[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48191-48193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24306]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Presort Requirements for Periodicals Mail

AGENCY: Postal Service.


[[Page 48192]]


ACTION: Proposed Rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service plans to add an SCF sack level to the 
presort requirements for Periodicals automation and nonautomation 
mailings of nonletter-size pieces. An SCF package level will not be 
added. Only 5-digit and 3-digit packages will be permitted in the SCF 
sack. SCF sacks will be prepared after 5-digit and 3-digit sacks, and 
prior to preparing ADC sacks.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 15, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mail 
Preparation and Standards, USPS Headquarters, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 
Room 6800, Washington, DC 20260-2405. Copies of all written comments 
will be available at the above address for inspection and photocopying 
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn M. Martin, (202) 268-6351.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 1, 1996, the Postal Service 
eliminated the optional preparation of SCF packages and sacks as part 
of the streamlining of presort requirements under Classification 
Reform. Some Periodicals mailers have indicated that they believe that 
the inability to sack mail to the SCF level has affected the service of 
their publications. Many mailers of Periodicals publications have been 
preparing 3-digit sacks that contain fewer than the required 24 pieces, 
to ensure good levels of service. This results in increased sack usage 
by mailers and increased sack handlings by the Postal Service. 
Reinstating SCF sacks would allow Periodicals mailers to direct sacks 
to the applicable processing plant for service reasons without having 
to prepare ``skin'' 3-digit sacks, and also provide the opportunity for 
the Postal Service to receive mail sorted to a finer level than an area 
distribution center (ADC) sack.
    Accordingly, the Postal Service is proposing reinstate, for only 
non-letter-size Periodicals publications, an SCF sack that would be 
prepared after all required 5-digit and 3-digit sacks, and prior to 
preparing required ADC sacks. It is proposed that preparation of the 
SCF sack would be optional for the period beginning on the date the 
final rule regarding this notice is published and ending on the 
effective date of the preparation rules that are placed in effect as a 
result of the Docket No. R97-1 rate case proceedings. Upon 
implementation of the preparation rules resulting from the rate case 
proceedings, it is proposed that preparation of the SCF sack would 
become mandatory.
    Preparation of an SCF package will not be permitted under this 
planned rule change. An SCF package would increase piece distribution 
for the Postal Service. Accordingly, SCF sacks would be permitted to 
contain only 5-digit and 3-digit packages.
    For nonautomation rate mailings, mail in SCF sacks would be 
eligible for the basic per-piece rates. For SCF sacks in automation 
rate mailings, 5-digit and unique 3-digit packages of 6 or more pieces 
would qualify for the 3/5 automation rate, and nonunique 3-digit 
packages as well as 5-digit and 3-digit packages of fewer than 6 pieces 
would qualify for the basic automation per piece rates.
    For the interim period when preparation of SCF sacks will be 
optional, mailers who choose to prepare SCF sacks must prepare them for 
each SCF in the mailing for which there are 24 or more pieces of mail 
prepared in 5-digit and/or 3-digit packages. At the mailer's option SCF 
sacks may also be prepared that contain fewer pieces (a minimum of one 
package).
    The standard to prepare required origin/optional entry 3-digit 
sacks will not apply to Periodicals publications for which SCF sacks 
are prepared. Instead, mailers opting to prepare SCF sacks must prepare 
required origin/optional entry SCF sacks. At the time SCF sacks become 
a required level of sortation, the standard to prepare required origin/
optional entry 3-digit sacks will be deleted and preparation of 
required origin/optional entry SCF sacks will become the new standard.
    Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)) regarding proposed 
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invites comments on 
the following proposed revisions of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), 
incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 
CFR part 111.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Postal Service.

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, 3001-
3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.

    2. Revise the following sections of the Domestic Mail Manual as set 
forth below:

M  Mail Preparation and Sortation

M000  General Preparation Standards

M010  Mailpieces

M011  Basic Standards

1.0  TERMS AND CONDITIONS
* * * * *

1.2  Presort Levels

    [Redesignate current 1.2j through 1.2m as 1.2k through 1.2n 
respectively; insert new 1.2j to read as follows:]
    j. Origin/optional entry SCF: The separation includes packages for 
one or more 3-digit areas served by the same sectional center facility 
(SCF) (see L005) in whose service area the mail is verified/entered. 
Subject to standard, this separation is required regardless of the 
volume of mail.
* * * * *

1.3  Preparation Instructions

    [Redesignate current 1.3j through 1.3p as 1.3k through 1.3q 
respectively; insert new 1.3j to read as follows:]
    j. An origin/optional entry SCF sack contains all 5-digit and 3-
digit packages (regardless of quantity) for the SCF in whose service 
area the mail is verified. At the mailer's option such a sack may be 
prepared for the SCF area of each entry post office. This presort level 
applies only to non-letter-size Periodicals prepared in sacks.
* * * * *

