83708 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2024 / Notices 

1United States Postal Service’s Request for an 

Advisory Opinion on Changes in the Nature of 

Postal Services, October 4, 2024 (Request). The 

Postal Service filed the instant Request at the 

direction of the Commission, following the Postal 

Service’s initial presentation of these proposed 

changes as part of the changes associated with the 

Delivering for America Plan. See Docket No. 

PI2023–4, Order Directing Postal Service to Show 

Cause or File a Nature of Service Proceeding 

Regarding Certain Delivering for America 

Initiatives, April 26, 2024 (Order No. 7061). 

reservation boundaries, and (4) when 

there are changes. Information is 

requested from those Indian Tribes 

seeking to receive advance notifications. 

Some information is requested one time. 

6. Who will be required or asked to 

respond: Federally recognized Indian 

Tribes. Only those Federally recognized 

Indian Tribes with reservations and 

either receiving or seeking to receive the 

advance notifications would be asked to 

respond to the specific information 

request. 

7. The estimated number of annual 

responses: 20 (7 reporting responses + 

13 recordkeepers). 

8. The estimated number of annual 

respondents: 13. 

9. The estimated number of hours 

needed annually to comply with the 

information collection requirement or 

request: 37.5 hours (21 reporting + 16.5 

recordkeeping). 

10. Abstract: In order to receive 

notification of certain shipments of 

irradiated reactor fuel and/or nuclear 

waste within or across the boundary of 

an Indian Tribe’s reservation, Tribes 

shall affirmatively opt into the advance 

notification program. Because the 

notification may contain Safeguards 

Information (SGI), the Tribal official 

will submit certification that the Tribal 

official or their designee(s) has 

completed NRC-provided training on 

the handling of SGI and has the 

necessary protection measures in place 

for implementation. The Tribal official 

will provide contact information for the 

designee(s) and emergency response 

contact(s). The Tribal official will also 

provide confirmation of the reservation 

boundaries or the necessary corrections 

to a map provided by the NRC. The NRC 

makes this information available to 

others, including NRC and Agreement 

State licensees. NRC licensees will use 

the information to comply with the 

NRC’s regulations that require them to 

provide advance notice of certain 

shipments of radioactive material to 

participating Tribes. Agreement State 

licensees may use the information to 

comply with the compatible Agreement 

State regulations. 

III. Specific Requests for Comments 

The NRC is seeking comments that 

address the following questions: 

1. Is the proposed collection of 

information necessary for the NRC to 

properly perform its functions? Does the 

information have practical utility? 

Please explain your answer. 

2. Is the estimate of the burden of the 

information collection accurate? Please 

explain your answer. 

3. Is there a way to enhance the 

quality, utility, and clarity of the 

information to be collected? 

4. How can the burden of the 

information collection on respondents 

be minimized, including the use of 

automated collection techniques or 

other forms of information technology? 

IV. Availability of Documents 

The documents identified in the 

following table are available to 

interested persons through ADAMS. 

Document description ADAMS 

accession No. 

Five-year Notification Letter Template for Tribal Participation in the Advance Notification Program ................................................ ML24170A429 

Acknowledgment Letter Template for Tribal Participation in the Advance Notification Program ....................................................... ML24170A430 

NUREG/BR–0362 ‘‘Protection of Safeguards Information: Requirements for Tribes Participating in the Advance Notification of Irradiated Reactor Fuel Shipments’’.ML12283A116 

Safeguards Information (SGI) Awareness Training ............................................................................................................................ ML16083A340 

Draft Supporting Statement ................................................................................................................................................................. ML24170A431 

Dated: October 11, 2024. 

For the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. 

David Cullison, 

NRC Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief 

Information Officer. 

[FR Doc. 2024–23961 Filed 10–16–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7590–01–P 

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION 

[Docket No. N2024–1; Order No. 7695] 

Service Standard Changes 

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Commission is 

acknowledging a recently-filed Postal 

Service request for an advisory opinion 

regarding planned changes to its 

processing and transportation networks. 

This document invites public comments 

on the request and addresses several 

related procedural steps. 

DATES: Notices of intervention are due: 

October 21, 2024; Live WebEx Technical 

Conference: October 16, 2024, at 1 p.m., 

eastern daylight time, virtual. 

ADDRESSES: Submit notices of 

intervention electronically via the 

Commission’s Filing Online system at 

http://www.prc.gov. Persons interested 

in intervening who cannot submit their 

views electronically should contact the 

person identified in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Trissell, 

General Counsel, at 202–789–6820. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents 

I. Introduction 

II. Pre-Filing Issues 

III. The Request 

IV. Initial Administrative Actions 

V. Ordering Paragraphs 

I. Introduction 

On October 4, 2024, the Postal Service 

filed a request for an advisory opinion 

from the Commission regarding planned 

changes to its processing and 

transportation networks.1 In particular, 

the Postal Service plans to create a 

nationwide network of Regional 

Processing and Distribution Centers 

(RPDCs) and Local Processing Centers 

(LPCs). Id. at 3. The Postal Service states 

that this initiative will ‘‘increase 

throughput, gain productivity, and 

increase asset utilization across the 

country.’’ Id. Additionally, the Postal 

Service intends to implement its 

Regional Transportation Optimization 

(RTO) initiative on a nationwide basis. 

Id. The Postal Service states that the 

RTO initiative will ‘‘improve the 

efficiency and velocity of the processing 

network.’’ Id. The Postal Service 

estimates that these two initiatives will 

allow it ‘‘to achieve estimated cost 

savings of between $3.6 billion and $3.7 

billion on an annual basis once fully 

implemented.’’ Id. 

The Postal Service also proposes to 

revise its service standards ‘‘to align 

with these operational initiatives. . . .’’ 

Id. Specifically, the Postal Service will 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2024 / Notices 83709 

2Notice of Pre-Filing Conference, August 22, 

2024, at 1. 

3Notice and Order Concerning the Postal 

Service’s Pre-Filing Conference, August 26, 2024 

(Order No. 7414). 

