Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 141 / Monday, July 23, 2018 / Proposed Rules 34807 

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301– 

307; 18 U.S.C. 1692–1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 

401, 403, 404, 414, 416, 3001–3011, 3201– 

3219, 3403–3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 

3633, and 5001. 

■ 2. Revise the Mailing Standards of the 

United States Postal Service, Domestic 

Mail Manual (DMM) as follows: 

Mailing Standards of the United States 

Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual 

(DMM) 

* * * * * 

200 Commercial Mail Letters, Cards, 

Flats, and Parcels 

* * * * * 

202 Elements on the Face of a 

Mailpiece 

* * * * * 

5.0 Barcode Placement Letters and 

Flats 

5.1 Letter-Size 

* * * * * 

5.1.4 Additional Barcode 

Permissibility 

[Revise the text of 5.1.4 to read as 

follows:] 

An automation letter or a letter 

claimed at Enhanced Carrier Route 

saturation or high density automation 

letter prices may not bear a 5-digit or 

ZIP+4 Intelligent Mail barcode in the 

lower right corner (barcode clear zone). 

The piece may bear an additional 

Intelligent Mail barcode in the address 

block only if a qualifying Intelligent 

Mail barcode with a delivery point 

routing code appears in the lower right 

corner. 

* * * * * 

5.2 Flat-Size 

5.2.1 Barcode Placement for Flats 

[Revise the fifth sentence of 5.2.1 to 

read as follows:] 

* * * An additional Intelligent Mail 

barcode may also appear in the address 

block of an automation flat, when the 

qualifying Intelligent Mail barcode is 

not in the address block. * * * 

* * * * * 

6.0 Barcode Placement for Parcels 

* * * * * 

[Revise the heading and text of 6.3 to 

read as follows:] 

6.3 Intelligent Mail Barcodes 

Intelligent Mail barcodes (IMb) do not 

meet barcode eligibility requirements 

for parcels and do not qualify for any 

barcode-related prices for parcels, but 

one barcode may be included only in 

the address block on a parcel, except on 

eVS parcels. An Intelligent Mail barcode 

in the address block must be placed 

according to 5.3. 

* * * * * 

8.0 Facing Identification Mark (FIM) 

* * * * * 

8.2 Pattern 

[Revise the third sentence in the 

introductory text of 8.2 to read as 

follows:] 

* * * The required FIM pattern as 

shown in Exhibit 8.2.0 below depends 

on the type of mail and the presence of 

an Intelligent Mail barcode as follows: 

* * * * * 

204 Barcode Standards 

Overview 

[Revise the link heading under 

‘‘Overview’’ to read as follows:] 

1.0 Standards for Intelligent Mail 

Barcodes 

* * * * * 

[Revise the heading of 1.0 to read as 

follows:] 

1.0 Standards for Intelligent Mail 

Barcodes 

1.1 General 

[Revise the text of 1.1 to read as 

follows:] 

An Intelligent Mail barcode is a 

USPS-developed method to encode ZIP 

Code information on mail that can be 

read for sorting by automated machines. 

Intelligent Mail barcodes also encode 

other tracking information. 

[Delete 1.2, POSTNET Barcode, in its 

entirety and renumber 1.3 through 1.6 

as 1.2 through 1.5.] 

* * * * * 

507 Mailer Services 

* * * * * 

4.0 Address Correction Services 

* * * * * 

4.2 Address Change Service (ACS) 

* * * * * 

4.2.6 Additional Standards—When 

Using Intelligent Mail Barcodes 

* * * Mailpieces must meet the 

following specifications: 

* * * * * 

[Revise the text of item b to read as 

follows:] 

b. Flat-size mailpieces may be mailed 

at nonautomation or automation prices. 