M030  Containers

* * * * *

M032  Barcoded Labels

1.0  BASIC STANDARDS--TRAY AND SACK LABELS
* * * * *

1.3  Content Line (Line 2)

    [Amend Exhibit 1.3a by inserting the following between 3-digit 
sacks and ADC sacks for PER Flats--Automation to read as follows:]

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Human readable content 
           Class and mailing             CIN              line          
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PER Flats-Automation                                                    
                                                                        
                *         *         *         *         *               
SCF sacks.............................    377  PER FLTS SCF BC          
                                                                        
                *         *         *         *         *               
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    [Amend Exhibit 1.3a by inserting the following between 3-digit 
sacks and ADC sacks for PER Flats--3/5 and Basic to read as follows:]

[[Page 48193]]

PER Flats--3/5 and Basic

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Human readable content 
           Class and mailing             CIN              line          
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
                *         *         *         *         *               
SCF sacks.............................    384  PER FLTS SCF NON BC      
                                                                        
                *         *         *         *         *               
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    [Amend Exhibit 1.3a by inserting the following between 3-digit 
sacks and ADC sacks for NEWS Flats--Automation to read as follows:]

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Human readable content 
           Class and mailing             CIN              line          
------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEWS Flats-Automation                                                   
                                                                        
                *         *         *         *         *               
SCF sacks.............................    477  NEWS FLTS SCF BC         
                                                                        
                *         *         *         *         *               
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    [Amend Exhibit 1.3a by inserting the following between 3-digit 
sacks and ADC sacks for NEWS Flats--3/5 and Basic to read as follows:]
NEWS Flats--3/5 and Basic

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Human readable content 
           Class and mailing             CIN              line          
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
                *         *         *         *         *               
SCF sacks.............................    484  NEWS FLTS SCF NON BC     
                                                                        
                *         *         *         *         *               
------------------------------------------------------------------------

M200 Periodicals (Nonautomation)

1.0  BASIC STANDARDS
* * * * *

1.5  Low-Volume Packages and Sacks

    As a general exception to 2.4b through 2.4d and 3.1a through 3.1e, 
non-letter-size Periodicals may be prepared in packages containing 
fewer than six pieces, and in sacks containing as few as one such 
package, when the publisher determines that such preparation improves 
service. These low-volume packages may be placed on 5-digit, 3-digit, 
and SCF pallets under M045.

1.6  Optional SCF Sack

    Mailers of non-letter-size Periodicals have the option to prepare 
an SCF sack level. If mailers choose to prepare SCF sacks, they must 
prepare them for all SCF destinations in the mailing for which there 
are 24 or more pieces prepared in 5-digit or 3-digit packages, under 
3.1. When SCF sacks are prepared, required origin/optional entry 3-
digit sacks must not be prepared and required origin/optional entry SCF 
sacks must be prepared.
3.0  SACK PREPARATION (FLAT-SIZE PIECES AND IRREGULAR PARCELS)

3.1  Sack Preparation

    [Redesignate current 3.1e and 3.1f as 3.1f and 3.1g respectively; 
insert new 3.1e to read as follows:]
Sack size, preparation sequence, and Line 1 labeling:
* * * * *
    e. Optional SCF: required at 24 pieces (no minimum for required 
origin/optional entry SCF), optional with one six-piece package minimum 
except under 1.5; for Line 1, use L002, Column C.
* * * * *

M820  Flat-Size Mail

1.0  BASIC STANDARDS
* * * * *

1.7  Exception-Periodicals

    As a general exception to 3.1a, 3.1b, and 3.2a through 3.2c, 
Periodicals may be prepared in packages containing fewer than six 
pieces, and in sacks containing as few as one such package, when the 
publisher determines that such preparation improves service. These low-
volume packages may be placed on 5-digit, 3-digit, and SCF pallets 
under M045.

1.8  Optional SCF Sack--Periodicals

    Mailers of Periodicals have the option to prepare an SCF sack 
level. If mailers choose to prepare SCF sacks, they must prepare them 
for all SCF destinations in the mailing for which there are 24 or more 
pieces prepared in 5-digit or 3-digit packages, under 3.2. When SCF 
sacks are prepared, required origin/optional entry 3-digit sacks must 
not be prepared and required origin/optional entry SCF sacks must be 
prepared.
* * * * *
3.0  PERIODICALS
* * * * *

3.2  Sack Preparation

    [Renumber 3.2c and 3.2d as 3.2d and 3.2e respectively; add new 3.1c 
to read as follows:]
Sack size, preparation sequence, and Line 1 labeling:
* * * * *
    c. Optional SCF: required at 24 pieces (no minimum for required 
origin/optional entry SCF), optional with one six-piece package minimum 
except under 1.7; for Line 1, use L002, Column C.
* * * * *
    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. 97-24306 Filed 9-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P