Federal Register, Volume 76 Issue 62 (Thursday, March 31, 2011)

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 62 (Thursday, March 31, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17784-17787]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7405]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Forwarding and Return Service for Parcel Select Mailpieces

AGENCY: Postal Service^TM.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is revising the Mailing Standards of the 
United

[[Page 17785]]

States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 507.1.5.4 and 
507.2.3.6 to eliminate the free local forwarding of Parcel 
Select[supreg] mailpieces and to eliminate the option to request 
discontinuance of forwarding. The Postal Service also implements a new 
price for Parcel Select forwards and returns; those pieces will now pay 
the applicable Parcel Select barcoded nonpresort price, plus an 
additional service fee.

DATES: Effective Date: July 5, 2011.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Annette Raney at 202-268-4307, Karen 
Key at 202-268-7492, or Yvonne Gifford at 202-268-8082.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Current mailing standards permit Parcel 
Select mailpieces to be forwarded, without an additional postage 
charge, when the old and new addresses are served within the same Post 
Office unit. With this final rule, Parcel Select mailpieces will no 
longer be handed-off to facilitate local delivery within the same 
office but rather sent to a Centralized Forwarding System (CFS) 
facility for automated handling. Recipients will now incur an 
additional service fee, plus the cost of Parcel Select barcoded 
nonpresort postage for mailpieces that are forwarded locally, just as 
they do for those mailpieces that are forwarded beyond the local area.
    Additionally, with this final rule, mailers who do not wish to pay 
for forwarding outside the local area may no longer request that 
parcels not be forwarded. PS Form 3546, which notifies the postmaster 
of the old address to discontinue forwarding Package Services or Parcel 
Select, has been revised accordingly.
    Prior to December 2006, Parcel Select was forwarded and returned at 
the Parcel Post price. With the classification of Parcel Select as a 
competitive product, the DMM was revised to accommodate these changes; 
however, the price to forward and return Parcel Select was not 
separately mentioned. With this notice, we are specifying that the 
price to forward or return Parcel Select pieces will now be the 
applicable Parcel Select barcoded nonpresort price, plus an additional 
service fee, which will cover the cost for forwarding or returning the 
Parcel Select mailpiece.
    The Postal Service filed a Notice with the Postal Regulatory 
Commission (PRC) on March 16, 2011 regarding the forwarding and return 
service for Parcel Select mailpieces. The regulatory review may take up 
to 30 days from that date.
    The Postal Service herby adopts the following changes to the 
Mailing Standards for 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.

    Accordingly, 39 CFR part 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); 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.


0
2. Revise the following sections of Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) as follows:

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail 
Manual (DMM)

* * * * *

500 Additional Mailing Services

* * * * *

507 Mailer Services

1.0 Treatment of Mail

* * * * *

1.3 Directory Service

    USPS letter carrier offices give directory service to the types of 
mail listed below that have an insufficient address or cannot be 
delivered at the address given (the USPS does not compile a directory 
of any kind):
* * * * *
    [Revise 1.3d as follows:]
    d. Parcels mailed at any Package Services or Parcel Select price.
* * * * *

1.4 Basic Treatment

* * * * *

1.4.5 Extra Services

    Mail with extra services is treated according to the charts for 
each class of mail in 1.5, except that:
* * * * *
    [Revise 1.4.5b as follows:]
    b. All insured First-Class Mail is forwarded and returned at no 
additional cost. All insured Standard Mail, Package Services, and 
Parcel Select is forwarded or returned.
* * * * *