* * * * * 

600 Basic Standards For All Mailing 

Services 

* * * * * 

604 Postage Payment Methods and 

Refunds 

* * * * * 

4.0 Postage Meters and PC Postage 

Products (‘‘Postage Evidencing 

Systems’’) 

* * * * * 

4.3 Postage Payment 

* * * * * 

4.3.3 Placement of Postage 

* * * When placing indicia on 

mailpieces, position indicia at least 1⁄4

inch from the right edge of the 

mailpiece and 1⁄4 inch from the top edge 

of the mailpiece and as follows: 

* * * * * 

[Revise the text of item e to read as 

follows:] 

e. Do not allow the indicia to infringe 

on the areas reserved for the FIM, 

Intelligent Mail barcode, or optical 

character reader (OCR) clear zone. 

* * * * * 

Index 

* * * * * 

P 

* * * * * 

[Delete the ‘‘POSTNET’’ line item in 

the Index.] 

* * * * * 

Ruth Stevenson, 

Attorney, Federal Compliance. 

[FR Doc. 2018–15549 Filed 7–20–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7710–12–P 

POSTAL SERVICE 

39 CFR Part 111 

New Mailing Standards for 

Merchandise Return Service 

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM. 

ACTION: Proposed rule. 

SUMMARY: The Postal Service is 

proposing to revise Mailing Standards 

of the United States Postal Service, 

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to 

provide for new procedures for the 

processing and rating of Merchandise 

Return Service (MRS) pieces, and in the 

future, to transition all current MRS 

permit holders to use the new 

procedures. 

DATES: Submit comments on or before 

August 22, 2018. 

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 


amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS1
34808 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 141 / Monday, July 23, 2018 / Proposed Rules 

comments by email, include the name 

and address of the commenter and send 

to ProductClassification@usps.gov with 

a subject line of ‘‘Merchandise Return 

Service’’. Faxed comments are not 

accepted. You may inspect and 

photocopy all written comments, by 

appointment only, at USPS 

Headquarters Library, 475 L’Enfant 

Plaza SW, 11th Floor North, 

Washington, DC 20260. These records 

are available for review Monday through 

Friday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., by calling 202– 

268–2906. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Direct questions to Karen F. Key by 

email at karen.f.key@usps.gov or phone 

at (202) 268–7492, or Vicki Bosch by 

email at vicki.m.bosch@usps.gov or 

phone at (202) 268–4978. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As part of 

its Package Platform initiative, the 

Postal Service is leveraging the devices 

that were installed as part of the 

Automated Verification System to 

enhance the capability of equipment 

used for the processing of package-size 

mailpieces. The upgraded equipment is 

able to capture near real-time data on 

mailpiece dimensions, weight, mail 

class or product, and the presence of 

Extra Services, and to transmit these 

data to Postal Service information 

systems as applicable. The Postal 

Service is proposing to use this new 

technology to streamline its processes 

for the identification, rating, and 

postage assessment of returns. Under 

this process, automated package-sorting 

equipment will identify return packages 

as they pass special scanners, determine 

the weight, dimension and mail class of 

the packages, use the captured data to 

determine postage charges associated 

with each package, and enable account 

holders to pay the postage for the 

returns electronically. 

This improved functionality will 

generally eliminate the need to 

manually weigh and rate MRS 

mailpieces, eliminate the scan-based 

payment process used with USPS 

Return Services (a current category of 

MRS), and eliminate the need for 

processes to estimate postage for MRS 

pieces via sampling under the Postage 

Due Weight Averaging Program. 

The Postal Service is now proposing 

to create a new rating and payment 

methodology within the MRS product 

line. This new process will incorporate 

features of both traditional MRS and 

USPS Return Services. Returns able to 

meet the eligibility criteria for this new 

methodology will be categorized under 

the MRS product line. The new 

methodology is expected to replace the 

existing USPS Return Services process 

at some point in the near future, and is 

intended to ultimately eliminate the 

need for the manual rating process used 

with traditional MRS. The Postal 

Service expects to eliminate the use of 

USPS Return Services and the scanbased payment process no sooner than 

January 2020 and traditional MRS no 

sooner than January 2021. During the 

transition to the new methodology, the 

Postal Service intends to work with the 

mailing industry to ensure all existing 

USPS Return Services and MRS permit 

holders are transitioned to the new 

process before these deadlines arrive. 

