Changes in Procedures for Standard Mail Destination Entry Mailings

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 245 (Wednesday, December 22, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 71702-71704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-33088]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Changes in Procedures for Standard Mail Destination Entry 
Mailings

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: This proposal would amend the Domestic Mail Manual procedures 
for destination entry mailings of Standard Mail (A) and Standard Mail 
(B) by changing the current frequency for standing appointments from 
once a month to once a week.
    In addition, this document also proposes that when a mailer 
requests a standing appointment at a destination delivery unit (DDU) 
for a Standard Mail (A) or Standard Mail (B) mailing, the ZIP Codes of 
the mail being deposited must be provided at the time of request. Also, 
to be consistent with current standards for Standard Mail (A), a change 
is being made to provide for the redirection of Standard Mail (B) by 
the Postal Service to a facility other than the one designated by the 
mailer.

DATES: Comments on the proposed standards must be received on or before 
January 21, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to the 
Manager, Mail Preparation and Standards, U.S. Postal Service, 475 
L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 6830, Washington DC 20260-2405. Copies of all 
written comments will be available at the Postal Service Library, 475 
L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 11-N, Washington DC, for inspection and 
photocopying between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: RoseMarie Gay (202) 268-7810; or 
Patricia Bennett, (202) 268-6350.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective January 10, 1999, a number of 
classification and mail preparation changes were made for Standard Mail 
(B). In order to align the processing of Standard Mail (A) with 
Standard Mail (B), the Postal Service needs to modify current standards 
for the frequency at which recurring appointments must be made, the 
additional information required when depositing DDU rate mailings, and 
the reasons for redirect by the Postal Service.
    For Standard Mail (A) and Standard Mail (B), the frequency at which 
recurring appointments must be made will be changed from once a month 
to once a week. This change was recommended by the Drop Shipment 
Appointment System (DSAS) workgroup of the Mailer's Technical Advisory 
Committee (MTAC). The Postal Service identified a high percentage of 
no-shows from mailers holding standing appointments. Changing the 
frequency to once a week should reduce the number of no-shows and make 
more appointments available in the DSAS for other mailers.
    Since January 10, 1999 there have been instances of DDU rate 
Standard Mail (B) deposited at the wrong postal facility, forcing the 
Postal Service to reroute the mail to the proper facility. Asking 
mailers to provide ZIP Code information will ensure that the mail is 
being deposited at the correct facility. If the mailing is not for that 
facility, the DDU can inform the mailer/agent of the correct facility 
to deposit the mail when the appointment is scheduled. This will save 
the mailers the added expense of additional stops to reroute the mail 
to the correct facility. Accordingly, the Postal Service proposes to 
require mailers to provide the 5-digit ZIP Codes of the mail being 
deposited when contacting the delivery unit to make an appointment for 
DDU entry of Standard Mail (A) or Standard Mail (B).
    The Domestic Mail Manual will be amended to include language 
concerning the redirection of Standard Mail (B) to a facility other 
than the designated bulk mail center (BMC), sectional center facility 
(SCF), or DDU, to be consistent with current standards for Standard 
Mail (A). Language will also be added to describe when the Postal 
Service can redirect the shipment.

[[Page 71703]]

    Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)) regarding 
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service is seeking comments 
on the following revisions to the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), 
incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 
CFR part 111.

PART 111--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552 (a): 39 U.S.C 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 
3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.

    2. Amend the Domestic Mail Manual as set forth below:

vE  Eligibility
* * * * *
E600  Standard Mail
* * * * *
E650  Destination Entry
E651  Regular, Nonprofit, and Enhanced Carrier Route Standard Mail
* * * * *

3.0  DEPOSIT

* * * * *
    [Redesignate 3.3 through 3.11 as 3.4 through 3.12 respectively; add 
new 3.3 to read as follows:]

