[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 131 (Tuesday, July 11, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 31930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14422]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

39 CFR part 3050

[Docket No. RM2017-8; Order No. 3993]


Periodic Reporting

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recent filing requesting that the 
Commission initiate an informal rulemaking proceeding to consider 
changes to an analytical method for use in periodic reporting (Proposal 
Four). This document informs the public of the filing, invites public 
comment, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: August 9, 2017.

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. Proposal Four
III. Notice and Comment
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    On June 30, 2017, the Postal Service filed a petition pursuant to 
39 CFR 3050.11 requesting the Commission to initiate an informal 
rulemaking proceeding to consider proposed changes to an analytical 
method related to periodic reports.\1\ The Petition identifies the 
proposed analytical method changes filed in this docket as Proposal 
Four.
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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 Four), June 30, 2017 (Petition).
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II. Proposal Four

    Background. The Postal Service currently uses a Form 3999 (street 
evaluations) data set, supplemented with information collected as part 
of the Parcel/Accountable Study (Package Study), to assign city carrier 
letter route street costs to products.\2\
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    \2\ Petition at 2; see Docket No. RM2015-7, Order No. 2792, 
Order Approving Analytical Principles Used in Periodic Reporting 
(Proposal Thirteen), October 29, 2015.
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    Proposal. Because the activity times collected during the Package 
Study are not part of an ongoing Postal Service data system, ``the 
parcel and accountables cost pool proportions have essentially remained 
unchanged since the Package Study was conducted in the spring of 
2014.'' Petition at 3. Proposal Four would modify the current 
methodology for assigning city carrier letter route street costs to 
products by adjusting the letter route street cost pools to more 
accurately reflect carriers' street activities and thereby more 
precisely attribute costs to products. Id.
    Rationale and impact. The Postal Service states that Proposal Four 
would update parcel delivery cost pool proportions to reflect the 
increase in parcel delivery activity that has taken place since 2014. 
Id. at 6. The Postal Service states further that Proposal Four would 
reduce the regular delivery street time proportion by the increases of 
the proportions for in-receptacle parcels and deviation parcels and 
accountables. Id. Proposal Four would also allow cost pool proportions 
to be easily adjusted annually. Id. at 8. To illustrate Proposal Four's 
potential impact, the Postal Service provides a table for each market 
dominant product and for aggregate domestic competitive and 
international mail and services. Id. at 8-9.

III. Notice and Comment

    The Commission establishes Docket No. RM2017-8 for consideration of 
matters raised by the Petition. More information on the Petition may be 
accessed via the Commission's Web site at http://www.prc.gov. 
Interested persons may submit comments on the Petition and Proposal 
Four no later than August 9, 2017. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Lawrence 
Fenster 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. RM2017-8 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 Four), filed June 30, 2017.
    2. Comments by interested persons in this proceeding are due no 
later than August 9, 2017.
    3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints Lawrence 
Fenster 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.
Ruth Ann Abrams,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-14422 Filed 7-10-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P