[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 180 (Friday, September 17, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 56920-56922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-23315]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Express Mail Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and 
Distribute

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service proposes to revise Mailing Standards of the 
United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 705.16 
to require the use of a single-ply address label containing a service 
barcode with unique Service Type Code ``723'' or a ``DB'' prefix along 
with new Tag 257, Tag 267, or Label 257S, on all Express Mail[supreg] 
Open and Distribute containers. The Postal Service also proposes to 
revise the service commitment for Express Mail Open and Distribute as a 
guaranteed end of day product; and to add a five-pound minimum weight 
requirement for Express Mail Open and Distribute and Priority 
Mail[supreg] Open and Distribute sacks.

DATES: Submit comments on or before October 18, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mailing 
Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Room 4446, 
Washington, DC 20260-4446. Copies of all written comments will be 
available for inspection and photocopying between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, at the Postal Service Headquarters Library, 475 
L'Enfant Plaza, SW., 11th Floor North, Washington, DC 20260-0004. E-
mail comments, containing the name and address of the commenter, may be 
sent to: [email protected], with a subject line of ``Open and 
Distribute Changes Comments.'' Faxed comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jewelyn Harrington at 202-268-7648 or 
Garry Rodriguez at 202-268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Express Mail

    Express Mail Open and Distribute service is designed to provide 
mailers with expedited service to destination delivery units and other 
mail processing facilities. Currently, Express Mail Open and Distribute 
service follows the same mailing requirements and delivery standards as 
Express Mail service.
    The requirement to use the Express Mail Label 11 series with a 13-
digit barcode prevents the Postal Service from differentiating between 
Express Mail and Express Mail Open and Distribute products.
    The delivery standards for Express Mail service are intended for 
residential/business customers and as a result are delivered by 12 noon 
or 3 p.m. Express Mail Open and Distribute is a product that is 
delivered to a processing facility or delivery unit for further 
processing of the contents.
    To account for the Express Mail Open and Distribute product, the 
Postal Service is proposing to require mailers to place a single-ply 
address label with a service barcode on all Express Mail Open and 
Distribute containers and to submit an electronic file. The service 
barcode is required to be a USS 128 or Code 39 barcode with a ``DB'' 
prefix, or concatenated GS1-128 (eVS approved mailers) symbology with a 
unique Service Type Code (STC) ``723''. The text, ``USPS SCAN ON 
ARRIVAL,'' must appear above the barcode. This scan information is 
exclusive to the Open and Distribute service and will assist in 
facilitating correct scan behavior.
    This proposed requirement is in accordance with instructions for 
barcode specifications, electronic file format and testing, and the 
certification process in Publication 91, Confirmation Services 
Technical Guide.
    The Postal Service also proposes to replace Tag 157 with Tag 257 
(DDU), Tag 267 (SCF, NDC), and Label 257S (DDU), to assist in the 
verification of the arrival at the destination facility for all Express 
Mail Open and Distribute containers.
    Generally, the Postal Service processing window is 12 noon to 6 
a.m. The window to dispatch mail from plants to delivery units is from 
4 a.m. to 9 a.m. To better align the Express Mail Open and Distribute 
product with processing and dispatch windows, without loss of service, 
we are proposing to change the service commitment to end of day (11:59 
p.m.).

Express Mail and Priority Mail

    In addition, processing facilities currently receive Express Mail 
Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and Distribute sacks 
containing mail that weighs less than five pounds, making it difficult 
to identify that the sack contains mail.
    The handling of low volume sacks in plants has been indentified as

[[Page 56921]]

problematic with the Open and Distribute product. Because of the risk 
of sacks being mishandled as empty equipment, limiting our effort to 
meet service commitments, we are proposing to establish a five-pound 
minimum weight requirement for all Express Mail Open and Distribute and 
Priority Mail Open and Distribute sacks.
    The proposed changes to Express Mail Open and Distribute and 
Priority Mail Open and Distribute will provide better visibility of the 
product and enable the Postal Service to monitor service performance 
based on the product.
    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 Part 111.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

    Accordingly, 39 CFR 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); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-
1737; 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:
* * * * *

