[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 216 (Friday, November 7, 1997)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60180-60181]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29405]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Ancillary Service Endorsements for Perishable Contents

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This final rule extends the use of the endorsement ``Change 
Service Requested'' to Priority Mail pieces containing perishable 
articles (excluding live animals) under two conditions: the mail 
participates in Address Change Service (ACS) and the pieces bear the 
proper ACS codes, and the pieces bear the appropriate endorsement for 
change service and the endorsement ``Perishable.'' This final rule also 
precludes use of the endorsement ``Change Service Requested'' with 
matter mailed at First-Class rates that contains live animals.

DATES: This final rule is effective on November 7, 1997. Comments must 
be received on or before December 8, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Address 
Management, National Customer Support Center, 6060 Primacy Pkwy STE 
201, Memphis TN 38188-0001. 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: Audrey Conley, (901) 681-4474.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) F010.5.1, 
electronic Address Change Service (ACS) mailers may opt to receive a 
notice of new address or reason for nondelivery by placing the 
endorsement ``Change Service Requested'' on prescribed subclasses of 
First-Class Mail. Consistent with DMM F010.5.1, undeliverable as 
addressed (UAA) pieces bearing this endorsement are disposed of by the 
Postal Service. Under present standards, the ``Change Service 
Requested'' endorsement is available

[[Page 60181]]

only for First-Class Mail letters and sealed parcels and stamped and 
postcard subclass mail for which electronic ACS service has been 
elected. DMM F010.5.1 expressly provides that this endorsement option 
is not available in conjunction with Priority Mail.
    Since the implementation of the ``Change Service Requested'' option 
on July 1, 1997, the Postal Service has received requests from mailers 
of perishable articles, such as fruits, to have the ``Change Service 
Requested'' endorsement apply to Priority Mail pieces. Some mailers of 
such items indicate that they would prefer that UAA pieces whose 
contents include perishables be destroyed, rather than returned or 
forwarded, because such items may spoil before reaching the addressee 
at a new address or the sender if returned. This measure would, 
moreover, improve customer satisfaction for these mailers, in that they 
would acquire the information that they need to send a fresh 
replacement to an addressee at a new address, if appropriate, in lieu 
of having spoiled contents forwarded to the addressee or returned to 
sender. This measure also benefits the Postal Service by eliminating 
the need to forward or return pieces containing perishable items which 
would be of no use or value to either the sender or the recipient.
    To accommodate mailers of perishable items, the Postal Service has 
determined to extend the availability of the ``Change Service 
Requested'' endorsement option to Priority Mail pieces that also bear 
the marking ``Perishable'' and for which electronic ACS service has 
been elected. Since this option is available only to ACS mailers and 
only for Priority Mail pieces bearing the additional ``perishable'' 
marking, and given that the use of this endorsement is already 
permitted for pieces sent via letters and sealed parcels, it is 
reasonable to conclude that all mailers who elect this option will be 
aware of the nature of the service provided and the consequences in the 
event a piece bearing the endorsement is undeliverable as addressed. 
This change is accordingly effective immediately.
    The Postal Service is also amending DMM F010.5.1 for consistency 
with DMM C022.3.10 and C022.3.12, which establish procedures for 
acceptance and handling of mail-pieces containing mailable live 
animals. The Postal Service does not intend that the handling 
procedures for the endorsement ``Change Service Requested'' replace 
those established for accepting, marking, and handling, of mail 
containing live animals; consequently, DMM F010.5.1 is amended to 
preclude mailers from electing the ``Change Service Requested'' option 
for mail pieces containing live, mailable animals.
    The Postal Service is soliciting comments on this final rule.
    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 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, 3001-3011, 
3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.

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

F  FORWARDING AND RELATED SERVICES

F010  Basic Information

* * * * *
5.0  CLASS TREATMENT FOR ANCILLARY SERVICES

5.1  Priority Mail and First-Class Mail

    [Revise the ``Change Service Requested'' portion of the table in 
5.1 to read as follows:]
* * * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
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``Change Service Requested''......  Separate notice of new address or   
                                     reason for nondelivery provided; in
                                     either case, address correction fee
                                     charged, piece disposed of by USPS.
                                    Use of this endorsement is limited  
                                     to mail participating in electronic
                                     Address Change Service (ACS). It   
                                     may be used only for: (1) pieces   
                                     mailed at First-Class rates        
                                     (excluding live animals) that bear 
                                     the proper ACS codes, and (2) mail 
                                     pieces mailed at Priority Mail     
                                     rates that contain perishable      
                                     matter (excluding live animals),   
                                     bear the proper ACS codes, and that
                                     bear the endorsement               
                                     ``Perishable.''                    
                                    This endorsement must not be used   
                                     for mail with special services     
                                     (e.g., certified or registered     
                                     mail) or for Priority Mail         
                                     containing non-perishable matter,  
                                     or for any mail that contains live 
                                     animals.                           
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

F030  Address Correction, Address Change, FASTforward 
<SUP>SM</SUP>, and Return Services

* * * * *
5.0  RETURNING MAIL
* * * * *

5.3  Express Mail, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail

    [Amend 5.3 to read as follows:]
    Undeliverable-as-addressed mail pieces sent as Express Mail, 
Priority Mail, and First-Class Mail (including stamped cards and 
postcards) that cannot be forwarded or delivered as addressed are 
returned when possible to the sender at no additional charge. 
Exception: First-Class Mail pieces, and Priority Mail pieces containing 
perishable contents, that bear the endorsement ``Change Service 
Requested'' and that cannot be forwarded or delivered as addressed and 
that do not contain live animals are disposed of by the USPS. Mail of 
all other classes may be returned to the sender if appropriately 
endorsed to guarantee return postage.
* * * * *
    An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 will be published to 
reflect these changes.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 97-29405 Filed 11-6-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P