1.5 Treatment for Ancillary Services by Class of Mail

* * * * *

1.5.4 Package Services and Parcel Select

    [Revise introductory paragraph of 1.5.4 to include Parcel Select as 
follows:]
    Undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) Package Services and Parcel Select 
mailpieces are treated as described in Exhibit 1.5.4, with these 
additional conditions:
* * * * *
    [Revise 1.5.4c as follows:]
    c. The endorsement ``Change Service Requested'' is not permitted 
for Package Services or Parcel Select mailpieces containing hazardous 
materials under 601.10.0.
    [Revise the first two sentences of 1.5.4d as follows:]
    d. If a Package Services or a Parcel Select mailpiece and any 
attachment are not opened by the addressee, the addressee may refuse 
delivery of the piece and have it returned to the sender without 
affixing postage. Pieces endorsed ``change service requested'' as 
allowed in 1.5.4c are not returned to sender when refused. If a Package 
Services or Parcel Select piece or any attachment to that piece is 
opened by the addressee, the addressee must affix the applicable 
postage to return the piece to the sender. * * *
    [Revise 1.5.4e as follows:]
    e. An undeliverable Package Services or a Parcel Select mailpiece 
that bears postage with a postage evidencing imprint and that has no 
return address or illegible return address is returned to the meter 
licensee or PC Postage customer upon payment of the return postage. The 
reason for nondelivery is attached, with no address correction fee. All 
Package Services (except unendorsed Bound Printed Matter) and Parcel 
Select pieces must have a legible return address.
* * * * *

Exhibit 1.5.4 Treatment of Undeliverable Package Services Mail and 
Parcel Select

Mailer Endorsement--USPS Treatment of UAA Pieces

* * * * *
    [Revise Address Service Requested, Forwarding Service Requested and 
Return Service Requested text of Exhibit 1.5.4 as follows:]

``Address Service Requested''

    If no change-of-address order on file:
    Piece is returned with reason for nondelivery attached (only return 
postage charged) as follows:
    a. Parcel Select: At the Parcel Select barcoded nonpresort price 
plus the additional service fee.

[[Page 17786]]

    b. Package Services: At the appropriate single-piece price for the 
specific class of mail.
    If change of-address order on file:
     Months 1 through 12: Package Services forwarded locally 
(no charge); Package Services forwarded outside the local area at the 
single-piece price for the class of mail. Parcel Select forwarded as 
postage due to addressee at the Parcel Select barcoded nonpresort price 
plus the additional service fee for Parcel Select. In both cases, 
separate notice of new address is provided (address correction fee 
charged). If addressee refuses to pay postage due, piece is returned 
with reason for nondelivery attached and postage charged as follows:
    a. Parcel Select: At the Parcel Select barcoded nonpresort price 
plus the additional service fee.
    b. Package Services: At the single-piece price for the class of 
mail.
     Months 13 through 18: Piece returned with new address 
attached (postage charged as noted in items a and b under ``Months 1 
through 12'').
     After month 18: Piece returned with reason for nondelivery 
attached (postage charged as noted in items a and b under ``Months 1 
through 12'').

``Forwarding Service Requested'' \2\

    If no change-of-address order on file:
    Piece returned with reason for nondelivery attached; return postage 
charged as follows:
    a. Parcel Select: At the Parcel Select barcoded nonpresort price 
plus the additional service fee.
    b. Package Services: At the appropriate single-piece price for the 
specific class of mail.
    If change of-address order on file:
     Months 1 through 12: Package Services forwarded locally 
(no charge); Package Services forwarded outside the local area at the 
single-piece price for the class of mail. Parcel Select forwarded as 
postage due to addressee at the Parcel Select Barcoded Nonpresorted 
price plus the additional service fee for Parcel Select. If addressee 
refuses to pay postage due, piece returned with reason for nondelivery 
attached; postage charged as follows:
    a. Parcel Select: At the Parcel Select barcoded nonpresort price 
plus the additional service fee.
    b. Package Services: At the single-piece price for the class of 
mail.
     Months 13 through 18: Piece returned with new address 
attached (postage charged as noted in items a and b under ``Months 1 
through 12'').
     After month 18: Piece returned with reason for nondelivery 
attached (postage charged as noted in items a and b under ``Months 1 
through 12'').

``Return Service Requested''

    In all cases:
    Piece returned with new address or reason for nondelivery attached 
(return postage charged as follows):
    a. Parcel Select: At the Parcel Select Barcoded Nonpresorted price 
plus the additional service fee.
    b. Package Services: At the appropriate single-piece price for the 
specific class of mail.
* * * * *.