Permit holders who are unable to meet 

the deadlines stated above can contact 

the Postal Service to request 

consideration for an extension. The 

Postal Service will evaluate extension 

requests on a case-by-case basis. 

The new methodology will include 

many of the features associated with the 

current USPS Return Services process, 

and will be tentatively called 

Automated Returns. The three service 

categories under Automated Returns are 

proposed to be Automated Priority Mail 

Returns, Automated First-Class Package 

Returns, and Automated Ground 

Returns, which will be linked to Priority 

Mail®, First-Class Package Service®— 

Commercial, and Parcel Select 

GroundTM product prices, respectively. 

For Priority Mail, Commercial Plus®

and Commercial Base® prices are 

proposed to apply to qualifying 

Automated Returns account holders, 

based on the payer’s outgoing volume. 

Negotiated Service Agreement prices are 

also expected to be available for eligible 

customers using Automated Returns. 

Similar to the process used with 

traditional MRS and USPS Return 

Services, the Postal Service does not 

expect to require account holders to pay 

annual permit fees and/or annual 

account maintenance fees to receive 

returns under the new Automated 

Returns methodology. 

Under the new Automated Returns 

methodology, the Postal Service 

proposes to require authorized permit 

holders to pay postage and Extra Service 

fees through the Enterprise Payment 

System (EPS). 

EPS is a new payment system 

designed to provide a single point for all 

payment-related activities, and will 

make payments easier for permit 

holders who pay the Postal Service 

through various payment methods or 

mail from different locations. To use 

EPS, businesses will establish a single 

account to pay for all products and 

services. This account would be 

recognized by all postal facilities. 

Commercial mailers will set up an 

Electronic Payment Account (EPA) that 

can be used for electronic funds 

transfer, retail deposit, mobile deposit, 

and ACH Debit. Business mailers will be 

able to view payment information in a 

consolidated format on an EPS 

dashboard that shows account balances, 

postage statement reports, transactions 

history, and other information. For EPS 

set-up or support, contact Postalone@

usps.gov or call 1–800–522–9085. 

The Automated Returns methodology 

is expected to use the same prices as 

those currently applied to USPS Return 

Services, and to apply those prices to 

each individual return mailpiece in near 

real time. Because of the greater level of 

accuracy and granularity associated 

with the new process, the Postal Service 

does not expect current USPS Return 

Services permit holders to be negatively 

affected. As a result, the Postal Service 

proposes to notify and transition current 

USPS Return Services permit holders 

meeting the necessary criteria to an EPA 

account automatically, and unless the 

permit holder objects, to convert their 

permits to the Automated Returns 

methodology without further action 

required by the permit holder. The 

Postal Service expects to work with 

current traditional MRS permit holders 

to eventually transition them to the new 

process. 

The Postal Service proposes to limit 

Extra Services available for the new 

Automated Returns methodology to 

Insurance, Signature ConfirmationTM, 

and Certificate of Mailing. USPS 

Tracking® will still be included as part 

of the service. The Postal Service 

proposes to omit the options to use 

Registered Mail®, Special Handling, and 

Return Receipt for Merchandise with 

Automated Returns. Over time, the use 

of these services has declined, and they 

are now rarely used with MRS. The 

Postal Service believes that permit 

holders have generally transitioned to 

other services to replace the functions 

previously filled by these services. The 

Postal Service also proposes to omit the 

Mailing Acknowledgement option 

currently used with traditional MRS. A 

mailer may continue to obtain a 

Certificates of Mailing, if the returns 

piece is brought to the retail service 

counter. 