700 Special Standards

* * * * *

705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems

* * * * *

16.0 Express Mail Open and Distribute and Priority Mail Open and 
Distribute

16.1 Prices and Fees

16.1.1 Basis of Price

    [Revise the first and second sentence of 16.1.1 as follows:]
    Mailers must pay Express Mail and Priority Mail postage based on 
the weight of the entire contents of the shipment. The minimum weight 
requirement is five pounds, and the maximum weight limit for each 
container is 70 pounds. * * *

16.1.2 Zone Prices

    [Revise 16.1.2 as follows:]
    Compute zone prices, for the applicable class of mail, from the 
accepting Post Office to the destination facility for the container 
(not the destination Post Office for the enclosed mail).
* * * * *

16.1.5 Payment Method

    [Revise the text in 16.1.5 as follows:]
    Postage payment methods are as follows:
    a. Postage on the enclosed mail may be paid by any method permitted 
for that mail class, except for ordinary postage stamps requiring 
cancellation.
    b. Express Mail postage may be paid under any of the options listed 
in 414.1.1, except Click-N-Ship. Express Mail postage must be affixed 
to blue Tag 257, to yellow Tag 267, to the Open and Distribute tray 
box, or be part of the address label.
    c. Priority Mail postage may be paid under 424.1.1. Priority Mail 
postage must be affixed to or hand-stamped on green Tag 161, pink Tag 
190, or the Open and Distribute tray box, or be part of the address 
label.
* * * * *

16.2 Basic Standards

* * * * *

16.2.2 Content Standards

    [Revise the DMM reference numbers in the parentheses at the end of 
the first sentence of 16.2.2 as follows:]
    * * * (see 410 for Express Mail standards and 420 for Priority Mail 
standards).* * *
    [Revise the last sentence of 16.2.2 as follows:]
    * * * Mailers are not required to place bundles of mail in sacks or 
trays when all of the mail enclosed in an Open and Distribute sack is 
destined to a 5-digit facility.

16.3 Additional Standards for Express Mail Open and Distribute

16.3.1 Service Objectives

    [Revise the first sentence and add new second sentence in 16.3.1 as 
follows:]
    The Express Mail service guarantee for Express Mail Open and 
Distribute is receipt by end of day (11:59 p.m.) and ends upon receipt 
by scan of the Express Mail Open and Distribute container at the 
destination postal facility. * * *
* * * * *

16.5 Preparation

16.5.1 Containers for Expedited Transport

    Acceptable containers for expedited transportation are as follows:
    [Revise item a to reflect new tags as follows:]
    a. An Express Mail Open and Distribute shipment must be contained 
in a USPS-approved sack using Tag 257 or Tag 267 or in a USPS-provided 
Express Mail Open and Distribute tray box (Tag 257 and Tag 267 are not 
required for tray boxes; only the 4x6 address label should be applied), 
except as provided in 16.5.1c and 16.5.1d.
* * * * *
    [Revise item c to reflect new labels as follows:]
    c. An Express Mail or Priority Mail Open and Distribute shipment 
destined to a DDU may be contained in a USPS-provided Express Mail Flat 
Rate Envelope using Label 257S or Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope or 
boxes using Label 190S.
* * * * *
    [Revise the heading of 16.5.2 as follows:]

16.5.2 Express Mail and Priority Mail Sack Labels

    [Revise the text in 16.5.2 as follows:]
    Labels for Express Mail or Priority Mail sacks containing Open and 
Distribute shipments must be barcoded and meet the requirements in 
708.6.0. All lines of information must be completely visible when 
inserted into the label holder. Label sacks as follows:
    a. Line 1 (destination line) provides information on the 
destination entry office where the enclosed mail is to be distributed.
    1. For destination delivery unit (DDU) distribution, use the 
facility name and ZIP Code found in the Drop Shipment Address File 
available at the USPS FAST Web site at https://fast.usps.com (click 
Resources in the left-hand navigation bar, then Go for ``Drop Ship 
Product File Download'').
    2. For SCF distribution, use the destination in L005, Column B.
    3. For ADC distribution, use the destination in L004, Column B 
(Priority Mail Open and Distribute Only).
    4. For NDC distribution, use the destination in L601, Column B.
    5. For ASF distribution, use L602, Column B (Priority Mail Open and 
Distribute Only).
    b. For Line 2 (content line), print ``EXPRESS MAIL OPEN AND DIST'' 
or ``PRIORITY MAIL OPEN AND DIST,'' as applicable.
    c. For Line 3 (origin line), show the city and state of the entry 
Post Office or

