

705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems

* * * * *

9.0 Preparation for Cotraying and Cosacking Bundles of Automation and 
Presorted Flats

* * * * *

9.2 Periodicals

* * * * *

9.2.5 Sack Preparation and Labeling

* * * * *
[Revise the bundle labeling requirements in item f for origin mixed ADC 
mail.]

    f. Origin mixed ADC. Required for any remaining pieces for 
destinations in L201, Column C, of the origin ZIP Code in Column A. 
There is no minimum for the number of pieces in the sack, but bundles 
of fewer than six pieces at 5-

[[Page 11367]]

digit, 3-digit, and ADC bundle levels are not permitted.
    1. Line 1: Use L201, Column C.
    2. Line 2: ``PER'' or ``NEWS'' as applicable, followed by ``FLTS 
WKG W FCM.''
* * * * *

9.2.6 Optional Tray Preparation--Flat-Size Pieces

* * * * *
    a. ADC * * *
* * * * *
[Revise item a2 to match the CIN code.]

    2. Line 2: ``PER'' or ``NEWS'' as applicable, followed by ``FLTS,'' 
followed by ``ADC,'' followed by ``BC/NBC.''
* * * * *
    c. Mixed ADC * * *
* * * * *
[Revise item c2 to match the CIN code.]

    2. Line 2: ``PER'' or ``NEWS'' as applicable, followed by ``FLTS,'' 
followed by ``BC/NBC WKG.''
* * * * *

10.0 Preparation for Merged Containerization of Bundles of Flats Using 
City State Product

10.1 Periodicals

* * * * *

10.1.4 Sack Preparation and Labeling

* * * * *
[Revise the preparation requirements in item h for origin mixed ADC 
mail.]

    h. 3-digit through mixed ADC sacks. Any 5-digit scheme and 5-digit 
bundles remaining after preparing sacks under 10.1.4a through 10.1.4g, 
and all 3-digit scheme, 3-digit, ADC, origin mixed ADC, and mixed ADC 
bundles must be sacked and labeled according to the applicable 
requirements under 9.2 for cosacking of automation rate and presorted 
rate bundles, except if there are no automation rate pieces in the 
mailing job, sack and label under 707.22.6, or, if there are no 
presorted rate bundles in the mailing job, sack and label under 
707.25.3.
* * * * *

11.0 Preparation of Cobundled Automation Rate and Presorted Rate Flats

* * * * *

11.2 Periodicals

* * * * *

11.2.2 Bundle Preparation

* * * * *
[Revise the bundling requirements in item g for origin mixed ADC mail.]

    g. Origin mixed ADC, required; no minimum; for any remaining pieces 
for destinations of the origin ZIP Code in L201, Column C, of the 
origin ZIP Code in Column A; tan Label X or OEL.
* * * * *

707 Periodicals

* * * * *

22.0 Preparation of Presorted Periodicals

* * * * *

22.2 Bundle Preparation

* * * * *
[Revise the bundle labeling requirements in item e for origin mixed ADC 
mail.]

    e. Origin mixed ADC, required; no minimum; for any remaining pieces 
for destinations in L201, Column C, of the origin ZIP Code in Column A; 
tan label X or OEL.
* * * * *

22.6 Sack Preparation--Flat-Size Pieces and Irregular Parcels

* * * * *
[Revise the sacking requirements in item f for origin mixed ADC mail.]

    f. Origin mixed ADC, required; no minimum; for any remaining 
bundles for destinations in L201, Column C, of the origin ZIP Code in 
Column A.
    1. Line 1: Use L201, Column C.
    2. Line 2: ``PER'' or ``NEWS'' as applicable, followed by ``FLTS'' 
or ``IRREG'' as applicable, followed by ``WKG W FCM.''
* * * * *

25.0 Preparation of Flat-Size Automation Periodicals

* * * * *

25.2 Bundling and Labeling

* * * * *
[Revise the bundling and labeling requirements in item f for origin 
mixed ADC mail.]

    f. Origin mixed ADC, required; no minimum; for any remaining pieces 
for destinations in L201, Column C, of the origin ZIP Code in Column A; 
tan label X or OEL.
* * * * *

25.3 Sacking and Labeling

* * * * *
[Revise the sacking and labeling requirements in item g for origin 
mixed ADC mail.]

    g. Origin mixed ADC, required; no minimum; for any remaining pieces 
for destinations in L201, Column C, of the origin ZIP Code in Column A; 
labeling:
    1. Line 1: Use L201, Column C.
    2. Line 2: ``PER FLTS WKG W FCM'' or ``NEWS FLTS WKG W FCM,'' as 
applicable.
* * * * *
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111 to reflect 
these changes if our proposal is adopted.

Neva R. Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. E6-3143 Filed 3-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P