It is expected that not all returns 

mailpieces will be capable of being 

processed on Postal Service automated 

package sorting equipment. Returns 

containing hazardous materials, such as 

regulated and sharps medical waste and 

lithium batteries, sometimes bypass 

mechanized processing and are instead 

manually handled in USPS processing 

plants. The Postal Service proposes to 

implement an alternative process to 

capture and rate these mailpieces. In 


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some cases, the Postal Service expects to 

use an average price generated from the 

data collected in the prior month and to 

apply the average price to assess the 

postage for each return. 

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 public comments 

on the following proposed revisions to 

Mailing Standards of the United States 

Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual 

(DMM), incorporated by reference in the 

Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 

111.1. 

We will publish an appropriate 

amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to reflect 

these changes, if our proposal is 

adopted. 

Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is 

proposed to be amended as follows: 

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111 

Administrative practice and 

procedure, 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); 13 U.S.C. 301– 

307; 18 U.S.C. 1692–1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 

401, 403, 404, 414, 416, 3001–3011, 3201– 

3219, 3403–3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 

3633, and 5001. 

■ 2. Revise the following sections of 

Mailing Standards of the United States 

Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual 

(DMM), as follows: 

Mailing Standards of the United 

States Postal Service, Domestic Mail 

Manual (DMM) 

* * * * * 

500 Additional Services 

* * * * * 

505 Return Services 

* * * * * 

[Add a new 505.3.8 through 505.3.8.7 

to read as follows:] 

3.8 Automated Returns 

3.8.1 Basic Standards 

Automated Returns allows an 

authorized shipping products account 

holder to pay the postage and extra 

service fees on single-piece priced 

Automated Priority Mail Returns, 

Automated First-Class Package Returns 

and Automated Ground Returns parcels 

returned to the account holder by 

senders (mailers) via a special barcoded 

label produced by the account holder. 

Unless otherwise restricted, any 

mailable matter may be mailed using 

any of the Automated Returns options. 

Any content that constitutes First-Class 

Mail matter may only be mailed using 

Automated Priority Mail Returns. 

Automated Returns are subject to the 

following conditions: 

a. Availability: Automated Returns is 

available to the account holder for 

mailing to the account holder’s 

designated address on the USPS 

Automated Returns label(s). 

b. Payment Guarantee: The account 

holder must guarantee payment of the 

proper postage and extra service fees 

(except for insurance, Signature 

Confirmation, and Certificate of Mailing, 

when purchased by the sender) on all 

parcels returned via a special label 

produced by the account holder. The 

account holder must have sufficient 

funds in their Electronic Payment 

Account to pay the postage and extra 

service fees on an ongoing basis. 

c. Where Service Established: 

Automated Returns accounts may be 

established at any Post Office in the 

United States and its territories and 

possessions or at any U.S. Military Post 

Office overseas APO/FPO/DPO. 

Automated Returns is not available for 

returns from any foreign country. 

d. Official Mail: Any authorized user 

of official (penalty) mail may use 

Automated Returns subject to the 

standards in 703.7.0, which supersede 

any conflicting standards below. 

3.8.2 Accounts 

Automated Returns accounts are 

subject to the following: 

a. Account Application: An approved 

shipping products account must be 

established to use Automated Returns. 

Applicants must establish a shipping 

products account by completing PS 

Form 3615 in hardcopy or online 

through the Business Customer 

Gateway. 

b. Advance Deposit Account: The 

account holder must pay postage and 

extra service fees through an Enterprise 

Payment System (EPS) Account (EPS 

account holder) and agree to the terms 

and conditions for use of such EPS 

Account. 

c. Application Process: Applicants 

must have a valid Enterprise Payment 

Account and be registered in the 

Business Customer Gateway. Except for 

Automated Returns labels generated by 

the USPS Application Program Interface 

(API), all returns labels that have 

properly constructed Intelligent Mail 

package barcode approved by the 

National Customer Support Center 

(NCSC). 

d. Canceled Accounts: If the account 

is cancelled by the EPS account holder, 

Automated Returns mail bearing the 

sender’s return address is returned to 

the sender; otherwise, it is treated as 

dead mail. 

