[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 218 (Wednesday, November 12, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67118-67119]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26662]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

39 CFR Part 3050

[Docket Nos. RM2015-3; Order No. 2240]


Periodic Reporting

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing 
concerning a Proposed Rulemaking on Analytical Principles Used in 
Periodic Reporting (Proposal Ten). This notice informs the public of 
the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative 
steps.

DATES: Comments are due: November 26, 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. Summary of Proposal
III. Initial Commission Action
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On November 3, 2014, the Postal Service filed a petition pursuant 
to 39 CFR 3050.11 requesting that the Commission initiate an informal 
rulemaking proceeding to consider changes to analytical principles 
relating to periodic reports.\1\ Text attached to the Petition 
identifies the proposed analytical method changes filed in this docket 
as Proposal Ten, A Proposal to Incorporate New Field Study Data into 
Three Parcel Mail Processing Cost Models and the Standard Mail 
Destination Entry Cost Model. Id. Attachment at 1. The Postal Service 
concurrently filed two library references, along with an application 
for nonpublic treatment for one.\2\
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    \1\ Petition of the United States Postal Service for the 
Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider Proposed Changes in 
Analytical Principles (Proposal Ten), November 3, 2014 (Petition).
    \2\ Notice of Filing of USPS-RM2015-3/1, USPS-RM2015-3/NP1, and 
Application for Nonpublic Treatment, November 3, 2014 (Notice). The 
Notice incorporates by reference the Application for Non-Public 
Treatment of Materials contained in Attachment Two to the December 
27, 2013 United States Postal Service Fiscal Year 2013 Annual 
Compliance Report. Notice at 1. See 39 CFR part 3007 for information 
on access to nonpublic material.
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II. Summary of Proposal

    New study. Currently, the Postal Service uses productivity data 
from a 2009 field study to develop cost estimates in four models filed 
as part of its Annual Compliance Report.\3\ Id. The Postal Service now 
has productivity data from a new study (2014 Study) conducted at 
several types of facilities, and proposes incorporating these results 
into the referenced cost models.\4\ Id. at 3.
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    \3\ The referenced models are the Standard Mail parcel mail 
processing cost model (USPS-FY13-12); the Standard Mail destination 
entry cost model (USPS-FY13-13); the Media Mail-Library Mail mail 
processing cost model (USPS-FY13-15); and the Parcel Select/Parcel 
Return Service mail processing cost model (USPS-FY13-NP15). 
Petition, Attachment at 2.
    \4\ The facilities in the 2014 Study include network 
distribution centers (NDCs); auxiliary service facilities; 
processing and distribution centers; and delivery units. Id.
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    The Postal Service states that the proposed productivity updates 
affect two other models because some of the results (from two of the 
four models) are used as inputs to other cost studies.\5\ Id. All six 
models, as revised by the updates, appear in the library references. 
Id.
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    \5\ The two cost models affected by the results of the 
productivity updates are the Bulk Parcel Return Service cost model 
and the Standard Mail Enhanced Carrier Route mail processing cost 
model. Id. at 3.
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    The 2014 Study also provides NDC data on postal arrival and 
dispatch profiles and mail piece dimension data by mail type. Id. at 6-
7. The Postal Service also proposes incorporating these data into the 
relevant mail processing cost models. Id.
    Cost impacts. The Postal Service summarizes the cost impacts of the 
proposed modifications on the public cost models in Tables 1 through 5. 
Id. at 8. It summarizes the cost impacts of the proposed modifications 
on the Parcel Select/Parcel Return Service mail processing unit cost 
estimates in an Excel file in the non-public library reference.\6\ 
Petition, Attachment at 8.
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    \6\ See USPS-RM2015-3/NP1,`PROP.10.IMPACT.NONPUB.xlsx.'
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III. Initial Commission Action

    The Commission establishes Docket No. RM2015-3 for consideration of 
matters raised by the Petition. Additional information concerning the 
Petition may be accessed via the Commission's Web site at http://www.prc.gov. Interested persons may submit comments on the Petition no 
later than November 26, 2014. Reply comments are due no later than 
December 12, 2014. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Nina Yeh is designated as 
officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to represent the 
interests of the general public in this proceeding.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. RM2015-3 for consideration 
of the matters raised by the Petition of the United States Postal 
Service for the Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider Proposed Changes 
in Analytical Principles (Proposal Ten), filed November 3, 2014.

[[Page 67119]]

    2. Comments are due no later than November 26, 2014. Reply comments 
are due no later than December 12, 2014.
    3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints Nina Yeh to 
serve as an officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to 
represent the interests of the general public in this docket.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Shoshana M. Grove,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-26662 Filed 11-10-14; 8:45 am]
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