[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 105 (Thursday, June 3, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 29734-29735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-11722]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


New Mailing Standards for Domestic Mailing Services Products

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: On May 28, 2021 the Postal Service (USPS[supreg]) filed a 
notice of mailing services price adjustments with the Postal Regulatory 
Commission (PRC), effective August 29, 2021. This proposed rule 
contains the revisions to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal 
Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) that we would adopt to 
implement the changes coincident with the price adjustments.

DATES: Submit comments on or before July 6, 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 
[email protected], with a subject line of ``August 2021 
Domestic Mailing Services Proposal.'' Faxed comments are not accepted. 
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. 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.
    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: Jacqueline Erwin at (202) 268-2158, or 
Dale Kennedy at (202) 268-6592.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposed prices will be available under 
Docket No. R2021-2 on the Postal Regulatory Commission's website at 
www.prc.gov.
    The Postal Service's proposed rule includes: Changes to prices, 
mail classification updates, product simplification efforts, and a few 
minor revisions to the DMM.

Direct Pallet Discount for Marketing Mail High Density Flats

    The Postal Service is proposing to offer additional discounts to 
move additional USPS Marketing Mail High Density flats to direct 
pallets.
    Flat shaped pieces on direct pallets are operationally desirable, 
pallets can be directly cross docked to the Destination Delivery Units 
(DDUs). These pallets consist of Carrier Route and finer sorted bundles 
such as High Density, High Density Plus, and Saturation. The nature of 
their make-up allows the Postal Service to avoid moving these pallets 
to bundle sorters within the plant, sorting the bundles, and moving 
these bundles back to the dock to be transported to the DDU.

First-Class Mail Nonautomation Letters Change

    Currently, the rate structure for all nonautomation letters only 
offers one price for machinable and nonmachinable letters and a 
nonmachinable surcharge for pieces that are nonmachinable.
    The Postal Service is proposing to offer two prices for machinable 
letters, AADC and Mixed AADC; and three prices for nonmachinable 
letters, 5-digit, 3-digit, and Mixed ADC. This structural change will 
reduce revenue at risk and better align prices for customers mailing 
nonautomation letters, machinable and nonmachinable. This change will 
also eliminate the nonmachinable surcharge applicable to nonautomation 
presort letters.
    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 if our proposal is adopted.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

    Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is proposed to be amended as follows:

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 following sections of 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)

* * * * *

200 Commercial Mail

* * * * *

230 First-Class Mail

233 Prices and Eligibility

1.0 Prices and Fees

* * * * *

1.2 Price Computation for First-Class Mail Letters and Flats

1.2.1 Cards and Letters

    Commercial First-Class Mail Presorted cards and letters are charged 
as follows: [Revise 1.2.1b2 and 1.2.1b3; to read as follows:]
    * * *b. Letters: * * *
    2. Machinable (Presorted): One price per presort level up to the 
maximum 3.5 ounces.
    3. Nonmachinable: One price per presort level up to the maximum 3.5 
ounces.* * *
* * * * *

235 Mail Preparation

* * * * *

[[Page 29735]]

5.0 Preparing Nonautomation Letters

* * * * *

5.3 Nonmachinable Preparation

5.3.1 Nonmachinable Bundling

    [Remove current 5.3.1c entirely; re-letter current 5.3.1d to 
5.3.1c; to read as follows:]
    * * *a. 5-digit (required); 10-piece minimum; red Label 5 or 
optional endorsement line (OEL); labeling not required for pieces in 
full 5-digit trays.
    b. 3-digit (required); 10-piece minimum; green Label 3 or OEL.
    c. Mixed ADC (required); no minimum; tan Label X or OEL.

5.3.2 Traying and Labeling

    [Remove current 5.3.2c entirely; re-letter current 5.3.2d to 
5.3.2c; to read as follows:]
    * * * c. Mixed ADC (required); no minimum; labeling:
    1. Line 1: Use L201; for mail originating in ZIP Code areas in 
Column A, use ``MXD'' followed by city, state, and 3-digit ZIP Code 
prefix in Column C (use ``MXD'' instead of ``OMX'' in the destination 
line and ignore Column B).
    2. Line 2: ``FCM LTR MANUAL WKG.''
* * * * *

240 Commercial Mail USPS Marketing Mail

243 Prices and Eligibility

* * * * *

6.0 Additional Eligibility Standards for Enhanced Carrier Route USPS 
Marketing Mail Letters and Flats

* * * * *

6.5 High Density and High Density Plus (Enhanced Carrier Route) 
Standards--Flats

* * * * *
    [Add new section 6.5.3; to read as follows:]

6.5.3 High Density Carrier Route Bundles on a 5-digit Pallet (High 
Density-CR Bundles/Pallet Price Eligibility)--Flats

    High Density--CR Bundles/Pallet prices apply to each piece in a 
carrier route bundle of 10 or more pieces that are palletized under 
705.8.0 on a 5-digit carrier route, 5-digit carrier routes, or 5-digit 
scheme carrier route pallet entered at an Origin (None), DNDC, DSCF, or 
DDU entry.
* * * * *

700 Special Standards

* * * * *

705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems

* * * * *

8.0 Preparing Pallets

* * * * *

8.10 Pallet Presort and Labeling

* * * * *

8.10.3 USPS Marketing Mail or Parcel Select Lightweight--Bundles, 
Sacks, or Trays

    [Add new second sentence to 8.10.3; to read as follows:]
    * * * For USPS Marketing Mail High Density flats price eligibility, 
only 5-digit pallets under 8.10.3a-c are allowed, and the pallets must 
be entered under None, DNDC, DSCF or DDU standards (Use ``HD/HD+ 
DIRECT'' for one route and ``HD/HD+ CR-RTS'' for multiple routes on the 
line 2 contents description).* * * Preparation sequence and labeling:
    [Revise sub-section 8.10.3a2; to read as follows:]
    * * * 2. ``STD'' followed by ``FLTS''; followed by ``HD/HD+'' for 
High Density flats pricing eligibility; followed by ``CARRIER ROUTES'' 
(or ``CR-RTS''); followed by ``SCHEME'' (or ``SCH'').* * *
    [Revise 8.10.3b2; to read as follows:]
    2. Line 2: For flats and Marketing parcels (Product Samples only), 
``STD FLTS'' or ``STD MKTG,'' as applicable; followed by ``HD/HD+'' for 
High Density flats pricing eligibility; followed by ``CARRIER ROUTES'' 
(or ``CR-RTS''). For letters, ``STD LTRS''; followed by ``CARRIER 
ROUTES'' (or ``CR-RTS''); followed by ``BC'' if pallet contains 
barcoded letters; followed by ``MACH'' if pallet contains machinable 
letters; followed by ``MAN'' if pallet contains nonmachinable letters.
    [Add new 8.10.3c, re-letter current 8.10.3c-8.10.h to 8.10.3d-
8.10.3i; to read as follows:]
    c. 5-digit carrier route, required for High Density flats pricing 
eligibility, permitted for bundles. Pallet must contain only carrier 
route mail for one carrier and same 5-digit ZIP Code. Labeling

1. Line 1: city, state and 5-digit ZIP Code destination
2. Line 2: ``STD'' followed by ``FLTS''; followed by ``HD/HD+ DIRECT''* 
* *

* * * * *

Notice 123 (Price List)

    [Revise prices as applicable.]
* * * * *
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to 
reflect these changes.

Joshua J. Hofer,
Attorney, Ethics & Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2021-11722 Filed 6-1-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P