e. Account Cancellation: The USPS 

may cancel an account if the EPS 

account holder refuses to accept and 

pay postage and fees for Automated 

Returns mailpieces, fails to keep 

sufficient funds in the advance deposit 

account to cover postage and fees, or 

distributes return labels that do not 

meet USPS standards. 

f. Reapplying After Cancellation: To 

receive a new account after a previous 

Automated Returns account is canceled, 

the applicant must amend the PS Form 

3615 on file to reflect the new 

application date, or reregister in the 

Business Customer Gateway. If not 

using labels generated by the USPS 

Application Program Interface (API), 

applicants must submit for approval two 

samples for each label format to the 

NCSC. In addition, applicants must 

provide evidence that the reasons for 

the account cancellation are corrected, 

and maintain funds in their advance 

deposit account sufficient to cover 

normal returns for at least 2 weeks. 

g. Using Other Post Offices: The 

account holder may distribute 

Automated Returns labels for return 

through other Post Office locations 

when the account holder opens and 

keeps their advance deposit account at 

the Post Office where the permit is 

issued and supplies that Postmaster the 

name, address, and telephone number of 

a representative in each additional 

station or branch if different from the 

information on the application. 

3.8.3 Postage and Prices 

Postage and prices are subject to the 

following: 

a. Postage: Postage is calculated based 

on the weight of the parcel and zone 

associated with the point or origin and 

delivery ZIP Code, except that postage 

for Automated First-Class Package 

Returns is based only on the weight of 

the parcel. Automated Returns 

mailpieces are charged postage and 

Extra Service fees based on the service 

type code embedded in the Intelligent 

Mail Package barcode (IMpb). If all or 

part of the IMpb is unreadable, or the 

mailpiece is unable to be priced based 

on the data collected, postage will be 

based on the average postage per 

mailpiece recorded for that EPS account 

holder from the previous month or 

quarter, as applicable. If an EPS account 

holder has no demonstrated payment 

history, postage will be determined by 

the Postal Service based on data for 

comparable account holders. 

b. Prices: Prices for Automated 

Priority Mail Returns, Automated FirstVerDate Sep<11>2014 16:31 Jul 20, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 E:\FR\FM\23JYP1.SGM 23JYP1

amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS1
34810 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 141 / Monday, July 23, 2018 / Proposed Rules 

Class Package Returns, and Automated 

Ground Returns mailpieces are charged 

as follows: 

1. Commercial Base prices are 

available for account holders using 

Automated Priority Mail Returns, when 

all applicable requirements are met. 

2. Commercial Plus prices are 

available for Automated Priority Mail 

Returns mailpieces that qualify for 

Commercial Base prices and for which 

the account holder has a customer 

commitment agreement with the USPS 

(see 223.1.3). 

3. First-Class Package Service— 

Commercial prices are available for 

Automated First-Class Package Returns 

mailpieces when all applicable 

requirements are met. 

4. Commercial Parcel Select Ground 

prices are available for Automated 

Ground Returns mailpieces when all 

applicable requirements are met. 

c. Extra and Additional Services: The 

account holder may obtain extra and 

additional services with Automated 

Returns as follows: 

1. Insurance—Insurance is available 

for mailpieces that have the applicable 

service type code for insurance 

imbedded into the IMpb on the label, 

and for which the account holder has 

provided electronic data that supports 

the value of the merchandise being 

returned (see 503.4.2). Only the account 

holder may file a claim (see 609). 

2. Signature Confirmation—Signature 

Confirmation service is available for 

Automated Returns (see 503.8.0). 

3. Pickup on Demand Service— 

Pickup on Demand service is available 

for Automated Returns (see 507.7.0). 

3.8.4 Certificate of Mailing 

Customers (mailers) mailing an 

Automated Returns mailpiece may 

obtain a certificate of mailing at their 

own expense at the time of mailing by 

presenting the certificate at a Post Office 

retail unit to obtain the receipt. 

