82 FR 46010 - Overweight Parcels
POSTAL SERVICE Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 190 (October 3, 2017)
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 190 (October 3, 2017)
| Page Range | 46010-46010 | |
| FR Document | 2017-21150 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 3, 2017)] [Proposed Rules] [Page 46010] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-21150] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- POSTAL SERVICE 39 CFR Part 111 Overweight Parcels AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM. ACTION: Request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Postal Service is contemplating amendment of the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]), to address the challenges presented by overweight parcels that make their way into the postal network. To aid us in this effort, we are requesting comments from the postal community regarding a variety of suggested actions to resolve or ameliorate this problem. Overweight parcels for the purpose of this notice are defined as anything in excess of 70 pounds or the maximum weight allowed for HAZMAT. DATES: Submit comments on or before November 2, 2017. 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 ``Overweight Parcels.'' 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: Direct questions or comments to Lizbeth J. Dobbins by email at [email protected] or phone (202) 268-3789. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Challenge of Overweight Parcels Overweight parcels should never be accepted for delivery into the postal network. On occasion an item, such as a returns parcel, gets into the Postal network and arrives at a destination plant or post office. It is unsafe to return the item back through the postal network so the receiving office contacts the customer and asks the customer to pick up the package. Sometimes the package is abandoned which creates another safety issue trying to dispose of the overweight item. Part of the challenge is that we do not want overweight items at any time since these items cause numerous safety issues and we strongly discourage mailers from entering them into the postal system. We do not accept them at postal retail counters either and yet, these items still get into the postal system. In order to discourage unsafe practices, the Postal Service is seeking input from the mailing community about how to prevent overweight packages from entering the postal system, and if they get into the postal system, the appropriate postage to be paid. The maximum weight for postage payment is 70 pounds. Suggested Remedies One partial remedy would be to assess additional postage on overweight parcels discovered in the postal network. Thus, if a package weight is 75 pounds, and it arrives at the destination office, with postage calculated at 70 pounds, an additional 5 pounds worth of postage could be collected (70 plus 5). Or if the item is 80 pounds, postage would be collected on the additional 10 pounds. This would appear to provide the Postal Service with at least some degree of reimbursement for the extra service provided. As a further deterrent, another possibility would be to charge not only additional postage, but an additional penalty fee (perhaps $20.00). Thus, for an 80 pound parcel the total amount due would include the postage payment for 70 pounds, a postage surcharge for the additional 10 pounds and a $20 penalty. Since HAZMAT parcels have lower maximum weight limits, and overweight HAZMAT parcels may pose additional safety challenges, it would seem appropriate to provide an additional element of deterrence with regard to the mailing of such items. Thus, for example, if a 65- pound HAZMAT package exceeded the maximum weight limit of 25 pounds, the amount due might include not only the postage on the actual weight of the package, but an additional surcharge of $20.00 for each 10 pounds (or fraction thereof) in excess of the applicable weight limit. We look forward to feedback on this important safety issue. Stanley F. Mires, Attorney, Federal Compliance. [FR Doc. 2017-21150 Filed 10-2-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
![46010 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 190 / Tuesday, October 3, 2017 / Proposed Rules
designated by or assisting the Captain of DATES: Submit comments on or before 5). Or if the item is 80 pounds, postage
the Port (COTP) Jacksonville in the November 2, 2017. would be collected on the additional 10
enforcement of the security zone. This ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written pounds. This would appear to provide
includes Coast Guard Patrol comments to the manager, Product the Postal Service with at least some
Commanders, Coast Guard coxswains, Classification, U.S. Postal Service, 475 degree of reimbursement for the extra
petty officers, and other officers L’Enfant Plaza SW., Room 4446, service provided.
operating Coast Guard vessels and Washington, DC 20260–5015. If sending As a further deterrent, another
federal, state, and local law officers comments by email, include the name possibility would be to charge not only
designated by or assisting the COTP and address of the commenter and send additional postage, but an additional
Jacksonville in the enforcement of to ProductClassification@usps.gov, with penalty fee (perhaps $20.00). Thus, for
regulated navigation areas and security a subject line of ‘‘Overweight Parcels.’’ an 80 pound parcel the total amount
zones. Faxed comments are not accepted. due would include the postage payment
(c) Regulations. You may inspect and photocopy all for 70 pounds, a postage surcharge for
(1) The general regulations governing written comments, by appointment the additional 10 pounds and a $20
security zones found in 33 CFR 165.33 only, at USPS® Headquarters Library, penalty.
