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###### Postal Service

          - 39 CFR Part 111 

# AGENCY:

Postal Service. 

# ACTION:

Withdrawal of proposed rule. 

# SUMMARY:

On December 23, 1999, the Postal Service published a Proposed Rule (64 FR 72044) seeking comments on a proposed revision to the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) to require that, if Periodicals mail is on the same vehicle as Standard Mail in a plant-verified drop shipment (PVDS), then the Periodicals mail must be loaded toward the tail end of the trailer so that Periodicals mail can be offloaded first for each destination entry. On February 11, 2000, the Postal Service published a notice that extended the comment period for this proposed rule until March 15, 2000 (65 FR 6950). 

Based on the comments received, the Postal Service is withdrawing the proposed rule. The loading requirement for Periodicals mail in a PVDS mailing will continue to be an optional—or preferred—method, but will not be required. Customers may access the current DMM requirements by going to the Postal Explorer Web site (http://pe.usps.gov). These specific mailing standards can be found in DMM E651.2.2, E652.4.2, P750.2.12, and P750.2.13. 

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

## Summary of Comments Received 

The Postal Service received a total of 16 comments in response to the Proposed Rule. 

Seven comments supported making the loading of Periodicals toward the tail end of the trailer a requirement. All of these comments came from Periodicals publishers. Their support for the Proposed Rule is based on the assumption that delivery service would improve if Periodicals mail could be identified, offloaded from vehicles, and processed as soon as possible. One commenter pointed out that this Proposed Rule is consistent with the Postal Service's commitment to the mailing industry to improve the delivery service of Periodicals mail. The same commenter raised questions about how this Proposed Rule might affect Periodicals costs. 

One commenter gave cautious support to the Proposed Rule for the reasons cited above. 

Eight comments opposed the Proposed Rule. Most of these commenters are in the printing and mail transportation industries. These comments focused on the cost and logistics implications of a requirement to load Periodicals mail toward the tail end of the trailer for each stop. Many commenters believed that having to “stagger” Periodicals and Standard Mail within a vehicle for each scheduled stop would increase their costs. There also were concerns about OSHA and Department of Transportation requirements for vehicle loading and unloading. 

All of the commenters who opposed the Proposed Rule mentioned that they support the current standards in the Domestic Mail Manual, which allows mailers the option of loading Periodicals mail toward the tail end of vehicles for each stop. 

Based on these reasons and after extensive discussions with customers and internal departments, the Postal Service has decided to withdraw the Proposed Rule. The Domestic Mail Manual will continue to contain the optional, or preferred, method of loading Periodicals mail toward the tail end of vehicles so that the Periodicals mail can be offloaded first at each stop. 

Stanley F. Mires,

Chief Counsel, Legislative.

[FR Doc. 00-11451 Filed 5-8-00; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7710-12-P