3.8.5 Labels 

Distribution and preparation of labels 

are subject to the following: 

a. Distribution of Labels: Automated 

Returns labels may be distributed to 

customers as an enclosure with 

merchandise, as a separate item 

(including when requested 

electronically through the Business 

Customer Gateway for printing and 

delivery to the customer by USPS), as an 

electronic transmission for customer 

downloading and printing, or through 

one of the account holder’s designated 

pickup facilities. Any such label 

distributed to a customer must meet 

USPS format standards, including the 

requirement to furnish instructions. 

b. Label Preparation: Automated 

Returns labels must meet the standards 

in the Parcel Labeling Guide available 

on the PostalPro website. Standard label 

sizes are 3 inches by 6 inches, 4 inches 

by 4 inches, or 4 inches by 6 inches, and 

must be certified by the USPS for use 

prior to distribution. All other label 

sizes and other privately printed labels 

require written approval from the NCSC. 

The label must include an Intelligent 

Mail package barcode, accommodate all 

required information, be legible, and be 

prepared in accordance with 

Publication 199, Intelligent Mail 

Package Barcode (IMpb) Implementation 

Guide, available on the PostalPro 

website. EPS account holders or their 

agents may distribute approved return 

labels and instructions by means 

specified in 3.5.1. EPS account holders 

or their agents must provide written 

instructions to the label end-user 

(mailer) as specified in 3.5.5. Labels 

cannot be faxed to customers (mailers). 

If all applicable content and format 

standards are met, Automated Returns 

labels may be produced by any of the 

following methods: 

1. As an impression printed by the 

EPS account holder directly onto the 

mailpiece to be returned. 

2. As a separate label preprinted by 

the EPS account holder to be affixed by 

the customer onto the mailpiece to be 

returned. The reverse side of the label 

must bear an adhesive strong enough to 

bond the label securely to the mailpiece. 

Labels must be printed and delivered by 

USPS to the customer when requested 

electronically by the EPS account holder 

or its agents through the Business 

Customer Gateway, or provided as an 

electronic file created by the EPS 

account holder for local output and 

printing by the customer. The electronic 

file must include instructions that 

explain how to affix the label securely 

to the mailpiece to be returned, and that 

caution against covering with tape or 

other material any part of the label 

where postage and fee information is to 

be recorded. 

c. Labeling Instructions: Written 

instructions must be provided with the 

label that, at a minimum, directs the 

customer to do the following: 

1. ‘‘If your name and address are not 

already preprinted in the return address 

area, print them neatly in that area or 

attach a return address label there.’’ 

2. ‘‘Attach the label squarely onto the 

largest side of the mailpiece, centered if 

possible. Place the label so that it does 

not fold over to another side. Do not 

place tape over any barcodes on the 

label or any part of the label where 

postage and fee information will be 

recorded.’’ 

3. ‘‘Remove or Obliterate any other 

addresses, barcodes or price markings 

on the outside of the parcel.’’ 

4. ‘‘Mail the labeled parcel at a Post 

Office, drop it in a collection box, leave 

it with your letter carrier, or schedule a 

package pickup at usps.com.’’ 

3.8.6 Enter and Deposit 

The EPS account holder’s customers 

may mail the Automated Returns 

mailpiece at any Post Office; any 

associated office, station, or branch; in 

any collection box (except a Priority 

Mail Express box); with any rural 

carrier; by package pickup; on business 

routes during regular mail delivery if 

prior arrangements are made with the 

carrier; as part of a collection run for 

other mail (special arrangements might 

be required); or at any place designated 

by the Postmaster for the receipt of mail. 

Automated Returns mailpieces 

deposited in collection boxes without 

valid return addresses are treated as 

undeliverable mail. 

3.8.7 Additional Standards 

Additional mailing standards 

applicable to each service option are as 

follows: 

a. Automated Priority Mail Returns 

may contain any mailable matter 

weighing no more than 70 pounds. 