apply to the security zones described in 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW., 11th Floor Since HAZMAT parcels have lower
paragraph (a) of this section. North, Washington, DC 20260. These maximum weight limits, and overweight
(2) All persons and vessels are records are available for review on HAZMAT parcels may pose additional
prohibited from entering, transiting Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., safety challenges, it would seem
through, anchoring in, or remaining by calling 202–268–2906. appropriate to provide an additional
within the security zone unless FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
element of deterrence with regard to the
authorized by the COTP Jacksonville or Direct questions or comments to Lizbeth mailing of such items. Thus, for
a designated representative. J. Dobbins by email at lizbeth.j.dobbins@ example, if a 65-pound HAZMAT
(3) Persons desiring to enter, transit usps.gov or phone (202) 268–3789. package exceeded the maximum weight
through, anchor in, or remain within the limit of 25 pounds, the amount due
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
security zone may request permission might include not only the postage on
from the COTP Jacksonville by The Challenge of Overweight Parcels the actual weight of the package, but an
telephone at 904–714–7557, or a Overweight parcels should never be additional surcharge of $20.00 for each
designated representative via VHF–FM accepted for delivery into the postal 10 pounds (or fraction thereof) in excess
radio on channel 16. If authorization is network. On occasion an item, such as of the applicable weight limit.
granted, all persons and vessels We look forward to feedback on this
a returns parcel, gets into the Postal
receiving such authorization must important safety issue.
network and arrives at a destination
comply with the instructions of the plant or post office. It is unsafe to return Stanley F. Mires,
COTP Jacksonville or the designated the item back through the postal Attorney, Federal Compliance.
representative. network so the receiving office contacts [FR Doc. 2017–21150 Filed 10–2–17; 8:45 am]
Dated: September 28, 2017. the customer and asks the customer to BILLING CODE 7710–12–P
T.C. Wiemers, pick up the package. Sometimes the
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the package is abandoned which creates
Port Jacksonville. another safety issue trying to dispose of ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
[FR Doc. 2017–21230 Filed 10–2–17; 8:45 am] the overweight item. AGENCY
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P Part of the challenge is that we do not
want overweight items at any time since 40 CFR Part 52
these items cause numerous safety
issues and we strongly discourage [EPA–R03–OAR–2017–0396; FRL–9968–53–
POSTAL SERVICE mailers from entering them into the Region 3]
postal system. We do not accept them at Approval and Promulgation of Air
39 CFR Part 111
postal retail counters either and yet, Quality Implementation Plans;
Overweight Parcels these items still get into the postal Maryland; 2011 Base Year Inventory
system. for the 2008 8-Hour Ozone National
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM. In order to discourage unsafe Ambient Air Quality Standard for the
ACTION: Request for comments. practices, the Postal Service is seeking Baltimore, Maryland Nonattainment
input from the mailing community Area
SUMMARY: The Postal Service is about how to prevent overweight
contemplating amendment of the packages from entering the postal AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Mailing Standards of the United States system, and if they get into the postal Agency (EPA).
Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual system, the appropriate postage to be ACTION: Proposed rule.
(DMM®), to address the challenges paid. The maximum weight for postage
presented by overweight parcels that payment is 70 pounds. SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection
make their way into the postal network. Agency (EPA) proposes to approve, as a
asabaliauskas on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with PROPOSALS
To aid us in this effort, we are Suggested Remedies state implementation plan (SIP)
requesting comments from the postal One partial remedy would be to assess revision, the 2011 base year inventory
community regarding a variety of additional postage on overweight for the Baltimore, Maryland moderate
suggested actions to resolve or parcels discovered in the postal nonattainment area for the 2008 8-hour
ameliorate this problem. Overweight network. Thus, if a package weight is 75 ozone national ambient air quality
parcels for the purpose of this notice are pounds, and it arrives at the destination standard (NAAQS) submitted by the
defined as anything in excess of 70 office, with postage calculated at 70 State of Maryland through the Maryland
pounds or the maximum weight allowed pounds, an additional 5 pounds worth Department of the Environment (MDE).
for HAZMAT. of postage could be collected (70 plus In the Final Rules section of this issue
VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:02 Oct 02, 2017 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\03OCP1.SGM 03OCP1](https://thefederalregister.org/doc/82_FR_46200/page/1.svg)
Document Created: 2017-10-03 01:01:41
Document Modified: 2017-10-03 01:01:41
| 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 | Request for comments. | |
| Dates | Submit comments on or before November 2, 2017. | |
| Contact | Direct questions or comments to Lizbeth J. Dobbins by email at [email protected] or phone (202) 268-3789. | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 46010 |
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