80 FR 49186 - Periodic Reporting

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 158 (August 17, 2015)

Page Range		49186-49186
FR Document		2015-20233

The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing requesting that the Commission initiate an informal rulemaking proceeding to consider changes to analytical principles relating to periodic reports (Proposal Nine). This notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 158 (Monday, August 17, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 158 (Monday, August 17, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 49186]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20233]

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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

39 CFR Part 3050

[Docket No. RM2015-18; Order No. 2655]

Periodic Reporting

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing
requesting that the Commission initiate an informal rulemaking
proceeding to consider changes to analytical principles relating to
periodic reports (Proposal Nine). This notice informs the public of the
filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.

DATES: Comments are due: September 8, 2015. Reply Comments are due:
September 22, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing
Online system at http://www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit comments
electronically should contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section by telephone for advice on filing
alternatives.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at
202-789-6820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

I. Introduction
II. Summary of Proposal
III. Initial Commission Action
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

On August 5, 2015, the Postal Service filed a petition pursuant to
39 CFR 3050.11 requesting that the Commission initiate an informal
rulemaking proceeding to consider changes to analytical principles
relating to the Postal Service's periodic reports.\1\ Proposal Nine is
attached to the Petition and proposes an analytical method change
relating to bottom-up costs for new Periodicals Mail Carrier Route
bundle and container entry options. Petition at 1. This Petition was
filed in response to Order No. 2472, which directed the Postal Service
to ``. . . file a proposed methodology for determining the bottom-up
costs for the new Periodicals Mail Carrier Route bundle and container
entry options, as described in the body of [Order No. 2472], within 90
days of the date of [Order No. 2472].'' \2\
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\1\ Petition of the United States Postal Service for the
Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider Proposed Changes in
Analytical Principles (Proposal Nine), August 5, 2015 (Petition).
\2\ Docket No. R2015-4, Order on Revised Price Adjustments for
Standard Mail, Periodicals, and Package Services Products and
Related Mail Classification Changes, May 7, 2015, at 63 (Order No.
2472).
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II. Summary of Proposal

Under Proposal Nine, the Postal Service asserts that no changes to
the methodology used to produce avoided cost estimates for Periodicals
Mail Carrier Route bundle and container entry options is necessary and
instead proposes changes to the model presentation that explicitly
identify the bottom-up costs of processing Carrier Route pallets.
Petition, Proposal Nine at 1, 2.
When a mailing has sufficient density to prepare 5-Digit or 5-Digit
Scheme pallets, the mailer presorts nearly all of the mail on the
pallet into Carrier Route bundles. Id. at 1. The Postal Service
represents that in Fiscal Year 2014, only one-half of one percent of
the periodicals on such pallets were prepared in 5-Digit bundles. Id.
The Postal Service states that the 5-Digit mail on these pallets
generally consists of residual pieces for the few routes that lack
sufficient density to qualify for Carrier Route rates. Id.
The Postal Service represents that for this reason it processes
Carrier Route pallets (5-Digit or 5-Digit Scheme pallets containing
only Carrier Route bundles) identically to other 5-Digit pallets. Id.
at 1-2. The Postal Service explains that all pallets are cross-docked
to the delivery unit for distribution of bundles to carriers. Id. at 2.
The Postal Service states that the Carrier Route pallet rate encourages
mailers to prepare Carrier Route pallets and to move any residual 5-
Digit bundles to containers that would be distributed in the plant. Id.
The Postal Service represents this enables it to process the residual
5-Digit bundles on the Automated Flats Sorting Machine 100, rather than
via manual processing. Id.
According to the Postal Service, because the processing of Carrier
Route pallets and other 5-Digit pallets does not differ, it proposes no
changes to the methodology used to produce estimates of avoided costs.
Id. The Postal Service represents that the changes it proposes to the
USPS-FY14-11 Periodicals Model in Docket No. ACR2014 explicitly
identify the costs avoided. Id. Further, the Postal Service states that
it has incorporated Modifications 1 and 9, described in Section One of
Proposal Seven,\3\ into the Periodicals Model filed with the Petition
as an Excel spreadsheet. Id.
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\3\ Petition of the United States Postal Service for the
Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider Proposed Changes in
Analytical Principles (Proposal Seven), August 5, 2015 (Proposal
Seven).
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III. Initial Commission Action

The Commission establishes Docket No. RM2015-18 for consideration
of matters raised by the Petition. Additional information concerning
the Petition may be accessed via the Commission's Web site at http://www.prc.gov. Interested persons may submit comments on the Petition and
Proposal Nine no later than September 8, 2015. Reply comments are due
no later than September 22, 2015. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Lawrence
Fenster is designated as officer of the Commission (Public
Representative) to represent the interests of the general public in
this proceeding.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

It is ordered:
1. The Commission establishes Docket No. RM2015-18 for
consideration of the matters raised by the Petition of the United
States Postal Service for the Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider
Proposed Changes in Analytical Principles (Proposal Nine), filed August
5, 2015.
2. Comments are due no later than September 8, 2015. Reply comments
are due no later than September 22, 2015.
3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints Lawrence
Fenster to serve as officer of the Commission (Public Representative)
to represent the interests of the general public in this docket.
4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the
Federal Register.

