[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 2 (Tuesday, January 4, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 296-297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-33173]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

39 CFR Part 3050

[Docket No. RM2011-6; Order No. 626]


Periodic Reporting

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; availability of rulemaking 
petition.

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[[Page 297]]

SUMMARY: The Commission is establishing a docket to consider a proposed 
change in certain analytical methods used in periodic reporting. The 
proposed change has two parts. One part would update the mail 
processing portion of the Parcel Select/Parcel Return Service cost 
models. The other part would modify the Parcel Select/Parcel Return 
Service transportation cost model. This action responds to a Postal 
Service rulemaking petition. Establishing this docket will allow the 
Commission to consider the Postal Service's proposal and comments from 
the public.

DATES: Comments are due: February 3, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing 
Online system at http://www.prc.gov. Commenters who cannot submit their 
views electronically should contact the person identified in FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by telephone for advice on alternatives to 
electronic filing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel, 
at [email protected] or 202-789-6820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 22, 2010, the Postal Service 
filed a petition pursuant to 39 CFR 3050.11 asking the Commission to 
initiate an informal rulemaking proceeding to consider changes in the 
analytical methods approved for use in periodic reporting.\1\ The 
Petition submits two distinct sets of proposals for approval. It 
proposes to use both sets in the Postal Service's FY 2010 Annual 
Compliance Report.
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    \1\ Petition of the United States Postal Service Requesting 
Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider Proposed Changes in Analytic 
Principles (Proposals Thirteen-Fourteen), December 22, 2010 
(Petition).
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    Proposal Thirteen is a set of proposals to update the mail 
processing portion of the Parcel Select/Parcel Return Service cost 
models.\2\ Petition at 1. The Postal Service states that much of the 
input data and cost methodology that it proposes to use in the new 
Parcel Select/Parcel Return Service cost model are the same as that 
relied upon in its Standard Mail parcel/non-flat machinable (NFM) 
processing cost model that was filed as Proposal Seven on September 8, 
2010. Proposal Thirteen at 1. These new data will change the 
productivity figures and arrival/dispatch profiles used in the 
model.\3\ More detailed descriptions of proposed changes to the Parcel 
Select/Parcel Return Service mail processing cost model are provided 
under seal as USPS-RM2011-6/NP1. The Postal Service says that the 
impact of Proposal Thirteen would be to decrease the mail processing 
unit cost estimates for price categories that require more processing 
steps, and increase the cost estimates for the DDU and RDU categories. 
Id. at 3.
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    \2\ Proposal Thirteen is described in an attachment to the 
Petition (Proposal Thirteen).
    \3\ Proposal Thirteen proposes to populate the Parcel Select/
Parcel Return model with much of the data that was collected to 
develop the Standard Mail/non-flat machinable (NFM) mail processing 
cost model. It also proposes to use Parcel Select arrival profile 
data that were collected during FY 2009. Id. at 2.
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    Proposal Fourteen is a set of proposals to modify the Parcel 
Select/Parcel Return Service transportation cost model.\4\ Id. at 1. It 
proposes to modify that model to (1) present transportation cost 
estimates only for the current price categories; (2) use PostalOne! 
data to estimate the cost of the transportation legs for non-
dropshipped price categories; (3) incorporate the official revenue, 
pieces, and weight volumes into the model; (4) use the method relied 
upon to distribute Parcel Select transportation costs to distribute 
Parcel Return Service transportation costs; and (5) use a new method to 
estimate the return network distribution center cubic foot miles by 
zone. Id. at 1-2. The Postal Service states that it cannot estimate the 
impact of Proposal Fourteen since it would use data that was not 
available in 2009. Id. at 2.
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    \4\ Proposal Fourteen is described in an attachment to the 
Petition (Proposal Fourteen).
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    The Petition, including the attachments, is available for review on 
the Commission's Web site, http://www.prc.gov.
    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, John P. Klingenberg is designated as 
Public Representative to represent the interests of the general public 
in this proceeding. Comments are due no later than February 3, 2011.
    It is ordered:
    1. The Petition of the United States Postal Service Requesting 
Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider Proposed Changes in Analytic 
Principles (Proposals Thirteen-Fourteen), filed December 22, 2010, is 
granted.
    2. The Commission establishes Docket No. RM2011-6 to consider the 
matters raised by the Postal Service's Petition.
    3. Interested persons may submit comments on Proposals Thirteen and 
Fourteen no later than February 3, 2011.
    4. The Commission will determine the need for reply comments after 
review of the initial comments.
    5. John P. Klingenberg is appointed to serve as the Public 
Representative to represent the interests of the general public in this 
proceeding.
    6. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Shoshana M. Grove,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-33173 Filed 1-3-11; 8:45 am]
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