[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 8, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14268-14269]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-04475]


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

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Mailing Currency

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Postal Service is amending Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) to clarify 
the standards for mailing currency.

DATES: Effective: April 30, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dale Kennedy at (202) 268-6592 or 
Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 23, 2023, the Postal Service 
published a notice of proposed rulemaking (88 FR 3944-3945) to clarify 
the standards for mailing currency. The proposed standards required 
commercial cash deposits over $500.00 be sent using Registered 
Mail[supreg] service. In response to the proposed rule, the Postal 
Service received comments from nine commenters.
    Comment: All commenters, four in part, requested an extension of 
the effective date, with varying timeframes, stating that they need 
additional time to make alternate arrangements for their cash deposits.
    Response: The Postal Service agrees and believes that extending the 
effective date from March 1, 2023, to April 30, 2023, is a commercially 
reasonable amount of time.
    Comment: Three commenters requested an increase of the $500.00 
threshold for mailing cash deposits with Registered Mail service to 
$1,000.00 or $2,000.00.
    Response: The Postal Service has decided to maintain the $500.00 
threshold requiring cash deposits be mailed with Registered Mail 
service. In March 2022 the OIG recommended that the Postal Service 
conduct a cost-benefit analysis of the deposit by mail concept. Through 
this analysis, the Postal Service determined that a $500.00 threshold 
was appropriate to provide customers with additional security controls 
while mitigating employee safety and theft risk.
    Comment: One commenter included a request to make an exemption for 
seasonal mailers. When cash deposits by mail do not occur throughout 
the year, the expense of alternate deposit arrangements is higher, 
putting these businesses at a competitive disadvantage.
    Response: The Postal Service recognizes that some customers may be 
seasonal, however most customers conduct these types of transactions 
throughout the year. To issue a seasonal exception, would create 
operational and processing complexities which could produce security 
and service risks. This could also pose unintended impacts on the 
registered mail product.
    While not specifically addressed in the comments, there appeared to 
be some confusion on the term ``commercial cash deposits.'' As a 
result, the Postal Service is providing a clarification by stating 
``commercial cash transactions.''
    The Postal Service is revising subsection 503.2.1 to require 
commercial cash transactions over $500.00 be sent using Registered 
Mail[supreg] service.

[[Page 14269]]

    In addition, the Postal Service is adding new subsection 601.1.3, 
Mailing Currency, to provide clarity in the mailing of currency 
including the requirement to send a commercial cash transaction over 
$500.00 as Registered Mail.
    The DMM requirements in subsection 601.1.3 in the proposed rule 
provided ``mailers must not use any USPS-provided packaging'' (i.e., 
expedited packaging supplies) for commercial cash deposits over 
$500.00. The Postal Service is extending this requirement to read any 
commercial cash transaction regardless of amount.
    The Postal Service believes this revision will provide customers 
with a safe and secure service for their mailing needs.
    The Postal Service adopts the following changes to Mailing 
Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual 
(DMM), incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations.
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to 
reflect these changes.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

    Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is amended as follows:

PART 111--[AMENDED]

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, 401-404, 414, 416, 3001-3018, 3201-3220, 3401-
3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3629, 3631-3633, 3641, 3681-3685, 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)

* * * * *

500 Additional Mailing Services

503 Extra Services

* * * * *

2.0 Registered Mail

2.1 Basic Standards

* * * * *
    [Revise the text of 2.1 by adding new 2.1.6 to read as follows:]

2.1.6 Mailing Cash Transactions

    Items mailed containing commercial cash transactions over $500.00 
must be sent as Registered Mail (see 601.1.3.4).
* * * * *

600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services

601 Mailability

* * * * *
    [Renumber 1.3 and 1.4 as 1.4 and 1.5, add new 1.3 to read as 
follows:]

1.3 Mailing Currency

1.3.1 General

    Currency (i.e., coins, Federal Reserve notes or other bank notes is 
mailable under any class of mail except where prohibited by standards.

1.3.2 Insurance

    Except for philatelic items and numismatic coins under 609.4.1g, 
eligible classes of mail containing currency may be insured with a 
maximum indemnity of $15.00.

1.3.3 Registered Mail

    Except under 1.3.4, eligible classes of mail containing currency 
may use Registered Mail service with included insurance payable at full 
value up to the applicable limit. (see 503.2.2.1).

1.3.4 Mailing Cash Transactions

    The following standards apply for sending commercial cash 
transactions:
    a. Mailers must use Registered Mail service under 503.2.1.6 for 
commercial cash transactions over $500.00.
    b. Mailers must not use any USPS-provided packaging (i.e., 
expedited packaging supplies) when mailing commercial cash transactions 
regardless of the amount.
* * * * *

Tram T. Pham,
Attorney, Ethics and Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-04475 Filed 3-7-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P