Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 189 (Monday, September 30, 2024)

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 79441-79443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-22086]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Address Correction Notices IMpb

AGENCY: Postal Service^TM.

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

DATES: Effective: March 5, 2025.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Evans at (901) 681-4474 or 
Garry Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 6, 2024, the Postal Service 
published a notice of proposed rulemaking (89 FR 63850-63851) 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. In response to the proposed rule, the Postal 
Service received one formal response containing two comments. The 
commenter asked if a customer does not register for Electronic Service 
Requested and leaves Change Service Requested on their shipping label, 
how will the package be treated and then had two questions as follows:
    Comment: The first comment questioned whether packages with Change 
Service Requested will be just disposed of?
    Response: Yes, Change Service Requested will cause packages that 
are undeliverable as addressed (UAA) to be disposed of by USPS.
    Comment: The second comment questioned if packages not having an 
endorsement would be treated as Forwarding Service Requested?
    Response: No, the disposition of the package will be based on the 
printed endorsement when present, however a separate notice, when 
applicable, would

[[Page 79442]]

not be generated unless the Mailer ID (MID) in the IMpb is enrolled to 
generate ACS. Following is a general list of how the package would be 
handle based on the printed endorsement:
     Change Service Requested--If UAA, piece disposed of by 
USPS with no separate notice provided, unless the MID in the IMpb is 
enrolled to generate ACS.
     Address Service Requested--If UAA, piece forwarded or 
returned with no separate notice provided, unless the MID in the IMpb 
is enrolled to generate ACS.
     Forwarding Service Requested--If UAA, piece is either 
forwarded or returned.
     Return Service Requested--If UAA, piece returned to sender 
with new address or reason for nondelivery attached.
     No Endorsement--If UAA, default treatment is based on the 
mail class.
    The Postal Service is requiring IMpb mailers that desire address 
correction information from undeliverable as addressed (UAA) mail to 
receive address correction notices electronically via Address Change 
Service (ACS). IMpb mailers will have to sign up for IMpb ACS or 
Traditional ACS.
    The Postal Service is implementing this change effective March 5, 
2025. However, mailers may begin to request ACS immediately. We believe 
this revision will provide customers with more efficient and less 
costly address correction notices.

Resources

    The Postal Service provides additional resources to assist 
customers with this price change for competitive products. These tools 
include price lists, downloadable price files, and Federal Register 
Notices, which may be found on the Postal Explorer[supreg] website at 
https://pe.usps.com.
    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, the Postal Service amends Mailing Standards of the 
United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated 
by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations as follows (see 39 CFR 
111.1):

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 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. * * * 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.
* * * * *

[[Page 79443]]

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.* * *
* * * * *

Christopher Doyle,
Attorney, Ethics and Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2024-22086 Filed 9-27-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P