[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 125 (Friday, June 30, 2023)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42247-42248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13942]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Priority Mail Express Refunds

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is amending 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: Effective August 1, 2023.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Catherine Knox at (202) 268-5636 or 
Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 23, 2023, the Postal Service 
published a notice of proposed rulemaking (88 FR 33066) to discontinue 
Priority Mail Express postage refunds for guaranteed service for Alaska 
and Hawaii. The Postal Service did not receive any formal comments.
    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 discontinuing 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.
    We believe this revision will provide customers with a more 
efficient mailing experience.
    The Postal Service adopts the described 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:

[[Page 42248]]

PART 111--[AMENDED]

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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.


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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 & Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-13942 Filed 6-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P