[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 60 (Wednesday, March 28, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18707-18709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7356]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


USPS Package Intercept--New Product Offerings

AGENCY: Postal Service TM.

ACTION: Final rule with comments.

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[[Page 18708]]

SUMMARY: The Postal Service proposes to revise Mailing Standards of the 
United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 507.5 
and 508.7 to implement second phase of USPS Package Intercept 
TM service introducing an electronic process for Commercial 
customers requesting USPS Package Intercept and other related features.

DATES: Effective Date: June 24, 2012. We must receive your comments on 
or before June 15, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the manager, Product 
Classification, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 4446, 
Washington DC 20260-5015. You may inspect and photocopy all written 
comments at USPS[supreg] Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., 
11th Floor N, Washington DC by appointment only between the hours of 9 
a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday by calling 1-202-268-2906 in 
advance. Email comments, containing the name and address of the 
commenter, may be sent to: [email protected], with a 
subject line of ``Package Intercept--New Product Offerings''. Faxed 
comments are not accepted.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen Key at 202-268-7492 or Suzanne 
Newman at 202-268-5581.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 22, 2012, USPS Package Intercept 
service was introduced as a new domestic service that replaced the 
former recall of mail process. Plans were announced to implement new 
features for USPS Package Intercept service using a phased-in approach. 
The Postal Service proposes to implement the second phase of the 
program on June 24, 2012, by offering an electronic application method 
for commercial customers to register and request USPS Package Intercept 
service through the Business Customer Gateway at https://gateway.usps.com/bcg/login.htm. Additional related features include 
allowing these customers to redirect mailpieces to a new address or to 
a Post Office TM as Hold For Pickup service.
    Additionally, customers using the electronic process will have the 
option of adding selected extra services to the new Priority 
Mail[supreg] piece. Payment of all associated fees and postage will be 
made through the mailer's Centralized Account Payment System (ACH-
Debit) link.
    Except for pieces being redirected back to the sender that were 
originally sent Express Mail[supreg], Priority Mail or First-Class 
Mail[supreg], redirected mailpieces would be subject to payment of 
Priority Mail postage from the location where intercepted to the new 
destination based on the dimensions, weight and zone of the piece. An 
Intelligent Mail[supreg] package barcode will be included on the 
redirected new Priority Mail pieces.
    The USPS Package Intercept fee implemented on January 22, 2012, 
(see Notice 123-Price List) will not change. The USPS does not 
guarantee the interception of a mailpiece.
    The Postal Service adopts the following changes 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

    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

* * * * *

5.0 Package Intercept

5.1 Description of Service

    [Revise 5.1 as follows:]
    Package Intercept service provides a method for customers to 
authorize redirection of any mailable domestic mailpieces with a 
tracking barcode as provided in 5.1.1. If the mail item is found and 
redirected, additional postage is charged as provided under 5.2. 
Package Intercept requests are active for 10 business days from the 
date of the request. Interception of eligible mailpieces is not 
guaranteed. Requests can be made as follows:
    a. Retail customers may request the redirection of any mailable 
domestic mailpiece back to the sender by submitting PS Form 1509, 
Sender's Request for USPS Package Intercept Service at any Retail Post 
Office location.
    b. Commercial customers may request the redirection of any mailable 
domestic mailpiece back to the sender, a new delivery address or a Post 
Office as Hold For Pickup service (508.7.0) by registering and 
submitting requests through the Business Customer Gateway at https://gateway.usps.com/bcg/login.htm. Package information on the mailpieces 
to be intercepted will be provided by the customer to the USPS through 
an electronic file exchange.
    [Revise 5.1.1 as follows:]

5.1.1 Eligibility

    Package Intercept service is available for any Express Mail, 
Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, First-Class Package Service, Parcel 
Select, and Package Services mailpieces with a tracking barcode, 
addressed to, from or between domestic destinations (608.2) that do not 
bear a customs declarations label, and measuring not more than 108 
inches in length and girth combined except as noted in 5.1.2.
    [Revise 5.1.2 as follows:]

5.1.2 Ineligible

    Package Intercept is not available to:
    1. Mailpieces sent to International destinations.
    2. Mailpieces sent to APO/FPO/DPO destinations.
    3. Domestic mailpieces requiring a customs declarations label (see 
608.2.4.).
    4. Mailpieces that indicate surface-only transportation such as 
Label 127, ``Surface Mail Only'' or bears other hazardous materials 
markings such as ``Limited Quantity,'' ``Consumer Commodity'' or ``ORM-
D''.
    5. Mailpieces that do not contain a tracking barcode.

