[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 213 (Monday, November 6, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76162-76163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24447]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Use of Foreign Return Addresses on Domestic Mailpieces

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]) in 
various subsections to clarify the consequences of the use of a foreign 
return address on a domestic mailpiece.

DATES: Submit comments on or before December 6, 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 ``Use of Foreign 
Return Addresses''. 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. 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, 
Treishawna Harris at (202) 268-2965, or Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-
7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
    Effective April 1, 2023, DMM subsection 602.1.5.4, Using Return 
Addresses, was amended by publication in Postal Bulletin 22619 (3-9-23) 
to eliminate an exception that allowed a domestic mailpiece to have a 
foreign return address in certain circumstances as a courtesy. The 
Postal Service is proposing to further amend subsection 602.1.5.4 and 
various other subsections in the DMM to clarify the procedures 
applicable to the undeliverable domestic mailpieces bearing a foreign 
return address.
    The elimination of the courtesy exception allowing foreign return 
addresses on domestic mailpieces under certain circumstances requires 
amendment of the procedures that apply to undeliverable domestic 
mailpieces bearing a foreign return address, which are no longer 
authorized under DMM 602.1.5.4. Therefore, the Postal Service is 
proposing to revise DMM subsections 602.1.5.4, and 609.4.3, to clarify 
procedures applicable to undeliverable domestic mailpieces bearing a 
foreign return address.
    The Postal Service is authorized pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 404(a)(1) to 
provide for the disposition of undeliverable mail. However, for the 
Postal Service to incur destination country delivery charges as a 
result of attempting to return certain undeliverable domestic 
mailpieces with a foreign return address is not practicable. Thus, 
under this proposed rule, such mailpieces would be handled by the 
Postal Service, in accordance with Postal Service's dead mail 
procedures.
    In addition, if the proposed rule is adopted the Postal Service 
would also revise a few related sections of the International Mail 
Manual (IMM) including subsection 762.2, Undeliverable Domestic Mail 
Bearing U.S. Postage and a Foreign Return Address.
    The Postal Service is proposing to implement this change effective 
January 1, 2024.
    We believe the proposed revisions will provide customers with a 
more efficient mailing 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 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.

[[Page 76163]]

    If the proposed rule is adopted, 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 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

* * * * *

602 Addressing

1.0 Elements of Addressing

* * * * *

1.5 Return Addresses

* * * * *
    [Revise the heading of 1.5.4 to read as follows:]

1.5.4 Use of Foreign Return Addresses

    [Revise the text of 1.5.4 to read as follows:]
    When U.S. postage is applied to a domestic mailpiece, as defined 
under 608.2.1 and 608.2.2, only a domestic return address is 
authorized. An undeliverable domestic mailpiece bearing a foreign 
return address cannot be returned to sender and will be handled as dead 
mail under 507.1.9.
* * * * *

609 Filing Indemnity Claims for Loss or Damage

* * * * *

4.0 Claims

* * * * *

4.3 Nonpayable Claims

    Indemnity is not paid for insured mail (including Priority Mail 
Express and Priority Mail), Registered Mail, COD, or Priority Mail and 
Priority Mail Express in these situations:
* * * * *
    [Revise the text of 4.3 by adding a new item ``ag'' to read as 
follows:]
    ag. An undeliverable, registered or insured domestic mailpiece 
bearing a foreign return address.
* * * * *

Sarah Sullivan,
Attorney, Ethics & Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-24447 Filed 11-3-23; 8:45 am]
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