[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 17, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48959-48960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20009]


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POSTAL SERVICE


Mailing Cremated Remains

AGENCY: Postal Service TM.

ACTION: Notice of prospective revision of standards; invitation to 
comment.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is proposing to amend Hazardous, 
Restricted, and Perishable Mail, Publication 52, in various sections to 
require markings on mailpieces containing cremated remains, to 
eliminate the use of USPS-produced Priority Mail Express[supreg] labels 
for domestic shipments, and to limit the use of additional mailing 
services.

DATES: Submit comments on or before October 17, 2019.

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. If sending comments by email, include the 
name and address of the commenter and send to 
[email protected], with a subject line of ``Mailing 
Cremated Remains.'' Faxed comments are not accepted.

Confidentiality

    All submitted comments and attachments are part of the public 
record and subject to disclosure. Do not enclose any material in your 
comments that you consider to be confidential or inappropriate for 
public disclosure.
    You may inspect and photocopy all written comments, by appointment 
only, at USPS[supreg] Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 11th 
Floor North, Washington, DC, 20260. These records are available for 
review on Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.--4 p.m., by calling 202-268-
2906.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Karen F. Key at (202) 268-7492 or
    Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service is proposing to amend 
Publication 52 in various sections to:
    1. Require the use of Label 139, Cremated Remains, on all domestic 
or international mailpieces containing cremated remains.
    2. Eliminate the use of Labels 11-B, 11-F, and 11-HFPU, for 
domestic shipments containing cremated remains.
    3. Limit the additional mailing services for mailpieces containing 
cremated remains to insurance and return receipt.

Background

    Publication 52 subsection 451.22 provides that a mailpiece 
containing cremated remains (human or animal) must be shipped by 
Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail Express International[supreg] 
Service.
    Publication 52 subsection 451.22b provides that the contents, 
cremated remains, must be indicated on the applicable customs 
declaration when addressed to an international destination. However, as 
provided in subsections 451.22a and 451.22b, markings including the use 
of Label 139 are optional on both domestic and international 
mailpieces.
    Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic 
Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) section 115.2.0, provides that domestic 
Priority Mail Express customers have the option to use a USPS-provided 
Priority Mail Express label (11-B, 11-F, 11-HFPU) or single-ply 
Priority Mail Express label generated through Click-N-Ship[supreg] or 
other USPS-approved method.
    DMM subsection 503.1.4.1, provides that mailpieces sent at Priority 
Mail Express prices are eligible to have Adult Signature Services, 
Collect on Delivery, additional insurance, and return receipt services 
added.
    Domestic Mail Manual section 507.3.0 provides that mailpieces sent 
at Priority Mail Express prices are eligible for Hold For Pickup 
service.

Proposal

    To increase the visibility of mailpieces containing cremated 
remains to postal employees and to ensure those mailpieces are more 
secure for processing and timely delivery, the Postal Service is 
proposing to require the use of Label 139 to be affixed to each side 
(including top and bottom) of a Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail 
Express International mailpiece containing cremated remains (USPS-
produced or customer supplied). As an alternative, the Postal Service 
is introducing a special Priority Mail Express cremated remains branded 
box (BOX-CRE) that may be used for domestic or international shipments 
of cremated remains. The new Priority Mail Express cremated remains 
branded box will be available as part of a kit that will be offered in 
two versions. One kit will contain the box and a roll of tape. The 
other kit will include the box, a self-sealing plastic bag, bubble 
wrap, tape, and Publication 139, How to Package and Ship Cremated 
Remains. Both kits can be ordered online at the Postal Store on 
USPS.com[supreg].
    To improve service, the Postal Service is proposing to provide an 
option for retail customers to present a mailpiece containing cremated 
remains at a Post Office\TM\ location and have a shipping label printed 
and affixed. Customers will continue to have the option to use a 
single-ply Priority Mail Express label generated through Click-N-Ship 
or other USPS-approved method. If customers generate a single-ply 
label, the Postal Service is proposing to require an Intelligent 
Mail[supreg] package barcode (IMpb[supreg]) shipping label with the 
appropriate service type code and banner text above the barcode (see 
Publication 199) used for cremated remains domestic shipments. The 
shipping services file must include the appropriate cremated remains 
three-digit Extra Service Code for domestic and international shipments 
(see Publication 199). The use of a Priority Mail Express Label 11-B, 
11-F, and 11-HFPU, will no longer be accepted for cremated remains 
domestic shipments.
    As a result of improving service with the new shipping label 
requirements, the Postal Service is proposing to limit the extra 
services available when mailing cremated remains to additional 
insurance and return receipt, and proposes to eliminate the option to 
use Hold For Pickup service. Customers will continue to have the option 
to request a signature.
    In addition, the Postal Service will update Mailing Standards of 
the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 
and International Mail Manual (IMM[supreg]), and Publication 139, How 
to Package and Ship Cremated Remains, under separate cover.

[[Page 48960]]

    The proposed revisions will enable the Postal Service to provide an 
improved customer experience from sender to receiver.

Brittany M. Johnson,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2019-20009 Filed 9-16-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P