Federal Register, Volume 74 Issue 11 (Friday, January 16, 2009)

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 2866-2867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-859]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


New Automation Requirements for Detached Addressed Labels

AGENCY: Postal Service\TM\.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: To make Detached Address Labels (DALs) accompanying saturation 
mailings of Periodicals or Standard Mail[reg] flats more compatible 
with our processing equipment, they must be automation-compatible and 
have a correct delivery point POSTNET(tm) barcode or Intelligent 
Mail[reg] barcode with an 11-digit routing code. This requirement does 
not apply to DALs with simplified addresses. Also, for consistency, we 
are requiring return addresses on DALs.

DATES: Effective Date: March 2, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Monica Grein at 202-268-8411.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 27, 2008, we published a proposed 
rule in the Federal Register (Volume 73, Number 167, pages 50584-
50585), requiring DALs to be automation-compatible and bear a delivery 
point barcode when used with saturation mailings of Periodicals or 
Standard Mail flats.
    Except for DALs prepared with simplified addresses, all DALs 
accompanying saturation mailings of Periodicals or Standard Mail flats 
must be automation-compatible and have a correct delivery point POSTNET 
barcode or Intelligent Mail barcode with an 11-digit routing code. 
Automation-compatible and barcoded DALs may be processed in a manner 
that is more consistent with today's operating environment.
    We suggest that mailers work with the local Postal Service 
mailpiece design analyst (MDA) to ensure that all DALs accompanying 
saturation mailings of Periodicals or Standard Mail flats meet the new 
standards. Saturation flats mailings presented with DALs that are not 
automation-compatible and barcoded will not qualify for saturation 
prices but may be entered at the basic carrier route price for 
Periodicals mailings or the basic Enhanced Carrier Route price for 
Standard Mail mailings.
    We received comments from five respondents on the proposal: two 
from a mailer association, two from mailers that use DALs, and one from 
a USPS[supreg] postmaster.

Comments

    One commenter suggested that to reduce costs further we should 
eliminate the use of DALs altogether, or also apply the automation 
requirements to DALs prepared with simplified addresses. Eliminating 
the use of DALs or requiring saturation mailers to physically apply 
addresses directly on each mailpiece may cause undue hardship for some 
mailers. We determined that such a requirement would be difficult for 
small local mailers sending saturation mailings to rural or highway 
contract routes and perhaps cause them to stop using the mail. We 
concluded that these additional changes were not in the best interest 
of the Postal Service or our customers.
    One commenter requested DALs be allowed for Periodicals and 
Standard Mail ECR high-density mailings. This request is outside the 
scope of this rule.
    One commenter expressed concern about the added cost of preparing 
an automation-compatible DAL. We considered the implications for our 
customers, and note that the use of DALs is an option in most 
instances. We continue to encourage customers to move to on-piece 
addressing rather than use DALs. Incidentally, on June 7, 2007, at the 
request of many mailers, we revised our standards to allow advertising 
on the front of DALs, provided that the DALs were barcoded and 
automation-compatible (see Postal Bulletin 22208 and DMM(r) 
602.4.2.5.b). This change provided mailers with the ability to offset 
the DAL surcharge, implemented in May 2007, with new opportunities for 
advertising revenue.
    One commenter requested we extend the use of simplified addresses 
to city route deliveries. This request is outside the scope of this 
final rule.
    One commenter expressed concerns about continuing to enter DALs at 
destination delivery units (DDUs) while remaining eligible for DDU 
prices for

[[Page 2867]]

flats. Although DALS are letter-size, they are allowed to be entered at 
DDUs when they accompany either flats or parcels. This final rule does 
not propose to change the current standards that allow the DALs to be 
dropped at the DDU and does not change price eligibility for flats.
    The Postal Service adopts the following changes to Mailing 
Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual 
(DMM), which is 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.

0
Accordingly, 39 CFR 111 is amended as follows:

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, 404, 414, 
416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, 
and 5001.

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

600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services

* * * * *

602 Addressing

1.0 Elements of Addressing

* * * * *

1.5 Return Addresses

* * * * *

1.5.3 Required Use of Return Addresses

    The sender's domestic return address must appear legibly on:
* * * * *
    [Revise text of 1.5.3 to add new item m as follows:]
    m. Detached addressed labels (DALs).
* * * * *

4.0 Detached Address Labels (DALs)

4.1 DAL Use

* * * * *

4.1.2 Periodicals or Standard Mail Flats Saturation Mailings

    [Revise text of 4.1.2 to require that DALs accompanying saturation 
mailings of Periodicals or Standard Mail flats be automation-compatible 
as follows:]
    Saturation mailings of unaddressed Periodicals or Standard Mail 
flats may be mailed with detached address labels (DALs). DALs 
accompanying saturation mailings of Periodicals or Standard Mail flats 
must be automation-compatible under 201.3.0. This standard does not 
apply to DALs with simplified addressing. For this standard, saturation 
mailing means a mailing sent to at least 75% of the total addresses on 
a carrier route or 90% of the residential addresses on a route, 
whichever is less. Deliveries are not required to every carrier route 
of a delivery unit. Saturation flats mailings presented with DALs that 
are not automation-compatible and barcoded do not qualify for 
saturation prices but may be entered at the basic carrier route price 
for Periodicals mailings or the basic Enhanced Carrier Route price for 
Standard Mail mailings.
* * * * *

4.2 Label Preparation

4.2.1 Label Construction

    Each DAL must be made of paper or cardboard stock that is not 
folded, perforated, or creased, and that meets these measurements:
    [Revise text of 4.2.1 to modify item c and add new item d and new 
item e as follows:]
* * * * *
    c. At least .007 inch thick except under 4.2.1.d.
    d. If more than 4\1/4\ inches high or more than 6 inches long, must 
be at least 0.009 inch thick.
    e. Must have an aspect ratio (length divided by height) from 1.3 to 
2.5, inclusive.

4.2.2 Addressing

    [Revise text of 4.2.2 by deleting the current last sentence in its 
entirety and adding a new last sentence to require a POSTNET or 
Intelligent Mail barcode with a delivery point routing code as 
follows:]
    * * * In addition, if DALs accompany saturation mailings of 
Periodicals or Standard Mail flats, a correct delivery point POSTNET 
barcode or Intelligent Mail barcode with an 11-digit routing code must 
be included (see 708.4) except when using a simplified address.
* * * * *

Neva R. Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. E9-859 Filed 1-15-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P