‘‘transition to 5-Digit to 5-Digit ZIP Code 

service standards’’ that reflect ‘‘the three 

operational legs applicable to the 

movement of mail and packages: 

collection to origin processing (Leg 1), 

origin processing to destination 

processing (Leg 2), and destination 

processing to delivery (Leg 3).’’ Id. at 4. 

The Postal Service asserts that despite 

these changes, it will preserve the 

existing day ranges for First-Class Mail, 

which is currently 1–5 days, and USPS 

Ground Advantage, which is 2–5 days. 

Id. Additionally, the Postal Service 

intends to ‘‘transition the service 

standards for end-to-end USPS 

Marketing Mail and USPS Package 

Services so that they are based on the 

standards for First-Class Mail and USPS 

Ground Advantage,’’ which will shorten 

the day ranges for those products as 

compared to current standards. Id. The 

Postal Service states that ‘‘[s]ome mail 

and packages will . . . have a service 

expectation that is longer than the 

current expectation (although still 

within the current day-ranges)’’ if its 

originating 5-Digit ZIP Code is subject to 

RTO. Id. at 5. Finally, the Postal Service 

states that it will also exclude Sundays 

and holidays as transit days in these 

new service standards. Id. 

The intended effective date of the 

Postal Service’s planned changes is no 

earlier than 90 days after the filing of 

the Request. Id. at 48. The Request was 

filed pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3661 and 39 

CFR part 3020. Before issuing its 

advisory opinion, the Commission shall 

accord an opportunity for a formal, onthe-record hearing pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 

556 and 557. 39 U.S.C. 3661(c). This 

Order provides information on the 

Postal Service’s planned changes, 

explains and establishes the process for 

the on-the-record hearing, and lays out 

the procedural schedule to be followed 

in this case. 

II. Pre-Filing Issues 

On August 22, 2024, the Postal 

Service filed a notice of its intent to 

conduct a pre-filing conference 

regarding its plans to transform its 

processing and transportation networks 

and to revise service standards to align 

with these changes.2

On August 26, 2024, the Commission 

issued Order No. 7414, which 

established Docket No. N2024–1 to 

consider the Postal Service’s proposed 

changes, notified the public concerning 

the Postal Service’s pre-filing 

conference, and appointed a Public 

Representative.3 The Postal Service held 

its pre-filing conference virtually on 

September 5, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern 

Time (ET). See Request at 49. The Postal 

Service certifies that it has made a good 

faith effort to address concerns of 

interested persons about the Postal 

Service’s proposal raised at the prefiling conference. See id. 

III. The Request 

A. The Postal Service’s Planned 

Changes 

1. Processing and Transportation 

Networks 

Currently, the Postal Service’s legacy 

processing network consists of a mix of 

Processing and Distribution Centers 

(P&DCs) and Network Distribution 

Centers (NDCs), combined with 

‘‘numerous ancillary facilities . . . .’’ 

Id. at 13. As a result of the current 

processing network facilities’ conditions 

and age, their number and the 

piecemeal and ad hoc nature of their 

implementation, and the lack of 

operational standardization necessary to 

address the processing of mail and 

packages, the Postal Service determined 

that it must redesign the legacy network 

and ‘‘construct a network that enables 

[it] to handle mail and packages in a 

precise, efficient, and integrated 

manner. . . .’’ Id. at 13–14. The 

proposed processing network will be 

designed using a ‘‘regional concept,’’ 

and consist of two standardized facility 

types: (1) Regional Processing and 

Distribution Centers (RPDCs) and (2) 

Local Processing Centers (LPCs). Id. at 

14. 

RPDCs will manage ‘‘the flow of mail 

and packages that originate or destinate 

in that region.’’ Id. at 15. They will 

‘‘perform originating sortation 

operations for letters, flats, and packages 

to the 3-digit ZIP Code level, for 

dispatch to the rest of the country.’’ Id. 

They will also ‘‘engage in cross-docking 

and sortation operations for destinating 

letters, flats, and parcels for dispatch to 

a LPC.’’ Id. Finally, they will ‘‘serve as 

intermediate consolidation points for 

volume that is traveling across the 

country (known as Regional Transfer 

Hub (RTH) operations).’’ Id. 

LPCs will be designed to ‘‘handle 

destinating letter, flat, and package 

sortation operations for designated 3- 

Digit ZIP Codes within a region, for 

dispatch to Sorting and Delivery Centers 

(S&DCs) and delivery units.’’ Id. at 16. 

Some LPCs might ‘‘sort and/or crossdock carrier route bundles of flats to 

S&DCs and delivery units’’ or perform 

‘‘certain originating operations’’ as 

designated by the Postal Service. Id. 

They will also act as a consolidation 

point ‘‘for all volume types coming from 

the delivery network on the way to the 

RPDC.’’ Id. 

Some LPCs might be co-located with 

RPDCs and some RPDC operations 

might be located ‘‘in a single building or 

a campus of two or more buildings’’ 

based on what the Postal Service 

determines is most efficient and costeffective. Id. at 15–16. The Postal 

Service notes that each of the functions 

these new facility categories ‘‘are not 

rigid, and may be subject to varying 

adjustments and configurations based 

on local operational considerations 

. . . .’’ Id. at 16. The Postal Service 

intends to make these network changes 

on a region-by-region basis over the 

course of multiple years. Id. 

In conjunction with these new 

facilities, the Postal Service also intends 

to implement its Regional 

Transportation Optimization (RTO) 

initiative on a nationwide basis. Id. at 

21. While, according to the Postal 

Service, ‘‘[t]he volume of mail collected 

through [its] rental facilities (including 

mail collected on carrier routes and 

entered at Post Offices) has declined 

substantially in recent decades[,]’’ it has 

not ‘‘fundamentally adjusted’’ its 

associated collection processes and 

transportation network to account for 

the decline. Id. at 19. This has resulted 

in numerous transportation and 

processing inefficiencies as the Postal 

Service has continued its process of 

transporting destinating mail and 

packages from the processing network to 

collection or delivery facilities in the 

morning and transporting originating 

mail from collection or delivery 

facilities to the processing network in 

the afternoon. Id. at 19–20. 