APO/FPO mail is subject to 703.2.0 and 

703.4.0, and Department of State mail is 

subject to 703.3.0. Automated Priority 

Mail Returns receive expeditious 

handling and transportation, with 

service standards in accordance with 

Priority Mail. Automated Priority Mail 

Returns mailed under a specific 

customer agreement is charged postage 

according to the individual agreement. 

Commercial Base and Commercial Plus 

prices are the same as for outbound 

Priority Mail in Notice 123, Price List. 

b. Automated First-Class Package 

Returns handling, transportation, and 

eligibility of contents are the same as for 

outbound First-Class Package Service — 

Commercial parcels under 283. 

Automated First-Class Package Returns 

may not contain documents or personal 

correspondence, except that such 

parcels may contain invoices, receipts, 

incidental advertising, and other 

documents that relate in all substantial 

respects to merchandise contained in 

the parcels. 

c. Automated Ground Returns 

provides ground transportation for 

mailpieces containing mailable matter 

weighing no more than 70 pounds and 

meeting the content standards in 

153.3.0. Automated Ground Returns 

assumes the handing and transportation 


amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS1
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 141 / Monday, July 23, 2018 / Proposed Rules 34811 

and service objectives for delivery of 

USPS Retail Ground. 

* * * * * 

Ruth Stevenson, 

Attorney, Federal Compliance. 

[FR Doc. 2018–15617 Filed 7–20–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7710–12–P 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

AGENCY 

40 CFR Part 52 

[EPA–R08–OAR–2018–0389; FRL–9980– 

83—Region 8] 

Approval and Promulgation of Air 

Quality Implementation Plans; 

Wyoming; Incorporation by Reference 

Updates 

AGENCY: Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA). 

ACTION: Proposed rule. 

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve 

eight State Implementation Plan (SIP) 

revisions submitted by the State of 

Wyoming, four submitted on March 27, 

2017, and four submitted on March 28, 

2018. The revisions include updates to 

incorporation by reference within 

several parts of the Wyoming Air 

Quality Standards and Regulations that 

are part of the SIP. Additional revisions 

are proposed that: (1) Correct an 

inconsistency regarding internal 

combustion engine nitrogen oxide 

requirements; (2) amend three state 

regulations to maintain consistency 

with federal regulations; and (3) update 

a state internet address. 

DATES: Comments: Written comments 

must be received on or before August 

22, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, 

identified by Docket ID No. EPA–R08– 

OAR–2018–0389, to the Federal 

Rulemaking Portal: https://

www.regulations.gov. Follow the online 

instructions for submitting comments. 

Once submitted, comments cannot be 

edited or removed from 

www.regulations.gov. The EPA may 

publish any comment received to its 

public docket. Do not submit 

electronically any information you 

consider to be Confidential Business 

Information (CBI) or other information 

whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 

Multimedia submissions (audio, video, 

etc.) must be accompanied by a written 

comment. The written comment is 

considered the official comment and 

should include discussion of all points 

you wish to make. The EPA will 

generally not consider comments or 

comment contents located outside of the 

primary submission (i.e., on the web, 

cloud, or other file sharing system). For 

additional submission methods, the full 

EPA public comment policy, 

information about CBI or multimedia 

submissions, and general guidance on 

making effective comments, please visit 

http://www2.epa.gov/dockets/ 

commenting-epa-dockets. 

Docket: All documents in the docket 

are listed in the www.regulations.gov 

index. Although listed in the index, 

some information is not publicly 

available, e.g., CBI or other information 

whose disclosure is restricted by statute. 

