[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 4 (Thursday, January 7, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 1080-1081]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-27802]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Extra Services Refund Time Limit

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Proposed rule; revision; additional comment period.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Postal Service is revising its pending proposal to amend 
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail 
Manual (DMM[supreg]) in subsection 604.9.2 to revise the time limit for 
extra service refunds.

DATES: Submit comments on or before February 8, 2021.

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 PC Federal 
[email protected], with a subject line of ``Extra Services Refund Time 
Limit''. 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: Sheila Marano at (202) 268-4257, 
Adaisja Johnson at (202) 268-6724, or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-
7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 14, 2020, the Postal Service 
published a notice of proposed rulemaking (85 FR 28917-28918) to revise 
the time limit for extra service refunds on all classes of mail except 
Priority Mail Express[supreg]. The Postal Service has elected to issue 
a second revised proposed rule that also includes revising the 
timelines for Priority Mail Express[supreg] with an extra service.
    Currently, DMM Exhibit 604.9.2.1, Postage and Fees Refunds, 
provides that for Priority Mail Express with an extra service a 
customer must apply for an extra service refund no sooner than 10 days, 
or no later than 30 days, and for all other classes of mail with an 
extra service a customer must apply for an extra service refund no 
sooner than 10 days, or no later than 60 days, from the date the 
service was purchased.
    Certain extra services (e.g., Certified Mail[supreg]) have workflow 
timelines that extend beyond the current 10-day limit to initially file 
for a refund. As a result, to meet the required workflow timelines for 
these extra services, and for consistency in application of the refund 
processes, the Postal Service is proposing to extend the current 
Priority Mail Express with an extra service timelines to no sooner than 
30 days, or no later than 60 days. For all other classes of mail with 
an extra service, the 10-day time limit will be extended to a 30-day 
time limit before a customer can file for a refund.
    We believe this proposed revision will provide customers with a 
more efficient process and a more consistent customer experience.
    Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)) regarding proposed 
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invites public 
comments on the following proposed revisions to Mailing Standards of 
the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), 
incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 
CFR 111.1.
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to 
reflect these changes.
    Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is proposed to be amended as follows:

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

PART 111--GENERAL INFORMATION ON POSTAL SERVICE

0
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-
1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 
3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, and 5001.

0
2. Revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, 
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) as follows:

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail 
Manual (DMM)

* * * * *

600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services

* * * * *

604 Postage Payment Methods and Refunds

* * * * *

9.0 Exchanges and Refunds

* * * * *

9.2 Postage and Fee Refunds

* * * * *

[[Page 1081]]

9.2.1 General Standards

* * * * *

Exhibit 9.2.1 Postage and Fees Refunds

    Customers must apply for a refund within the time limits in the 
chart below.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     When to apply (from mailing date)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Mail type or service          No sooner than       No later than
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                              * * * * * * *
[Revise the text of the
 ``Priority Mail Express with an
 Extra Service'' line item to
 read as follows:]
Priority Mail Express with an     30 days...........  60 days.
 Extra Service(s) (9.2.4h).
 
                              * * * * * * *
[Revise the text of the ``Extra
 Services'' line item to read as
 follows:]
All other classes of mail with    30 days...........  60 days.
 an Extra Service(s) (9.2.4h).
 
                              * * * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

9.2.4 Postage and Fee Refunds Not Available

    Refunds are not made for the following:
* * * * *
    [Revise the text of item h to read as follows:]
    h. Fees paid for extra services, as allowed under 9.2.3, when 
refund request is made by the mailer less than 30 days, or more than 60 
days, from the date the service was purchased, unless otherwise 
authorized by the manager, Revenue and Field Accounting (see 608.8.0 
for address).
* * * * *

9.5 Priority Mail Express Postage and Fees Refunds

* * * * *

9.5.4 Conditions for Refund

    A postage refund request, as allowed under 9.0, must be made within 
the timelines provided in Exhibit 9.2.1.
* * * * *

Ruth Stevenson,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2020-27802 Filed 1-6-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P