Instead, under RTO, ‘‘certain 

collection/delivery facilities will have 

their destinating mail dropped off, and 

their originating mail picked up, on the 

same transportation route.’’ Id. at 22. 

The Postal Service indicates that it will 

designate 5-Digit ZIP Codes for RTO 

‘‘when the facility from which the 

collection mail and packages are 

dispatched is more than 50 miles from 

the RPDC campus.’’ Id. According to the 

Postal Service, RTO will enable it to 

redesign its transportation routes to 

reduce the number of trips and layovers 

and eliminate unnecessary or 

underutilized trips. Id. at 23. 

2. Service Standards 

Currently, the Postal Service’s FirstClass Mail and USPS Ground Advantage 

service standards ‘‘are predicated on 


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83710 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2024 / Notices 

plant-to-plant (i.e., on a 3-Digit to 3- 

Digit ZIP Code) driving distances.’’ Id. at 

27. They do not consider the variations 

in transportation operations that are 

required to move volume from the 

collection point to the processing 

network. Id. The Postal Service 

proposes to ‘‘transition to 5-Digit to 5- 

Digit ZIP Code (i.e. Post Office to Post 

Office) service standards that maintain 

the existing delivery day ranges for both 

First-Class Mail and USPS Ground 

Advantage . . . .’’ Id. at 28. The Postal 

Service also proposes to ‘‘transition the 

service standards for end-to-end USPS 

Marketing Mail and Package Services so 

that they are based on the standards for 

First-Class Mail and USPS Ground 

Advantage, respectively, which will 

result in a shorter day range for these 

products when compared to the current 

service standards.’’ Id. 

Under its proposed approach for 

inter-RPDC First-Class Mail and USPS 

Ground Advantage, the Postal Service 

would segment volume into three legs: 

collection to origin processing (Leg 1); 

origin processing facility to destination 

processing facility (Leg 2); and 

destination processing facility to 

delivery (Leg 3). Id. at 30. The proposed 

service standards ‘‘will be based on how 

many days cumulatively apply to a 

particular mailpiece across the three 

operational legs.’’ Id. For Leg 1, the 

Postal Service will ‘‘align our standards 

with RTO’’ and apply 1 day to pieces 

that ‘‘originate in a 5-Digit ZIP Code 

more than 50 miles from the RPDC, 

meaning RTO is being applied, and 0 

days will apply to pieces originating in 

other 5-Digit ZIP Codes.’’ Id. 

For Leg 2, the Postal Service will 

‘‘apply [2–5] days based on the travel 

distance between the originating and 

destinating processing plants’’ using the 

new network outlined above. Id. at 30– 

31. The transit paths will be updated to 

reflect the new network and ‘‘measure 

the distance between the Origin RPDC 

and the Destination RPDC and then the 

distance between the Destination RPDC 

and the Destination LPC.’’ Id. at 34. 

With regard to Leg 2, the Postal Service 

states that because RTO and the new 

and more efficient network will improve 

arrival profiles, ‘‘each of the existing 

service standard bands will expand by 

four hours for First-Class Mail.’’ Id. at 

34–36. No additional days will be added 

for Leg 3, ‘‘which is the same as the 

current standards.’’ Id. at 30. 

The Leg 1 rules will not apply to ‘‘any 

products entered at a RPDC, Presort 

First-Class Mail, or any destinationentered volume.’’ Id. at 32. The Postal 

Service proposes to add an ‘‘extra day 

for volume that is entered in a 5-Digit 

ZIP Code subject to RTO[ ]’’ for its 

Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express 

products but still ‘‘intends for Priority 

Mail to remain a 1–3 day product,’’ and 

anticipates that ‘‘Priority Mail Express 

will be a 1–3 day (guaranteed) product.’’ 

Id. at 33–34. Finally, for mail and 

packages that originate and destinate 

within the same RPDC region, ‘‘[t]he 

proposed service standards would 

expand the geographic scope of 

turnaround volume (i.e., volume 

originating and destinating within a 

facility’s service area).’’ Id. at 37. 

Currently, this ‘‘volume receives a twoday standard.’’ Id. Under the proposed 

standards, intra-LPC and intra-RPDC 

volume will either be subject to a 2 or 

3-day standard depending on whether 

the originating volume is from a 5-digit 

ZIP Code beyond 50 miles of the 

cancellation location. Id. ‘‘The 

standards for end-to-end Marketing 

Mail, Periodicals, and Package Services 

within a region will also be based on 

these standards.’’ Id. The Postal Service 

outlines the proposed standards as 

follows: 

Id. at 31. 

Finally, the Postal Service intends to 

change how it measures performance 

under these standards. Id. at 40. 

‘‘Specifically, the Postal Service will not 

count Sundays or holidays as transit 

days for volume entered on a Saturday 

or the day before a holiday.’’ Id. It will 

also ‘‘change the Service Performance 

Measurement system to enable 

measurement at the 5-Digit ZIP Code 

level . . . .’’ Id. 

B. The Postal Service’s Position 

1. Processing and Transportation 

Networks 

The Postal Service asserts that these 

network changes will ‘‘enable 

significant cost reductions in both 

processing operations and in [its] 

transportation network, while 

improving the work environment for 

[its] employees.’’ Id. at 18. It will enable 

the Postal Service to more efficiently 

balance its use of ground and air 

transportation and should result in a 

reduced number of surface and air 

nodes. Id. The Postal Service states that 

these modifications will eliminate 

‘‘unnecessary trips’’ and increase 

utilization of the remaining trips. Id. It 

will also allow the Postal Service to 

further reduce costs through the 

elimination of ‘‘excess facilities.’’ Id. 