By the Commission.
Ruth Ann Abrams,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-20233 Filed 8-14-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P

49186 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 158 / Monday, August 17, 2015 / Proposed Rules

2. Comments are due no later than Postal Service’s periodic reports.1 100, rather than via manual processing.
September 25, 2015. Reply comments Proposal Nine is attached to the Petition Id.
are due no later than October 16, 2015. and proposes an analytical method According to the Postal Service,
3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the change relating to bottom-up costs for because the processing of Carrier Route
Commission appoints Katalin K. new Periodicals Mail Carrier Route pallets and other 5-Digit pallets does not
Clendenin to serve as an officer of the bundle and container entry options. differ, it proposes no changes to the
Commission (Public Representative) to Petition at 1. This Petition was filed in methodology used to produce estimates
represent the interests of the general response to Order No. 2472, which of avoided costs. Id. The Postal Service
public in this docket. directed the Postal Service to ‘‘. . . file represents that the changes it proposes
4. The Secretary shall arrange for a proposed methodology for to the USPS–FY14–11 Periodicals
publication of this Order in the Federal determining the bottom-up costs for the Model in Docket No. ACR2014
Register. new Periodicals Mail Carrier Route explicitly identify the costs avoided. Id.
By the Commission. bundle and container entry options, as Further, the Postal Service states that it
Ruth Ann Abrams, described in the body of [Order No. has incorporated Modifications 1 and 9,
2472], within 90 days of the date of described in Section One of Proposal
Acting Secretary.
[Order No. 2472].’’ 2 Seven,3 into the Periodicals Model filed
[FR Doc. 2015–20232 Filed 8–14–15; 8:45 am]
with the Petition as an Excel
BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P II. Summary of Proposal spreadsheet. Id.
Under Proposal Nine, the Postal
III. Initial Commission Action
Service asserts that no changes to the
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION methodology used to produce avoided The Commission establishes Docket
cost estimates for Periodicals Mail No. RM2015–18 for consideration of
39 CFR Part 3050
Carrier Route bundle and container matters raised by the Petition.
[Docket No. RM2015–18; Order No. 2655] entry options is necessary and instead Additional information concerning the
proposes changes to the model Petition may be accessed via the
Periodic Reporting presentation that explicitly identify the Commission’s Web site at http://
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission. bottom-up costs of processing Carrier www.prc.gov. Interested persons may
Route pallets. Petition, Proposal Nine at submit comments on the Petition and
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
1, 2. Proposal Nine no later than September
SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a When a mailing has sufficient density 8, 2015. Reply comments are due no
recent Postal Service filing requesting to prepare 5-Digit or 5-Digit Scheme later than September 22, 2015. Pursuant
that the Commission initiate an informal pallets, the mailer presorts nearly all of to 39 U.S.C. 505, Lawrence Fenster is
rulemaking proceeding to consider the mail on the pallet into Carrier Route designated as officer of the Commission
changes to analytical principles relating bundles. Id. at 1. The Postal Service (Public Representative) to represent the
to periodic reports (Proposal Nine). This represents that in Fiscal Year 2014, only interests of the general public in this
notice informs the public of the filing, one-half of one percent of the proceeding.
invites public comment, and takes other periodicals on such pallets were IV. Ordering Paragraphs
administrative steps. prepared in 5-Digit bundles. Id. The
Postal Service states that the 5-Digit It is ordered:
DATES: Comments are due: September 8,
mail on these pallets generally consists 1. The Commission establishes Docket
2015. Reply Comments are due: No. RM2015–18 for consideration of the
September 22, 2015. of residual pieces for the few routes that
lack sufficient density to qualify for matters raised by the Petition of the
ADDRESSES: Submit comments United States Postal Service for the
electronically via the Commission’s Carrier Route rates. Id.
The Postal Service represents that for Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider
Filing Online system at http:// Proposed Changes in Analytical
this reason it processes Carrier Route
www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit Principles (Proposal Nine), filed August
pallets (5-Digit or 5-Digit Scheme pallets
comments electronically should contact 5, 2015.
containing only Carrier Route bundles)
the person identified in the FOR FURTHER 2. Comments are due no later than
identically to other 5-Digit pallets. Id. at
INFORMATION CONTACT section by September 8, 2015. Reply comments are
1–2. The Postal Service explains that all
telephone for advice on filing due no later than September 22, 2015.
pallets are cross-docked to the delivery
alternatives. 3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the
unit for distribution of bundles to
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Commission appoints Lawrence Fenster
carriers. Id. at 2. The Postal Service
David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at to serve as officer of the Commission
states that the Carrier Route pallet rate
202–789–6820. (Public Representative) to represent the
encourages mailers to prepare Carrier
interests of the general public in this
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Route pallets and to move any residual
docket.
5-Digit bundles to containers that would 4. The Secretary shall arrange for
Table of Contents
be distributed in the plant. Id. The publication of this order in the Federal
I. Introduction Postal Service represents this enables it
II. Summary of Proposal Register.
to process the residual 5-Digit bundles
III. Initial Commission Action on the Automated Flats Sorting Machine By the Commission.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS

IV. Ordering Paragraphs Ruth Ann Abrams,
I. Introduction 1 Petition of the United States Postal Service for Acting Secretary.
the Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider Proposed [FR Doc. 2015–20233 Filed 8–14–15; 8:45 am]
On August 5, 2015, the Postal Service Changes in Analytical Principles (Proposal Nine),
BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P
filed a petition pursuant to 39 CFR August 5, 2015 (Petition).
2 Docket No. R2015–4, Order on Revised Price
3050.11 requesting that the Commission
Adjustments for Standard Mail, Periodicals, and 3 Petition of the United States Postal Service for
initiate an informal rulemaking Package Services Products and Related Mail the Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider Proposed
proceeding to consider changes to Classification Changes, May 7, 2015, at 63 (Order Changes in Analytical Principles (Proposal Seven),
analytical principles relating to the No. 2472). August 5, 2015 (Proposal Seven).

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Document Created: 2015-12-15 11:07:28
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 11:07:28

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Proposed Rules
Action		Notice of proposed rulemaking.
Dates		Comments are due: September 8, 2015. Reply Comments are due: September 22, 2015.
Contact		David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 202-789-6820.
FR Citation		80 FR 49186