[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 23, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 33066]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10911]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Priority Mail Express Refunds

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is proposing to amend Mailing Standards of 
the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) to 
discontinue Priority Mail Express[supreg] postage refunds for 
guaranteed service for Alaska and Hawaii.

DATES: Submit comments on or before June 22, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Director, 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 ``Priority Mail 
Express Refunds''. 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: Catherine Knox at (202) 268-5636 or 
Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Currently, except as provided in DMM 
604.9.5.5, the Postal Service offers postage refunds for guaranteed 
service.
    The Postal Service has determined that operationally we cannot meet 
the service commitments for Priority Mail Express expected by customers 
for Alaska and Hawaii.
    As a result, the Postal Service is proposing to discontinue postage 
refunds for guaranteed service for Priority Mail Express pieces 
destined to or originating from Alaska or Hawaii. Postage refunds for 
loss will still be available for pieces destined to or originating from 
Alaska or Hawaii.
    The Postal Service is proposing to implement this change effective 
August 1, 2023.
    We believe the proposed revision will provide customers with a more 
efficient mailing experience.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

    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 
comment 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:

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)

* * * * *

600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services

* * * * *

604 Postage Payment Methods and Refunds

* * * * *

9.0 Exchanges and Refunds

* * * * *

9.5 Priority Mail Express Postage and Fees Refunds

* * * * *

9.5.5 Refunds Not Given

    Postage will not be refunded if the guaranteed service was not 
provided due to any of the following circumstances:
* * * * *
    [Renumber items i and j as j and k, and add new item i to read as 
follows:]
    i. The postage refund requested is other than for loss, and the 
Priority Mail Express piece was destined to or originated from Alaska 
or Hawaii.
* * * * *

Sarah Sullivan,
Attorney, Ethics and Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-10911 Filed 5-22-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P