Additionally, according to the Postal 

Service, the implementation of the RTO 

initiative on a nationwide basis will 

‘‘result in significant improvements in 

transportation and processing 

operations.’’ Id. at 22. It will result in a 

reduced number of trips and layovers, 

which will in turn reduce carbon 

emissions and increase utilization of the 

Postal Service’s transportation 


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.DFAM1p 

De1<:rlption 

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• Deslina~ng plant to 

delivlLlfY point 
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2024 / Notices 83711 

4Package Services refers to a Market Dominant 

class of mail products intended for non-urgent 

delivery of books, catalogs, and other printed 

materials such as Media Mail/Library Mail. It does 

not refer to the Postal Service’s Competitive 

package products such as USPS Ground Advantage. 

resources. Id. at 23. The Postal Service 

also states that the RTO initiative will 

improve ‘‘the efficiency and velocity of 

the processing network,’’ by creating 

efficient ‘‘operating windows in 

originating and processing facilities’’ 

because non-RTO volume may be 

processed and dispatched earlier than 

under its current transportation policy. 

Id. 

Overall, the Postal Service estimates 

that it will save ‘‘between $3.6 and $3.7 

billion annually in Leg 1 and Leg 2 

transportation costs, mail and package 

processing costs, and facility costs[ ]’’ 

through the implementation of these 

two initiatives. Id. at 23. Table 1 below 

details the Postal Service’s estimated 

annual cost savings, organized by 

category. The Postal Service cautions 

that because it intends to implement 

these initiatives ‘‘through a deliberate 

implementation plan over time,’’ that 

not all savings will be achieved 

immediately. Id. at 26. Thus, ‘‘[t]his 

approach reasonably estimates the 

expected future savings from these 

initiatives when fully implemented.’’ Id. 

TABLE 1—ESTIMATED ANNUAL COST SAVINGS BY CATEGORY

Category Estimated annual cost savings 

Regional Transportation .......................... $651 million. 

Network Transportation ........................... $1.8 billion ($1.1 billion from surface transportation and $701 million from air transportation). 

Mail and Package Processing ................. $1.1–$1.2 billion. 

Facilities ................................................... $81 million. 

Id. at 24–25. 

2. Service Standards 

The Postal Service states that under 

the new standards, ‘‘the majority of 

overall market-dominant volume’’ will 

have ‘‘either the same service standards 

. . . or an accelerated standard.’’ Id. at 

38. And while the specific volume 

impacts were filed under seal for 

competitive products, the Postal Service 

states that ‘‘the overall impact of these 

proposed changes is that the majority of 

packages will either have the same 

service standard or a better standard, 

consistent with the fact that a majority 

of package volume is entered in ZIP 

Codes that are within 50 miles of’’ the 

processing network. Id. at 40. Table 2 

below details ‘‘the impact on all marketdominant volume, including end-to-end 

and destination entry. Id. at 38. 

TABLE 2—ESTIMATED VOLUME CHANGES UNDER PROPOSED SERVICE STANDARDS

Products Estimated % of volume change 

All Market Dominant Products ..................................... 83% unchanged, 11% upgraded, 6% downgraded. 

First-Class Mail ............................................................ 75% unchanged, 14% upgraded, 11% downgraded. 

Marketing Mail ............................................................. 90% unchanged, 8% upgraded, 2% downgraded. 

Periodicals ................................................................... 93% unchanged, 4% upgraded, 3% downgraded. 

Package Services 4 ...................................................... 79% unchanged, 12% upgraded, 9% downgraded. 

Id. at 38–39. 


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Volume Upgrades and Downgrades ... A.cross Mark.et Dominant Products 

p·y2.4a.3 Volume· 

Summary impact 

%Of V¢lllime 

100 248. UIO 

50 

0 

Sr&akout .by product 

11,279M 12,136M 

FCM Marketing Periodicals Package Man Services 
83712 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2024 / Notices 

Id. at 38. 

C. The Postal Service’s Direct Case 

The Postal Service is required to file 

its direct case along with the Request. 

See 39 CFR 3020.114. The Postal 

Service’s direct case includes all the 

prepared evidence and testimony upon 

which the Postal Service proposes to 

rely on in order to establish that its 

proposal accords with and conforms to 

the policies of title 39, United States 

Code. See id. The Postal Service 

provides the direct testimony of five 

witnesses and identifies a sixth 

individual to serve as its institutional 

witness and provide information 

relevant to the Postal Service’s proposal 

that is not provided by other Postal 

Service witnesses. See Request at 50–52. 

Table 3 below details the Postal 

Service’s direct case, organized by 

witness. 

TABLE 3—POSTAL SERVICE WITNESSES

1. Stephen Hagenstein ............. • Description of the proposed revisions to service standards, including the three legs ............

• Explanation of inefficiencies of current network’s first leg .......................................................

• Description of how RTO initiative corrects those inefficiencies ...............................................

• Anticipated flow of mail and package volume within the RPDC/LPC network ........................

• Estimated impact of proposed service standards on 5-Digit ZIP pairs ....................................

USPS–T–1. 

2. Arslan Saleem ...................... • Explanation of how the proposed changes will be addressed in measurement (including 

through revisions to the Service Performance Measurement (SPM) Plan).

• Explanation of the exclusion of Sundays and holidays as transit days ...................................

• Estimate of impacts on mail volumes .......................................................................................

• Explanation of performance measurement based on 5-Digit ZIP code ...................................

USPS–T–2. 

3. Leslie Johnson-Frick ............ • Description of how RTO changes will not impact local mail collection and delivery ...............

• Explanation of how local office operations might change to accommodate the RTO initiative 

• Explanation of how changes will be communicated to customers ..........................................

• Explanation of measures to ensure timely delivery of Election Mail .......................................

USPS–T–3. 

4. Gregory White ...................... • Explanation of how the RPDC/LPC network changes and RTO initiative will improve processing effectiveness and produce cost savings.

• Description of the standard operating procedures for the RPDCs and LPCs .........................

USPS–T–4. 

5. Curtis Whiteman ................... • Discussion of the estimated cost savings ................................................................................

• Description of the methodology used to calculate the estimated savings ...............................

USPS–T–5. 

6. Sharon Owens ..................... • Institutional witness capable of providing information relevant to the Postal Service’s proposal that is not provided by other Postal Service witnesses.None filed. 