3.3  Appointments

    Appointments must be made for destination entry rate mail as 
follows:
    a. Except for a local mailer under 4.0 and mailings of perishable 
commodities, appointments for deposit of destination entry rate mail at 
BMCs, ASFs, and SCFs must be scheduled through the appropriate 
appointment control center at least one business day in advance. Same-
day appointments may be granted by a control center on the basis of a 
telephone request. All appointments for BMC loads must be scheduled by 
the appropriate BMC control center. Appointments for SCFs and ASFs must 
be scheduled through the appropriate district control center. 
Appointments may be made up to 30 calendar days before a desired 
appointment date. The mailer must adhere to the scheduled mail deposit 
time and location. The mailer must cancel any appointment by notifying 
the appropriate control center at least one business day in advance of 
a scheduled appointment time.
    b. Electronic appointments may be made by a mailer or agent using a 
USPS-issued computer log-on ID. Electronic appointments or 
cancellations must be made at least 12 hours before the desired time 
and date. All information required by the USPS appointment system 
regarding a mailing must be provided.
    c. For deposit of DDU mailings, an appointment must be made by 
contacting the DDU at least 24 hours in advance. If the appointment 
must be canceled, the mailer must notify the DDU at least one business 
day in advance of a scheduled appointment. Recurring appointments are 
allowed if shipment frequency is once a week or more often.
    d. When Periodicals are transported together with Standard Mail (A) 
or (B) as a mixed load (see E250), an appointment must be obtained for 
deposit at a destination entry facility.
    [Revise heading of redesignated 3.4 to read as follows:]

3.4  Advance Scheduling

    [Amend 3.4b by adding a second sentence to read as follows:]
    When making an appointment, or as soon as available, the mailer 
must provide the control center or DDU with the following information:
    a. Mailer's name and address and, when applicable, the name and 
telephone number of the mailer's agent or local contact.
    b. Description of what is being mailed, product name, number of 
mailings, volume of mail, how prepared, and whether containerized 
(e.g., pallets). For DDU entries, the mailer also must provide the 5-
digit ZIP Code(s) of the mail being deposited.
    c. Where and how mailing was verified.
    d. Method of postage payment.
    e. Requested appointment date and destination facility for mailing.
    f. Vehicle identification number, size, and type.
* * * * *

3.6  Redirection by USPS

    [Revise redesignated 3.6 to read as follows:]
    A mailer may be directed to transport destination entry rate 
mailings to a facility other than the designated DDU, SCF, or BMC due 
to facility restrictions, building expansions, peak season mail 
volumes, or emergency constraints.
* * * * *
    [Amend heading of 3.8 by changing ``Standing'' to ``Recurring'' to 
read as follows:]

3.8  Recurring Appointments

    [Revise redesignated 3.8 to read as follows:]
    A mailer may request recurring appointments, renewable for a 6-
month period, by writing to the BMC control center or the district 
control center that administers the service area in which the 
destination facility is located. The mailer must present comparable 
mailings (by product and volume) on a consistent frequency of at least 
once a week. Failure to adhere to scheduled appointments procedures can 
cause revocation of the recurring appointment.
* * * * *
E652  Parcel Post
* * * * *
4.0  DEPOSIT
* * * * *
    [Redesignate current 4.6 through 4.11 as 4.7 through 4.12, 
respectively; add new 4.6 to read as follows:]

4.6  Redirection by USPS

    With the exception of mail deposited under 1.3e, a mailer may be 
directed to transport destination entry rate mailings to a facility 
other than the designated DDU, SCF, or BMC due to facility 
restrictions, building expansions, peak season mail volumes, or 
emergency constraints.
    [Revise heading of 4.7 to read as follows:]

4.7  Advance Scheduling

    [Amend redesignated 4.7b by adding second sentence to read as 
follows:]
    When making an appointment, or as soon as available, the mailer 
must provide the control center or DDU with this information:
* * * * *
    b. Description of what is being mailed, product name, number of 
mailings, volume of mail, how prepared, and whether containerized 
(e.g., pallets). For DDU entries, the mailer also must provide the 5-
digit ZIP Code(s) of the mail being deposited.
* * * * *

4.8  Deposit Conditions

    [Amend redesignated 3.8b by changing the frequency from ``once a 
month'' to ``once a week'' to read as follows:]
    Deposit of mail is also subject to these conditions:
* * * * *
    b. A mailer may request for recurring appointments, renewable for a 
6-month period, by writing to the BMC control center or the district 
control center that administers the service area in which the 
destination facility is located. The mailer must present comparable 
mailings (by product and volume) on a consistent frequency of at least 
once a week. Failure to adhere to scheduled appointment procedures can 
cause revocation of the recurring appointment.
* * * * *

[[Page 71704]]

    An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 to reflect these changes 
will be published if the proposal is adopted.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 99-33088 Filed 12-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P