[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 167 (Thursday, August 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51379-51380]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-20431]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket Nos. PI2014-1; Order No. 2163]


Statutory Public Service or Public Activity Reporting

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is establishing a proceeding on the scope of 
public service or activity cost reporting pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 
3651(b)(1)(C). The Commission seeks public comment on this topic. It is 
also filing a related Postal Service memorandum as a library reference. 
This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, 
and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: September 17, 2014.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 
202-789-6820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. Background
III. Public Inquiry
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    The Commission invites public comment concerning the scope of 
public service or activity cost reporting in its Annual Report to the 
President and Congress (Annual Report). Specifically, the Commission 
seeks public comment on the universe of other public services or 
activities that the Commission should review under 39 U.S.C. 
3651(b)(1)(C).

II. Background

    Each year, to fulfill its responsibilities under 39 U.S.C. 3651, 
the Commission issues an Annual Report concerning its operations under 
title 39. 39 U.S.C. 3651(a). The Annual Report must contain, among 
other things, an estimate of the costs incurred by the Postal Service 
in providing other public services or activities which, in the judgment 
of the Postal Regulatory Commission, would not otherwise have been 
provided by the Postal Service but for the requirements of law. Id. 
3651(b)(1)(C).
    In its most recent Annual Report, the Commission stated that in 
2014 it would review the scope of other public services or activities 
under section 3651(b)(1)(C).\1\ For FY 2013, that estimate included 
only the costs of delivering mail six days a week instead of five days, 
and revenue lost from unzoned First-Class Mail and Library/Media rates 
Id. at 30. The Commission noted, however, that this approach may be too 
narrow, and that a more comprehensive interpretation of section 
3651(b)(1)(C) could also include the estimated net cost of activities 
such as the Inspection Service or the Postal Service Office of 
Inspector General, as well as services such as the addressing system or 
emergency response. Id. at 31.
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    \1\ Annual Report to the President and Congress Fiscal Year 2013 
at 31.
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    The legislative history of 39 U.S.C. 3651 provides some insight 
into determining what Postal Service actions to include as other public 
services or activities. A 2005 House Committee Report stated that as 
part of the Annual Report, the Commission is directed to prepare an 
estimate of public service costs borne by the Postal Service including 
universal service costs, revenue-forgone costs, and other costs (e.g., 
law enforcement activities).\2\ Aside from law enforcement activities, 
other public services or activities may include provisions in the U.S. 
Code that require the Postal Service to provide services or activities 
that may fall under the rubric of the public interest.
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    \2\ H.R. Rep. No. 109-66, part 1, at 50 (2005).
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    In early 2014, the Commission requested that the Postal Service 
provide its views on the universe of other public service or activities 
that it believes the Commission should review under section 
3651(b)(1)(C), including an estimate of these costs. The Postal Service 
submitted an analysis of activities that could qualify for reporting 
under section 3651(b)(1)(C), which is included in this docket as 
Library Reference 1. In its analysis, the Postal Service identified the 
following activities for potential future reporting:
     Employee and retiree health benefits;
     Federal retirement benefits;
     Binding arbitration of labor issues;
     Postal Inspection Service;
     Office of Inspector General;
     Merit Systems Protection Board and Equal Employment 
Opportunity Commission appeals;
     Federal workers' compensation program; and
     Other regulatory requirements, including Postal Regulatory 
Commission funding and aspects of service performance measurement, 
emergency detection and response, and federal purchasing requirements.

See Library Reference 1 at 4-16.
    The Postal Service also states that other unfunded mandates, such 
as compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act, 
impose costs that may not be substantial enough to warrant reporting in 
the Annual Report. Id. at 16. It emphasizes that it is not suggesting 
that the activities listed in the analysis are unimportant or that the 
Postal Service necessarily should not be required to perform them. Id. 
at 4. Rather, it asserts that the purpose of section 3651(b)(1)(C)'s 
reporting requirement is to inform Congress and the President of Postal 
Service mandates so that policymakers may make better informed 
decisions in these areas. Id.

III. Public Inquiry

    The Commission establishes Docket No. PI2013-2 to invite public 
comment on the meaning of-other public services or activities in 39 
U.S.C. 3651(b)(1)(C). Specifically, it seeks comments on the Postal 
Service's analysis of activities that could qualify for reporting under 
section 3651(b)(1)(C), which is included as Library Reference 1. The 
Commission also requests comments that identify additional public 
services or activities that should be included in this calculation and 
an estimate of these costs. For each public service or activity 
identified, comments should provide the estimated FY 2013 cost or an 
explanation of how such costs could be estimated, as well as the basis 
used to develop any estimated costs.
    Comments are due no later than September 17, 2014. Reply comments 
are due no later than October 1, 2014. Comments are to be submitted via 
the Commission's online filing system at http://www.prc.gov unless a 
waiver is obtained. Information on how to obtain a waiver may be found 
by contacting the Commission's dockets section at 202-789-6846.
    Section 505 of title 39 requires designation of an officer of the 
Commission (Public Representative) in all public proceedings to 
represent the interests of the general public. The Commission hereby 
designates James Waclawski as Public Representative in this proceeding.

[[Page 51380]]

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission hereby establishes Docket No. PI2014-1 to invite 
public comment on the universe of other public services or activities 
that the Commission should review under 39 U.S.C. 3651(b)(1)(C).
    2. Comments are due no later than September 17, 2014.
    3. Reply comments are due no later than October 1, 2014.
    4. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints James 
Waclawski to serve as officer of the Commission (Public Representative) 
to represent the interests of the general public in this proceeding.
    5. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Shoshana M. Grove,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-20431 Filed 8-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P