Id. at 51–52. 

Additionally, the Postal Service filed 

17 library references, 8 of which are 

available to the public and 9 of which 

are designated as non-public material. 

TABLE 4—POSTAL SERVICE LIBRARY REFERENCES

USPS–LR–N2024–1–1 .......... RTO Determination Based on Distance from RPDC ........................................................ Stephen Hagenstein. 

USPS–LR–N2024–1–2 .......... Planned RPDCs and LPCs ............................................................................................... Stephen Hagenstein. 

USPS–LR–N2024–1–3 .......... Service Standard Changes to Market Dominant Products ............................................... Stephen Hagenstein. 

USPS–LR–N2024–1–4 .......... Revised USPS Service Performance Measurement Plan ................................................ Arslan Saleem. 

USPS–LR–N2024–1–5 .......... Revised Implementation Document for Service Performance Measurement Plan .......... Arslan Saleem. 

USPS–LR–N2024–1–6 .......... Market Dominant Mail Volume Impact Analysis in Future State ...................................... Arslan Saleem. 

USPS–LR–N2024–1–7 .......... Legacy Processing Assignments ...................................................................................... Gregory White. 

USPS–LR–N2024–1–8 .......... Facilities and Operating Cost Savings from STC Insourcing ........................................... Gregory White. 

USPS–LR–N2024–1–NP1 ..... LTO Model Explanation and Pilot Results ........................................................................ Stephen Hagenstein. 

USPS–LR–N2024–1–NP2 ..... Leg 2 Modeling Inputs, Explanation and Results ............................................................. Stephen Hagenstein. 

USPS–LR–N2024–1–NP3 ..... Service Standard Changes to Competitive Products ........................................................ Stephen Hagenstein. 

USPS–LR–N2024–1–NP4 ..... Competitive Products Volume with Start-the-Clock on Saturday or Day Before Holiday Arslan Saleem. 

USPS–LR–N2024–1–NP5 ..... Competitive Product Mail Volume Impact Analysis in Future State ................................. Arslan Saleem. 

USPS–LR–N2024–1–NP6 ..... Impacts on Pharmaceutical Volume .................................................................................. Arslan Saleem. 

USPS–LR–N2024–1–NP7 ..... Competitive Product Volume Impact in Future State ........................................................ Arslan Saleem. 

USPS–LR–N2024–1–NP8 ..... LDC Productivity Rates and Workhours ........................................................................... Gregory White. 

USPS–LR–N2024–1–NP9 ..... Site-Specific Machine Productivity Information ................................................................. Gregory White. 

Note: The Postal Service filed the non-public library reference under seal (shaded in the above table), asserting it consists of commercially 

sensitive business information, specifically transportation costs and modeling, information related to the Postal Service’s competitive products, 

and site- and machine-specific processing capabilities and productivity rates for competitive products. See Notice of United States Postal Service 

of Filing of Library References and Application for Non-Public Treatment, October 4, 2024, Application of the United States Postal Service for 

Non-Public Treatment at 4–8. 

IV. Initial Administrative Actions 

A. General Procedures 

The procedural rules in 39 CFR part 

3020 apply to Docket No. N2024–1. 

Before issuing its advisory opinion, the 

Commission shall accord an 

opportunity for a formal, on-the-record 

hearing pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 556 and 

557. 39 U.S.C. 3661(c). The Commission 

will sit en banc for Docket No. N2024– 

1. See 39 CFR 3020.122(b). The form 

and manner for any hearings to be held 

in Docket No. N2024–1 shall be 

established by Commission Order or 

Presiding Officer Ruling at a later date. 

B. Scope 

Docket No. N2024–1 is limited in 

scope to the specific changes proposed 

by the Postal Service in its Request. See 

39 CFR 3020.102(b). To the extent that 

participants raise alternative proposals 

and present reasons why those 

alternatives may be superior to the 


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5See Docket No. RM2012–4, Order Adopting 

Amended Rules of Procedure for Nature of Service 

Proceedings Under 39 U.S.C. 3661, May 20, 2014, 

at 18 (Order No. 2080). 

6The Commission’s Filing Online system allows 

account holders to file materials that contain nonpublic information. See Postal Regulatory 

Commission eDockets User Guide, at 39, available 

Continued 

Postal Service’s proposal, the 

Commission would interpret such 

discussion as critiquing the specific 

changes proposed by the Postal Service 

in its Request.5 However, the 

Commission would not evaluate or 

opine on the merits of such alternative 

proposals in its advisory opinion. See 

Order No. 2080 at 18. Pursuant to its 

discretion, the Commission may 

undertake evaluation of alternatives or 

other issues raised by participants in 

separate proceedings (such as special 

studies or public inquires). See 39 CFR 

3020.102(b). Moreover, any interested 

person may petition the Commission to 

initiate a separate proceeding (such as a 

rulemaking or public inquiry) at any 

time. See 39 CFR 3010.201(b) (initiation 

of notice and comment proceedings). 

C. Designation of Presiding Officer 

Pursuant to 39 CFR 3010.106, the 

Commission appoints Stephanie A. 

Quick to serve as presiding officer in 

Docket No. N2024–1, effective 

immediately. Ms. Quick shall have the 

authority delegated to the presiding 

officer under 39 CFR 3010.106(c), 

except for regulating the course of 

public conferences and hearings. See 39 

CFR 3010.106(c)(2). The Commission 

expands Ms. Quick’s authority to allow 

her to propound formal discovery 

requests upon any party, at her 

discretion. The numerical limitation on 

interrogatories appearing in 39 CFR 

3020.117(a) shall not apply to the 

presiding officer. The Commission also 

authorizes the presiding officer to rule 

on procedural issues such as motions 

for late acceptance and discoveryrelated matters such as motions to be 

excused from answering discovery 

requests. The presiding officer shall 

have authority to issue any ruling in this 

docket not otherwise specifically 

reserved to the Commission by 39 CFR 

3020 and 3010.106. Commissioner 

Ashley Poling shall preside over the 

technical conference and any hearings 

conducted as part of this proceeding. 

