[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 151 (Tuesday, August 6, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63850-63851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17113]


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

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Address Correction Notices IMpb

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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

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 remove the hardcopy address correction notice 
option for all packages bearing an Intelligent Mail[supreg] package 
barcode (IMpb[supreg]).

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 5, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the manager, 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 ``Address Correction 
Notices IMpb''. 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: Michelle Evans at (901) 681-4474 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.

Background

    Ancillary service endorsements provide an option for mailers to 
instruct the Postal Service on how to treat their mail if it is 
determined to be undeliverable-as-addressed and to request address 
correction services. Address corrections are currently available in 
four available formats: a returned mailpiece with the new address or 
reason for nondelivery attached; PS Form 3547, Notice to Mailer of 
Correction in Address, that is mailed to the return address on a 
mailpiece; PS Form 3579, Notice of Undeliverable Periodical, mailed to 
the publisher address indicated in the publication ID Statement; or via 
ACSTM (Address Change Service) which is an electronic 
address correction notice made available to the sender via download 
from a secure USPS website that requires a login and password to access 
the files. Address correction fees are charged based on the method in 
which they are provided, with return mail costs and manual address 
correction fees that reflect the USPS costs to handle those notices.
    The IMpb applied to packages allows shippers to obtain postage 
discounts and the ability to track their packages through the Postal 
network. The Postal Service can effectively provide address correction 
notices to our IMpb mailers electronically via ACS faster and more 
efficiently.

Proposal

    The Postal Service is proposing to remove the option to request PS 
Forms 3547, Notice to Mailer of Correction in Address, and PS Form 
3579, Notice of Undeliverable Periodical, for packages with an IMpb.

[[Page 63851]]

    IMpb mailers that desire address correction information from 
undeliverable as addressed (UAA) mail will be required to receive 
address correction notices electronically via ACS. IMpb mailers will 
have to sign up for IMpb ACS or Traditional ACS.
    The Postal Service is proposing to implement this change effective 
March 5, 2025. However, mailers may begin to request ACS immediately. 
We believe this proposed revision will provide customers with more 
efficient and less costly address correction notices.
    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 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, the Postal Service proposes to amend 39 CFR part 111 
as follows:

PART 111--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for 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

* * * * *

204 Barcode Standards

* * * * *

2.0 Standards for Package and Extra Service Barcodes

2.1 Intelligent Mail Package Barcode

2.1.1 Definition

* * * * *
    [Revise 2.1 by adding a new 2.1.14 to read as follows:]

2.1.14 IMpb With Ancillary Services

    When certain ancillary services are used to receive separate 
address corrections for forwarded parcels, shippers that apply an IMpb 
to their parcels must request ACS under 507.4.1.5.
* * * * *

500 Additional Mailing Services

* * * * *

507 Mailer Services

1.0 Treatment of Mail

* * * * *

1.5 Treatment for Ancillary Services by Class of Mail

1.5.1 First-Class Mail, USPS Ground Advantage--Retail, USPS Ground 
Advantage--Commercial, and Priority Mail

    Undeliverable-as-addressed First-Class Mail (including postcards), 
USPS Ground Advantage--Retail, USPS Ground Advantage--Commercial, and 
Priority Mail pieces are treated under Exhibit 1.5.1 with these 
additional conditions:
* * * * *
    [Revise the introductory text of item f to read as follows:]
    f. Address Change Service (ACS) under 4.0 is available for First-
Class Mail, USPS Ground Advantage--Retail, USPS Ground Advantage--
Commercial, and Priority Mail pieces with the ACS participant code for 
an authorized ACS participant and a valid ancillary service 
endorsement. Mailers participating in OneCode ACS under 4.2.6 that 
print an Intelligent Mail barcode on First-Class Mail automation 
letters may omit the participant code and endorsement. Parcel shippers 
must use either IMpb ACS or apply an ACS participant code to receive 
separate address corrections. The only endorsements permitted on First-
Class Mail, USPS Ground Advantage--Retail, USPS Ground Advantage--
Commercial and Priority Mail valid ACS pieces are ``Address Service 
Requested'', ``Change Service Requested'' or ``Electronic Service 
Requested'' subject to the following:
* * * * *

1.5.2 Periodicals

    Undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) Periodicals publications 
(including publications pending Periodicals authorization) are treated 
as described in Exhibit 1.5.2, with these additional conditions:
* * * * *
    [Revise item a by adding a new last sentence to read as follows:]
    a. c. * * * Parcel shippers must use either IMpb ACS or apply an 
ACS participant code to receive separate address corrections.
* * * * *

1.5.3 USPS Marketing Mail

    Undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) USPS Marketing Mail pieces are 
treated as described in Exhibit 1.5.3, with these additional 
conditions:
* * * * *
    [Revise the text of item f by adding a new last sentence to read as 
follows:]
    f. * * * Parcel shippers must use either IMpb ACS or apply an ACS 
participant code when separate address corrections are requested.
* * * * *

1.5.4 Package Services and Parcel Select

    Undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) Package Services and Parcel Select 
mailpieces are treated as described in Exhibit 1.5.4, with these 
additional conditions:
    [Revise the text of item a by adding a new last sentence to read as 
follows:]
    a. * * * Parcel shippers must use either use IMpb ACS or apply an 
ACS participant code when separate address corrections are requested.
* * * * *

4.0 Address Correction Services

4.1 Address Correction Service

* * * * *

4.1.5 Other Classes

    [Revise the third sentence and add a new fourth and fifth sentence 
of 4.1.5 to read as follows:]
    * * * Except for Full-Service and Seamless acceptance mailings, 
when separate corrections are necessary for First-Class Mail and USPS 
Marketing Mail, Form 3547 is mailed to the sender with the address 
correction fee charged and the mail is forwarded. When separate address 
corrections are necessary for forwarded parcels, shippers that apply 
the IMpb to their parcels must request ACS and an electronic address 
correction notice via ACS is provided to the participant and the 
electronic address correction fee will be charged. There are two 
versions of ACS available to parcel shippers, IMpb ACS or Traditional 
ACS.* * *
* * * * *

Colleen Hibbert-Kapler,
Attorney, Ethics and Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2024-17113 Filed 8-5-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P