[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 123 (Wednesday, June 27, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 35177]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-10391]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Electronic Verification System (eVS) for Parcel Select Mailings

AGENCY: United States Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule; suspension of effective date.

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SUMMARY: This final rule delays the date set for the required use of 
electronic data and automated processes of the Electronic Verification 
System (eVS) for permit imprint Parcel Select[reg] manifest mailings, 
which currently are paper-driven and rely on manual processes for 
handling verification and postage reconciliations. The delay in 
required use also extends to Standard Mail[reg] machinable parcels and 
parcels from other Package Services subclasses (Bound Printed Matter, 
Library Mail, or Media Mail[reg]) that are authorized to be commingled 
with permit imprint Parcel Select parcels. Parcel mailers and shippers 
may continue to use eVS as an option if they meet the required business 
standards and technical specifications in the Domestic Mail Manual.

DATES: The effective date for the final rule amending 39 CFR part 111 
published in the Federal Register (71 FR 38966) on July 10, 2006, is 
delayed indefinitely. The Postal Service\TM\ will publish a document in 
the Federal Register announcing the new effective date. The 
applicability date for the Mailing Standards of the United States 
Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[reg]) change set forth below 
is May 14, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neil Berger, Program Manager, Business 
Mailer Support, via e-mail at [email protected] or by telephone at 
(202) 268-7267.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 7, 2005, the Postal Service 
published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (70 FR 67399-67405), 
soliciting comments from mailers and parcel shippers on requiring the 
use of the Electronic Verification System (eVS) for all permit imprint 
Parcel Select mailings, including those containing authorized 
commingled Standard Mail machinable parcels and parcels from the other 
subclasses of Package Services (Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, and 
Library Mail).
    On July 10, 2006, the Postal Service published a final rule in the 
Federal Register (71 FR 38966-38978) responding to comments from the 
mailing industry and providing implementing language and mailing 
standards to take effect on August 1, 2007, that would require all 
permit imprint Parcel Select mail and all permit imprint mail 
authorized to be commingled with Parcel Select to be prepared using 
eVS.
    The Postal Service is delaying the required use of eVS because of 
the large number of format and coding changes required by the R2006-1 
omnibus rate case, implemented on May 14, 2007, and because of the 
addition of several new subclasses of mail that will become available 
under eVS after May 14, 2007.
    As a result, the Postal Service is re-evaluating a suitable date 
for new mailer implementation of eVS. Once the Postal Service, working 
closely with the parcel shipping industry, determines an appropriate 
date, it will publish the new date in the Federal Register and the 
Postal Bulletin.
    We adopt 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

    Postal Service.

0
Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is amended as follows:

PART 111--[AMENDED]

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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.


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2. Revise the following sections of Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[reg]) as provided 
below: Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic 
Mail Manual
* * * * *

705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems

* * * * *

2.9 Electronic Verification System (eVS)

* * * * *
    [Revise the heading ``Optional and Required Use'' to read as 
follows:]

2.9.4 Use

    [Revise 2.9.4 by removing the last sentence ``Effective August 1, 
2007, mailers must use eVS for all permit imprint Parcel Select parcels 
and for permit imprint parcels authorized under 705.6.0 and 705.7.0 to 
be commingled with Parcel Select'' to read as follows:] Mailers 
depositing permit imprint parcels for those classes of mail and rate 
categories specified in 2.9.2 may document and pay postage using eVS. 
Mailers authorized to commingle Standard Mail parcels or Package 
Services presorted parcels under 705.6.0 and 705.7.0 also may use eVS 
to document and pay postage for all parcels in the mailing for those 
mail classes and subclasses available under 2.9.2.
* * * * *

Neva R. Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. E7-10391 Filed 6-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P