Commissioner Poling shall have all the 

authority of the presiding officer, 

including but not limited to convening, 

adjourning, and ruling on oral motions 

made during the hearings. 

D. Procedural Schedule 

The Commission establishes a 

procedural schedule, which appears 

below the signature of this Order as 

Attachment 1. See 39 CFR 3010.151, 

3020.110; see also 39 CFR part 3020 

appendix A. Generally, the procedural 

schedule for a nature of service 

proceeding requires that the advisory 

opinion be issued within 90 days from 

the date of the filing of the Postal 

Service’s request. See 39 CFR 3020.110. 

Due to the breadth and complexity of 

the Postal Service’s request, as well as 

the number of federal holidays that 

occur in the next 90 days, the 

Commission finds good cause to deviate 

from the pro forma procedural schedule, 

including extending the issuance date of 

the advisory opinion to 120 days. See 39 

CFR part 3020 appendix A. These dates 

may be further changed if good cause is 

shown, if the Commission later 

determines that the Request is 

incomplete, if the Commission 

determines that the Postal Service has 

significantly modified the Request, or 

for other reasons as determined by the 

Commission. See 39 CFR 3020.110(b) 

and (c). 

E. How To Access Material Filed in This 

Proceeding 

1. Using the Commission’s Website 

The public portions of the Postal 

Service’s filing are available for review 

on the Commission’s website (http://

www.prc.gov). The Postal Service’s 

electronic filing of the Request and 

prepared direct evidence effectively 

serves the persons who participated in 

the pre-filing conference. See 39 CFR 

3020.104. Other material filed in this 

proceeding will be available for review 

on the Commission’s website, unless the 

information contained therein is subject 

to an application for non-public 

treatment. 

2. Using Methods Other Than the 

Commission’s Website 

The Postal Service must serve hard 

copies of its Request and prepared 

direct evidence ‘‘only upon those 

persons who have notified the Postal 

Service, in writing, during the pre-filing 

conference(s), that they do not have 

access to the Commission’s website.’’ 39 

CFR 3020.104. If you demonstrate that 

you are unable to effectively use the 

Commission’s Filing Online system or 

are unable to access the internet, then 

the Secretary of the Commission will 

serve material filed in Docket No. 

N2024–1 upon you via First-Class Mail. 

See 39 CFR 3010.127(b) and (c). You 

may request physical service by mailing 

a document demonstrating your need to 

the Office of Secretary and 

Administration, Postal Regulatory 

Commission, 901 New York Avenue 

NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20268– 

0001. Pursuant to 39 CFR 3010.127(c), 

the Secretary shall maintain a service 

list identifying no more than two 

individuals designated for physical 

service of documents for each party 

intervening in this proceeding. 

Accordingly, each party must ensure 

that its listing is accurate and should 

promptly notify the Secretary of any 

errors or changes. See 39 CFR 

3010.127(c). 

3. Non-Public Material 

The Commission’s rules on how to 

file and access non-public material 

appear in 39 CFR part 3011. Each 

individual seeking non-public access 

must familiarize themselves with these 

provisions, including the rules 

governing eligibility for access; nondissemination, use, and care of the nonpublic material; sanctions for violations 

of protective conditions; and how to 

terminate or amend access. See 39 CFR 

3011.300, 3011.302–.304. Any person 

seeking access to non-public material 

must file a motion with the Commission 

containing the information required by 

39 CFR 3011.301(b)(1)–(4). Each motion 

must attach a description of the 

protective conditions and a certification 

to comply with protective conditions 

executed by each person or entity (and 

each individual working on behalf of 

the person or entity) seeking access. 39 

CFR 3011.301(b)(5)–(6). To facilitate 

compliance with 39 CFR 

3011.301(b)(5)–(6), a template Protective 

Conditions Statement and Certification 

to Comply with Protective Conditions 

appears below the signature of this 

Order as Attachment 2, for completion 

and attachment to a motion for access. 

See 39 CFR part 3011 subpart C, 

appendix A. Persons seeking access to 

non-public material are advised that 

actual notice provided to the Postal 

Service pursuant to 39 CFR 

3011.301(b)(4) will expedite resolution 

of the motion, particularly if the motion 

for access is uncontested by the Postal 

Service. 

Non-public information must be 

redacted from filings submitted through 

the Commission’s website; instead, nonpublic information must be filed under 

seal as required by 39 CFR part 3011 

subpart B. 

F. How To File Material in This 

Proceeding 

1. Using the Commission’s Filing Online 

System 

Except as provided in 39 CFR 

3010.120(a),6 all material filed with the 


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at https://www.prc.gov/sites/default/files/ 

PRC%20eFiling%20User%20Guide_06092023.pdf. 

The filer must adhere to the requirements of 39 CFR 

3011 subpart B, including the requirement to 

concomitantly provide an application for nonpublic treatment, a redacted (public) version of the 

non-public materials, and an unredacted (sealed) 

version of the non-public materials. See 39 CFR 

3011.200(a). 

7Please refer to the Commission’s privacy policy 

which is available at https://www.prc.gov/privacy. 

Commission shall be submitted in 

electronic format using the Filing 

Online system, which is available over 

the internet through the Commission’s 

website. The Commission’s website 

accepts filings during the Commission’s 

regular business hours, which are from 

8:00 a.m. through 4:30 p.m. Eastern 

Time (ET), except for Saturdays, 

Sundays, and Federal holidays. A guide 

to using the Filing Online system, 

including how to create an account, is 

available at https://www.prc.gov/how-toparticipate. If you have questions about 

how to use the Filing Online system, 

please contact the dockets clerk by 

email at dockets@prc.gov or telephone 

at (202) 789–6800, option 2. Please be 

advised that the dockets clerk can only 

answer procedural questions but may 

not provide legal advice or 

recommendations. 