1.6 Attachments and Enclosures

* * * * *.
    [Revise title and text of 1.6.3 as follows:]

1.6.3 Package Services and Parcel Select

    Undeliverable, unendorsed mailpieces with a First-Class Mail 
attachment or enclosure are forwarded or returned as follows:
    a. Parcel Select at the Parcel Select barcoded nonpresort price 
plus the additional service fee.
    b. Package Services at the single-piece price for the specific 
class of mail.
    c. For both types of host pieces, if the attachment or enclosure is 
a nonincidental First-Class Mail attachment or enclosure, the weight of 
the attachment or enclosure is not included when computing charges.

1.7 Mixed Classes

* * * * *

1.7.2 Other Combinations

    [Revise text of 1.7.2 as follows:]
    Pieces of Periodicals, Standard Mail, Package Services, or Parcel 
Select with other classes of mail attached or enclosed (other than 
incidental First-Class Mail attachments or enclosures) must be 
forwarded under standards for the host piece. Neither the enclosures 
nor the host piece are provided the forwarding service of First-Class 
Mail.
* * * * *.

1.9 Dead Mail

1.9.1 Basic Information

    * * * Every reasonable effort is made to match articles found loose 
in the mail with the envelope or wrapper from which lost and to return 
or forward the articles.
* * * * *.
    [Revise text of 1.9.1e as follows:]

    e. Except for unendorsed Standard Mail, all undeliverable Standard 
Mail, Package Services, Parcel Select, and insured First-Class Mail 
containing Standard Mail or Package Services enclosures that cannot be 
returned because of an incorrect, incomplete, illegible, or missing 
return address is opened and examined to identify the sender or 
addressee.
* * * * *.

2.0 Forwarding

* * * * *

2.2 Forwardable Mail

* * * * *

2.2.3 Discontinued Post Office

    [Revise text of 2.2.3 as follows:]
    All Express Mail, First-Class Mail, Periodicals, Package Services, 
and Parcel Select mail addressed to a discontinued Post Office may be 
forwarded without charge to a Post Office that the addressee designates 
as more convenient than the office to which the USPS ordered the mail 
sent.

2.2.4 Rural Delivery

    [Revise text of 2.2.4 as follows:]
    When rural delivery service is established or changed, a customer 
of an office receiving mail from the original delivery office may file 
a written request with the postmaster at the original office to have 
all Express Mail, First-Class Mail, Periodicals, Package Services, and 
Parcel Select mail forwarded to the new delivery office without added 
charge.
* * * * *

2.2.6 Mail for Military Personnel

    [Revise the first sentence of 2.2.6 as follows:]
    All Express Mail, First-Class Mail, Periodicals, Package Services, 
and Parcel Select mail addressed to persons in the U.S. Armed Forces 
(including civilian employees) serving where U.S. mail service operates 
is forwarded at no added charge when the change of address is caused by 
official orders. * * *
* * * * *

2.3 Postage for Forwarding

* * * * *

2.3.6 Package Services and Parcel Select

    [Revise text of 2.3.6 as follows:]
    Package Services and Parcel Select pieces are subject to the 
collection of additional postage at the applicable price for 
forwarding; Parcel Select at the Parcel Select barcoded nonpresort 
price plus the additional service fee and Package Services at the 
single-piece price for the specific class of mail. Unless endorsed 
``Change Service Requested,'' all Package Services pieces are delivered 
without additional postage charge when the old and new addresses are 
served by the same Post Office. Shipper Paid Forwarding, used with

[[Page 17787]]

Address Change Service (4.0), provides mailers who ship Package 
Services and Parcel Select parcels an option of paying forwarding 
postage instead of the addressee paying postage due charges. The 
addressee may refuse any specific piece of Package Services or Parcel 
Select that has been forwarded.
* * * * *
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to 
reflect these changes.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 2011-7405 Filed 3-30-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P