5.2 Postage and Fees

    [Revise 5.2 as follows:]
    Customers must pay a nonrefundable per-piece fee to initiate the 
process of attempting to intercept the mailpiece. The USPS does not 
guarantee the interception of a mailpiece. All intercepted mailpieces 
that are redirected back to the sender through the retail method using 
PS Form 1509 are subject to payment of the applicable postage based on 
how the piece was originally mailed. All intercepted mailpieces that 
are redirected back to the sender, a new delivery address or a Post 
Office as Hold For Pickup service through the electronic commercial 
method are relabeled and handled as a new Priority Mail piece. Except 
for pieces being redirected back to the sender that were originally 
sent by Express Mail, Priority Mail or First-Class Mail, the new 
Priority Mail piece

[[Page 18709]]

is charged the applicable Priority Mail postage from the location where 
intercepted to the new destination based on the dimensions, weight and 
zone of the piece. The payment of fees are made as follows:
    a. For retail customers, payment of fees may be made by cash, 
check, credit card, or debit card at any retail Post Office location. 
Payment of any applicable return postage will be collected from the 
sender as postage due upon delivery.
    b. For commercial customers, payment of fees and any applicable 
postage must be processed through the mailer's Centralized Account 
Payment System (ACH-Debit) account link.

5.3 Adding Extra Services

    [Revise 5.3 as follows:]
    Extra services may be added to Package Intercept mailpieces under 
limited circumstances. Customers who register and file their request 
through the Business Customer Gateway at https://gateway.usps.com/bcg/login.htm may add, and pay additional postage for, extra services on 
the new Priority Mail piece at the time of their intercept request. 
Except for Registered Mail, which retains its original extra services 
identification number, the relabeled new Priority Mail item will be 
assigned a new extra service identification number and barcode 
applicable to the extra service purchased. An Intelligent Mail package 
barcode will be included on all redirected new Priority Mail pieces and 
all available USPS acceptance, processing and delivery scans will be 
available to the customer at no charge. The following extra services 
may be added to the new Priority Mail item at the time of the intercept 
request:
    a. Adult Signature Required
    b. Adult Signature Restricted Delivery
    c. Insurance
    d. Signature Confirmation
    e. Registered Mail must be added if the original shipment included 
Registered Mail service, but otherwise may not be added.
* * * * *

5.5 Request for Intercept

    [Revise 5.5 as follows:]
    Retail customers may request to have their package intercepted and 
redirected to sender by submitting PS Form 1509, Sender's Request for 
USPS Package Intercept Service, at any Post Office when presenting 
valid Government-issued photo identification. Commercial customers may 
request to have their package redirected to sender, to a new postal 
delivery address, or to a Post Office as Hold For Pickup service 
through the Business Customer Gateway at http://pe.usps.com/. Packages 
designated for redirection to a new address provided by the mailer that 
are undeliverable as addressed will be returned to sender as provided 
in 507.1. Only the sender or authorized representative can request 
Package Intercept.
* * * * *

508 Recipient Services

* * * * *

7.0 Hold For Pickup

7.1 Fees and Postage

7.1.1 Postage Payment Methods

    Hold For Pickup service is available to mailers using the ``Hold 
For Pickup'' label when postage is paid by:
    [Add new item 7.1.1e. as follows:]
* * * * *
    e. A mailer's Centralized Account Processing System (CAPS) account 
when used in conjunction with a Package Intercept request.
* * * * *
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR Part 111 to 
reflect these changes.

Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Legal Policy & Legislative Advice.
[FR Doc. 2012-7356 Filed 3-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P