2. Using Methods Other Than the 

Commission’s Filing Online System 

Material may be filed using a method 

other than the Commission’s website 

only if at least one of the following 

exceptions applies: 

• The material cannot reasonably be 

converted to electronic format, 

• The filer is unable to effectively use 

the Commission’s Filing Online system 

and the document is 10 pages or fewer, 

or 

• The Secretary has approved an 

exception to the requirements to use the 

Commission’s Filing Online system 

based on a showing of good cause. 

39 FR 3010.120(a). 

Material subject to these exceptions 

may be filed by mail to the Office of 

Secretary and Administration, Postal 

Regulatory Commission, 901 New York 

Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 

20268–0001. The posting of mailed 

materials to the Commission’s website 

may be delayed. 

G. Technical Conference 

1. Date and Purpose 

A technical conference will be held 

live via Microsoft Teams on October 16, 

2024, at 1:00 p.m. ET. The technical 

conference is an informal, off-the-record 

opportunity to clarify technical issues as 

well as to identify and request 

information relevant to evaluating the 

Postal Service’s proposed changes. See 

39 CFR 3020.115(c). The technical 

conference will be limited to 

information publicly available in the 

Request. Any non-public information, 

including information in non-public 

library references attached to the 

Request, should not be raised at the 

technical conference. At the technical 

conference, the Postal Service will make 

available for questioning its five 

witnesses whose direct testimony was 

filed along with the Request and a sixth 

individual to serve as its institutional 

witness, who will provide information 

relevant to the Postal Service’s proposal 

that is not provided by other Postal 

Service witnesses. See Request at 51–52; 

see also 39 CFR 3020.113(b)(6)–(7), 

3020.115(b). The names and topics to 

which these six individuals are 

prepared to address are summarized 

above in section III.C., table 3, infra. 

2. How To Livestream the Technical 

Conference 

The technical conference will be 

broadcast to the public via livestream, 

which will allow the public to view and 

listen to the technical conference, as it 

is occurring and after. To view and 

listen to the livestream, on or after 1 

p.m. ET on October 16, 2024, an 

individual must click on the internet 

link that will be identified on the 

Commission’s YouTube Channel, which 

is available at https://

www.youtube.com/channel/UCbHvKS8CJFT5yNQe4MkTiQ. Individuals do 

not have to register in advance to access 

the livestream. Please note that the 

livestream is a broadcast; therefore, 

there is a brief delay (several seconds) 

between the technical conference being 

captured on camera and being displayed 

to viewers of the livestream. 

Additionally, please note that clicking 

on the livestream link will not allow an 

individual the opportunity to question 

the Postal Service’s six witnesses. 

Details on how to participate in the live 

technical conference event (and have 

the opportunity to question the Postal 

Service’s six witnesses) follow. 

3. How To Participate in the Technical 

Conference 

To participate in this live technical 

conference and have the opportunity to 

ask questions of the Postal Service’s six 

witnesses, an individual need not 

formally intervene in this docket but 

must register in advance as follows. 

Each individual seeking to participate in 

the live technical conference via 

Microsoft Teams using an individual 

device (e.g., a desktop computer, laptop, 

tablet, or smart phone) must register by 

sending an email to Registration@

prc.gov, with the subject line ‘‘N2024– 

1 Conference Registration’’ by October 

15, 2024. In order to facilitate orderly 

public participation, this email shall 

provide the following information: 

• your first and last name; 

• your email address (to receive the 

Microsoft Teams link); 

• the name(s) of the Postal Service 

witness(es) you would like to question 

and/or the topic(s) of your question(s); 

and 

• your affiliation (if you are 

participating in your capacity as an 

employee, officer, or member of an 

entity such as a corporation, association, 

or government agency). 

The Registration@prc.gov email 

address is established solely for the 

exchange of information relating to the 

logistics of registering for, and 

participating in, the technical 

conference.7 No information related to 

the substance of the Postal Service’s 

Request shall be communicated, nor 

shall any information provided by 

participants apart from the list 

identified above be reviewed or 

considered. Only documents filed with 

the Commission’s docket system will be 

considered by the Commission. Before 

the technical conference, the 

Commission will email each identified 

individual a Microsoft Teams link, an 

explanation of how to connect to the 

technical conference, and information 

regarding the schedule and procedures 

to be followed. 

4. Availability of Materials and 

Recording 

To facilitate discussion of the matters 

to be explored at the technical 

conference, the Postal Service shall, if 

necessary, file with the Commission any 

materials not already filed in Docket No. 

N2024–1 (such as PowerPoint 

presentations or Excel spreadsheets) 

that the Postal Service expects to 

present at the technical conference by 

October 15, 2024. Doing so will foster an 

orderly discussion of the matters under 

consideration and facilitate the ability of 

individuals to access these materials 

should technical issues arise for any 

participants during the live technical 

conference. If feasible, the recording 

will be available on the Commission’s 

YouTube Channel at https://

www.youtube.com/channel/UCbHvKS8CJFT5yNQe4MkTiQ. 

Participants in the live technical 

conference, by participating, consent to 

such recording and posting. Information 

obtained during the technical 

conference or as a result of the technical 

conference is not part of the decisional 

record, unless admitted under the 


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8Neither the Public Representative nor the Postal 

Service must file a notice of intervention; both are 

automatically deemed parties to this proceeding. 

See 39 CFR 3010.142(a). 

9See 39 CFR 3020.117(a); Order No. 2080 at 42; 

see also Docket No. N2021–1, Order Affirming 

Presiding Officer’s Ruling No. N2021–1/9, May 26, 

2021, at 9 (Order No. 5901). 

10See 39 CFR 3020.117(b)(4), 3020.118(b)(1), 

3020.119(b)(1). Filing an opposition to a notice of 

intervention shall not delay this deadline. See 39 

CFR 3010.142(d)(3). 

standards of 39 CFR 3010.322. See 39 

CFR 3020.115(e). 

The Commission reserves the right to 

cancel the technical conference should 

no parties register an intent to question 

the Postal Service’s six witnesses. 

