Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 232 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 5, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 84251-84252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-26483]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Shipping Address Label

AGENCY: Postal Service^TM.

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 sections to clarify the requirement of the service icon and 
service banner when a shipping address label is used.

DATES: Submit comments on or before January 4, 2024.

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 ``Shipping Address 
Label''. 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: Steven Jarboe at (202) 268-7690, Devin 
Qualls at (202) 268-3287, 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.
    Currently, when a shipping address label is used, the standards 
provide it is recommended the service icon and service banner be 
included on the label. Effective October 1, 2023, pursuant to the 
Federal Register Notice (88 FR 54239-54240) the Postal Service added a 
new validation requirement to Barcode Quality (BQ), a metric underneath 
its Intelligent Mail[supreg] package barcode (IMpb[supreg]) 
noncompliance measurement. The final rule outlined that the information 
provided on the label and the data contained within the barcodes, 
including Service Type Codes (STCs) must align and be correct. As a 
result, the Postal Service is proposing to require the correct service 
indicator composed of the service icon and service banner be included 
when a shipping address label is used.
    In addition, the Postal Service is proposing to require the 
hazardous materials icon in lieu of the service icon be included when a 
shipping address label is used on items containing mailable hazardous 
materials.
    Any variance in the physical aspect of the label affixed to a 
parcel presented for mailing may subject the piece to the IMpb 
noncompliance fee.
    The Postal Service is proposing to implement this change effective 
January 21, 2024.
    We believe the proposed revision will enable the Postal Service to 
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. 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)

* * * * *

200 Commercial Letters, Cards, Flats, and Parcels

* * * * *

202 Elements on the Face of a Mailpiece

* * * * *

3.0 Placement and Content of Mail Markings

* * * * *

3.3 Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail Markings

* * * * *

3.3.2 Priority Mail

    [Revise the text of 3.3.2 to read as follows:]
    Priority Mail pieces must have the basic price marking of 
``Priority Mail'' printed in a prominent location on the address 
side. When a shipping address label is used, the basic required 
price marking must be printed as provided under 3.9.
* * * * *

3.5 First-Class Mail and USPS Marketing Mail Markings

3.5.1 Types of Markings

    Mailpieces must be marked under the corresponding standards to 
show the class of service and/or price paid:
* * * * *
    [Revise the text of item d to read as follows:]
    d. When a shipping address label is used, the basic required 
price marking must be printed as provided under 3.9.
* * * * *

[[Page 84252]]

3.6 USPS Ground Advantage--Commercial Markings

3.6.1 Basic Markings

    [Revise the last sentence of 3.6.1 to read as follows:]
    * * * When a shipping address label is used, the basic required 
price marking must be printed as provided under 3.9.
* * * * *

3.7 Parcel Select, Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, and Library Mail 
Markings

3.7.1 Basic Markings

    [Revise the last sentence in the introductory text of 3.7.1 to 
read as follows:]
    * * * When a shipping address label is used, the basic required 
price marking must be printed as provided under 3.9.
    [Delete items a and b in their entirety.]
    [Delete Exhibit 3.7.1 in its entirety.]
* * * * *
    [Delete 3.9, Marking Hazardous Materials, and add new 3.9 to 
read as follows:]

3.9 Shipping Address Label Markings

3.9.1 General

    When a shipping address label is used, it must include the 
correct service indicator composed of two elements, the service icon 
(except as provided under 3.9.2) and service banner. For information 
on the markings and specifications, see the Parcel Labeling Guide 
available on the PostalPro website at postalpro.usps.com/parcellabelingguide). Failure to comply may subject the piece to the 
IMpb noncompliance fee.

3.9.2 Hazardous Materials

    When a shipping address label is used on items containing 
mailable hazardous materials, it must include the hazardous 
materials icon in lieu of the service icon as provided in the Parcel 
Labeling Guide.
* * * * *
    [Add new 9.0 to read as follows:]

9.0 Hazardous Materials

9.1 General

    Mailers must ensure that their packages meet all applicable 
markings under 3.0, and ancillary service endorsement requirements 
under 507.1.5.

9.2 Shipping Address Labels

    When a shipping address label is used, the basic required price 
marking must be printed as provided under 3.9.

9.3 Additional Elements

    All mailable hazardous materials must also include the 
applicable labels, markings, and tags, as required in Publication 
52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail.
* * * * *

600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services

601 Mailability

* * * * *

8.0 Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail

* * * * *
    [Add a new 8.5 to read as follows:]

8.5 Hazardous Materials Labeling

    All mailable hazardous materials must be marked as provided 
under 202.9.0 and include the applicable labels, markings, and tags, 
as required in Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable 
Mail.
* * * * *

Colleen Hibbert-Kapler,
Attorney, Ethics and Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-26483 Filed 12-4-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P