Certain other material, such as 

copyrighted material, will be publicly 

available only in hard copy. Publicly 

available docket materials are available 

either electronically in 

www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at 

the Air Program, Environmental 

Protection Agency (EPA), Region 8, 

1595 Wynkoop Street, Denver, Colorado 

80202–1129. The EPA requests that if at 

all possible, you contact the individual 

listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

CONTACT section to view the hard copy 

of the docket. You may view the hard 

copy of the docket Monday through 

Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding 

federal holidays. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Chris Dresser, Air Program, EPA, Region 

8, Mailcode 8P–AR, 1595 Wynkoop 

Street, Denver, Colorado, 80202–1129, 

(303) 312–6385, dresser.chris@epa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

On November 17, 2016, and December 

5, 2017, the Environmental Quality 

Council (EQC) of the Wyoming 

Department of Environmental Quality 

conducted public hearings pursuant to 

40 CFR 51.102 to consider the adoption 

of revisions and additions to the 

Wyoming Air Quality Standards and 

Regulations. The EQC approved changes 

were submitted to the EPA for approval 

into Wyoming’s State Implementation 

Plan (SIP) on March 27, 2017 (2017 

Submittal) and March 28, 2018 (2018 

Submittal). The SIP submittals include: 

(1) Chapter 8 Nonattainment Area 

Regulations, Section 10, Incorporation 

by reference (2017 Submittal); (2) 

Chapter 8, Nonattainment Area 

Regulations, Section 3, Conformity of 

general federal actions to state 

implementation plans (2018 Submittal), 

and Section 10, Incorporation by 

reference (2018 Submittal); (3) Chapter 

6, Permitting Requirements, Section 4, 

Prevention of significant deterioration 

(2017 Submittal); (4) Chapter 6, 

Permitting Requirements, Section 14, 

Incorporation by reference (2018 

Submittal); (5) Chapter 3, General 

Emission Standards, Section 3, 

Emission standards for nitrogen oxides 

(2017 Submittal); (6) Chapter 3, General 

Emission Standards, Section 9, 

Incorporation by reference (2018 

Submittal); and (7) Chapter 2, Ambient 

Standards, Section 6 (2017 Submittal); 

(8) Chapter 2, Ambient standards for 

ozone, and Section 12, Incorporation by 

reference (2018 Submittal). 

The March 28, 2018 state submittals 

include requests to update the code of 

federal regulations (CFR) date of 

incorporation by reference to reflect the 

July 1, 2017 CFR, which supersedes the 

requested changes in the March 27, 

2017 state submittals that incorporated 

by reference the July 1, 2016 CFR 

(Chapter 8, Nonattainment Area 

Regulations, Section 10, Incorporation 

by reference; Chapter 6, Permitting 

Requirements, Section 14, Incorporation 

by reference; Chapter 3, General 

Emission Standards, Section 9, 

Incorporation by reference; Chapter 2, 

Ambient standards for ozone, Section 

12, Incorporation by reference). 

II. Analysis of the State’s Submittal 

The EPA evaluated the proposed 

amendments to the Wyoming Air 

Quality Standards and Regulations 

submitted by the State of Wyoming on 

March 27, 2017, and March 28, 2018. 

The EPA notes that the incorporation by 

reference updates requested by 

Wyoming in the March 27, 2017 

submittal have been superseded by 

updates requested in their March 28, 

2018 submittal and are not analyzed 

here. The subsequent analysis for each 

SIP submittal is as follows: 

(1) The State is requesting that the 

EPA correct a reference in Chapter 8, 

Nonattainment Area Regulations, 

Section 10, Incorporation by reference, 

to adopt by reference the July 1, 2016 

CFR. This request has been superseded 

by the a more recent submittal which 

requests updates to Chapter 8, Section 

10, described and analyzed in SIP 

submittal (2), as follows. 

(2) The State is requesting that the 

EPA correct a reference in Chapter 8, 

Nonattainment Area Regulations, 

Section 3, Conformity of general federal 

actions to state implementation plans. 

Specifically, the request includes a 

minor typographical correction to 

particulate matter to maintain 

consistency with federally approved 

language in 40 CFR 93.158(a)(4); a 

change from ‘‘PM10’’ to ‘‘PM’’ in the 

State’s rule Chapter 8, Section 3(h)(i)(D). 

The EPA finds that this update is 

necessary and appropriate. This action 


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