[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11302-11303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04621]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. R2013-11; Order No. 3103]


Rate Adjustment

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing 
concerning the removal of the exigent surcharge from existing rates on 
Sunday, April 10, 2016. This notice informs the public of the filing, 
invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: March 16, 2016.

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:

[[Page 11303]]

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. Commission Action
III. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On February 25, 2016, the Postal Service, in accordance with Order 
No. 1926, filed notice of its intention to remove the exigent surcharge 
from existing rates on Sunday, April 10, 2016.\1\ The removal date is 
based on the Postal Service's estimate that the surcharge-related 
revenue limitation will be reached on Saturday, April 9, 2016, as well 
as past practice with respect to rate changes and other implementation 
considerations. Id. at 2-4.
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    \1\ See Notice of the United States Postal Service of Removal of 
the Exigent Surcharge, February 25, 2016 (Notice). The Postal 
Service conditions removal on the absence of Congressional action or 
the courts making the exigent surcharge part of the base rate or 
extending it. Notice at 1.
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    The Notice includes Attachment A, which updates the Market Dominant 
section of the Mail Classification Schedule with the prices that will 
take effect upon removal of the exigent surcharge. Id. Attachment A at 
1. The Postal Service represents that the Commission approved these 
prices in Docket No. R2015-4.\2\ The Postal Service states that the 
prices were made available to mailers on Postal Explorer and RIBBS on 
February 5, 2016. Notice at 4.
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    \2\ Id. See Docket No. R2015-4, Order on Revised Price 
Adjustments for Standard Mail, Periodicals, and Package Services 
Products and Related Mail Classification Changes, May 7, 2015 (Order 
No. 2472), Attachment.
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II. Commission Action

    Establishment of public comment period. The Commission acknowledges 
that the removal of the exigent surcharge does not meet the definition 
of any of the typical Type 1 rate adjustments identified in 39 CFR part 
3010. Because this removal is a follow-on from a previous Type 3 rate 
adjustment, the rules applicable to the annual limitation are not 
applicable to this rate adjustment. However, the Commission finds it 
appropriate to provide a period of 20 days from the date of the Postal 
Service's filing for public comment, consistent with Type 1 rate 
adjustments. See 39 CFR 3010.11(a)(5). Comments by interested persons 
are due no later than March 16, 2016. Commenters may address the 
consistency of the prices and product descriptions in Attachment A to 
the Notice with the prices and product descriptions in the Attachment 
to Order No. 2472, and any other relevant issues concerning the Postal 
Service's filings. Interested persons are encouraged to review the 
Postal Service's Notice and Attachment A in their entirety.
    Participation and designated filing method. Interested persons may 
submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing Online 
system, unless a waiver is obtained. Instructions for obtaining an 
account to file documents online may be found on the Commission's Web 
site (http://www.prc.gov), or by contacting the Commission's Docket 
Section staff at 202-789-6846. Persons without access to the Internet 
or otherwise unable to file documents electronically may request a 
waiver of the electronic filing requirement by filing a motion for 
waiver with the Commission. The motion may be filed along with any 
comments the person may wish to submit in this docket. Persons 
requesting a waiver may file hardcopy documents with the Commission 
either by mailing or by hand delivery to the Office of the Secretary, 
Postal Regulatory Commission, 901 New York Avenue NW., Suite 200, 
Washington, DC 20268-0001 during regular business hours by the date 
specified for such filing. Any person needing assistance in requesting 
a waiver may contact the Docket Section at 202-789-6846. Hardcopy 
documents filed in this docket will be scanned and posted on the 
Commission's Web site.
    Appointment of Public Representative. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, 
James Waclawski will continue to serve as an officer of the Commission 
(Public Representative) to represent the interests of the general 
public in this proceeding.
    Continuation of bi-weekly reporting. Pursuant to Order No. 3030, 
the Postal Service is to continue filing bi-weekly estimates of the 
incremental and cumulative surcharge revenue.\3\
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    \3\ Second Order on Surcharge Revenue Reporting, January 15, 
2016, at 2 (Order No. 3030).
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III. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. Interested persons are invited to comment on the Postal 
Service's removal of the exigent surcharge no later than March 16, 
2016.
    2. James Waclawski will continue to serve as an officer of the 
Commission (Public Representative) to represent the interests of the 
general public in this proceeding.
    3. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the 
Federal Register.

    By the Commission.
Stacy L. Ruble,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-04621 Filed 3-2-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P