[[Page 56922]]

the mailer's name and the city and state of the mailer's location. It 
is recommended that the mailer's name also appear with the city and 
state of the entry Post Office. See 708.6.2.5 for additional standards.
    [Revise the tag numbers in the heading of 16.5.3 as follows:]

16.5.3 Tags 257 and 267--Express Mail Open and Distribute

    [Revise the text in 16.5.3 as follows:]
    Tag 257 and Tag 267 provide a place to affix Express Mail postage 
and the address label for the destination facility. Tag 257 or Tag 267 
must be attached to each Express Mail sack, in addition to the Express 
Mail sack label, to identify it as an Express Mail Open and Distribute 
shipment as follows:
    a. Attach Tag 267 to sacks used as Express Mail Open and Distribute 
containers destined to a NDC or SCF facility.
    b. Attach Tag 257 to sacks used as Express Mail Open and Distribute 
containers destined to a DDU. Label 257S may be affixed to containers 
used for Express Mail Open and Distribute shipments prepared under 
16.5.1c or 16.5.1d.

16.5.4 Tags 161 and 190--Priority Mail Open and Distribute

    * * * Tag 161 or Tag 190 must be attached to each Priority Mail 
sack, in addition to the Priority Mail sack label, or container to 
identify it as a Priority Mail Open and Distribute shipment as follows:
* * * * *
    [Revise the last sentence in item b as follows:]
    b. * * * Label 190S may be affixed to containers used for Priority 
Mail Open and Distribute shipments prepared under 16.5.1c or 16.5.1d.
* * * * *

16.5.6 Address Labels

    [Revise the first sentence in 16.5.6 as follows:]
    In addition to Tag 257, Tag 267, Tag 161, or Tag 190, USPS-provided 
containers and envelopes and mailer-supplied containers used for 
Express Mail Open and Distribute or Priority Mail Open and Distribute 
must bear an address label that states ``OPEN AND DISTRIBUTE AT:'' 
followed by the facility name. * * *

16.5.7 Address Label Service Barcode Requirement

    [Revise the introductory text of 16.5.7 as follows:]
    An electronic service barcode using the USS 128, USS 39, or 
concatenated GS1-128 (eVS approved mailers) symbology for Express Mail 
Open and Distribute, and the concatenated GS1-128 symbology for 
Priority Mail Open and Distribute, must be incorporated in the address 
label. Mailers must prepare address labels using the formats in 16.5.8 
through 16.5.12. The labels must include either a service type code, 
``723'' with a GS1-128 barcode or ``DB'' prefix with a USS 128 or USS 
39 barcode for Express Mail Open and Distribute or ``55/123'' for 
Priority Mail Open and Distribute, to identify the service. The human-
readable text ``USPS SCAN ON ARRIVAL'' must appear above the barcode. 
USPS certification is required from the National Customer Support 
Center (NCSC) for each printer used to print barcoded open and 
distribute address labels, except for barcodes created using USPS 
Shipping Assistant. NCSC contact information, formatting specifications 
for barcodes and electronic files, and certification, are included in 
Publication 91, Confirmation Services Technical Guide.
    Mailers can use the following options available to create a label 
with a service barcode for Express Mail Open and Distribute and 
Priority Mail Open and Distribute address labels:
* * * * *

16.6 Enter and Deposit

* * * * *

16.6.2 Entry

    [Revise the first sentence of 16.6.2 as follows:]
    A PS Form 3152, Confirmation Services Certification, (Priority Mail 
Open and Distribute) or PS Form 3152-E (Express Mail Open and 
Distribute) must accompany each Open and Distribute shipment. * * *
* * * * *
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to 
reflect these changes if our proposal is adopted.

Neva R. Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 2010-23315 Filed 9-16-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P