H. How To Intervene (Become a Party to 

This Proceeding) 

To become a party to this proceeding, 

a person or entity must file a notice of 

intervention by October 21, 2024.8 This 

filing must clearly and concisely state: 

(1) the nature and extent of the 

intervenor’s interest in the issues 

(including the postal services used); (2) 

the intervenor’s position on the 

proposed changes in services (to the 

extent known); (3) whether or not the 

intervenor requests a hearing; and (4) 

whether or not the intervenor intends to 

actively participate in the hearing. See 

39 CFR 3010.142(b). Page one of this 

filing shall contain the name and full 

mailing address of no more than two 

persons who are to receive service, 

when necessary, of any documents 

relating to this proceeding. See id. A 

party may participate in discovery; file 

testimony and evidence; conduct 

written examination of witnesses; 

conduct limited oral cross-examination; 

file briefs, motions, and objections; and 

present argument before the 

Commission or the presiding officer. See 

id. sections 3010.142(a); 3020.122(e). An 

opposition to a notice of intervention is 

due within 3 days after the notice of 

intervention is filed. See id. section 

3010.142(d)(2). 

I. Discovery 

1. Generally Applicable Discovery 

Procedures 

Discovery requests may be 

propounded upon filing a notice of 

intervention. Discovery that is 

reasonably calculated to lead to 

admissible evidence is allowed. See 39 

CFR 3020.116(a). Each party must 

familiarize themselves with the 

Commission’s rules appearing in 39 CFR 

part 3020, including the rules for 

discovery in N-dockets generally and 

specific to interrogatories, requests for 

the production of documents, and 

requests for admissions. See 39 CFR 

3020.116–3020.119. No party may 

propound more than a total of 25 

interrogatories (including both initial 

and follow-up interrogatories) without 

prior approval by the Commission or 

presiding officer.9

Each answer to a discovery request is 

due within 7 days after the discovery 

request is filed.10 Any motion seeking to 

be excused from answering any 

discovery request is due within 3 days 

after the discovery request is filed. See 

39 CFR 3020.105(b)(1). Any response to 

such motion is due within 2 days after 

the motion is filed. See id. section 

3020.105(b)(2). The Commission expects 

parties to make judicious use of 

discovery, objections, and motions 

practice, and encourages parties to make 

every effort to confer to resolve disputes 

informally before bringing disputes to 

the Commission to resolve. 

2. Discovery Deadlines for the Postal 

Service’s Direct Case 

All discovery requests regarding the 

Postal Service’s direct case must be filed 

by November 5, 2024. All discovery 

answers by the Postal Service must be 

filed by November 12, 2024. The parties 

are urged to initiate discovery promptly, 

rather than to defer filing requests and 

answers to the end of the period 

established by the Commission. 

J. Rebuttal Case Deadlines 

A rebuttal case is any evidence and 

testimony offered to disprove or 

contradict the evidence and testimony 

submitted by the Postal Service. A 

rebuttal case does not include crossexamination of the Postal Service’s 

witnesses or argument submitted via a 

brief or statement of position. Any party 

that intends to file a rebuttal case must 

file a notice confirming its intent to do 

so by November 27, 2024. Any rebuttal 

case, consisting of any testimony and all 

materials in support of the case, must be 

filed by December 4, 2024. 

K. Surrebuttal Case Deadlines 

A surrebuttal case is any evidence and 

testimony offered to disprove or 

contradict the evidence and testimony 

submitted by the rebutting party. A 

surrebuttal case does not include crossexamination of the rebutting party’s 

witnesses or argument submitted via a 

brief or statement of position. Any party 

that intends to file a surrebuttal case 

must obtain the Commission’s prior 

approval and must bear the burden of 

demonstrating exceptional 

circumstances that would warrant 

granting the motion. See 39 CFR 

3020.121(b). Any motion for leave to file 

a surrebuttal case is due December 6, 

2024. Any response to such motion is 

due December 10, 2024. Any surrebuttal 

case, consisting of any testimony and all 

materials in support of the case, must be 

filed by December 13, 2024. 

L. Hearing Dates 

The Commission expects that this 

case will require no more than 1 or 2 

business days for hearing, but reserves 

3 business days out of an abundance of 

caution and consistent with the pro 

forma schedule set forth in appendix A 

of 39 CFR part 3020. If no party files a 

notice of intent to file a rebuttal case by 

November 27, 2024, then the hearing of 

the Postal Service’s direct case shall 

begin December 4, 2024, with additional 

days reserved on December 5, 2024, and 

December 6, 2024. 

If any party files a notice of intent to 

file a rebuttal case by November 27, 

2024, but no surrebuttal testimony will 

be presented, then the hearing of the 

Postal Service’s direct case shall begin 

December 11, 2024, with additional 

days reserved on December 12, 2024, 

and December 13, 2024. 

If any party files a notice of intent to 

file a rebuttal case by November 27, 

2024, and the Commission approves the 

presentation of surrebuttal testimony, 

then the hearing of the Postal Service’s 

direct case shall begin December 18, 

2024, and the hearing of the surrebuttal 

case shall end December 20, 2024. 

M. Presentation of Evidence and 

Testimony 

Evidence and testimony shall be in 

writing and may be accompanied by a 

trial brief or legal memoranda. 39 CFR 

3020.122(e)(1). Whenever possible and 

particularly for factual or statistical 

evidence, written cross-examination 

will be used in lieu of oral crossexamination. Id. section 3020.122(e)(2). 

Oral cross-examination will be 

allowed to clarify written crossexamination and/or to test assumptions, 

conclusions, or other opinion evidence. 

Id. section 3020.122(e)(3). Assuming 

that no rebuttal case is filed, any party 

that intends to conduct oral crossexamination shall file a notice of intent 

to do so by November 25, 2024. The 

notice must include an estimate of the 

amount of time requested for each 

witness. 

In lieu of submitting hard copy 

documents to the Commission as 

contemplated by 39 CFR 3020.122(e)(2), 

each party shall file a single document 

titled ‘‘Notice of Designations’’ 

containing a list for each witness that 

identifies the materials to be designated 


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(without the responses). The filing party 

shall arrange its list for each witness in 

alphabetical order by the name of the 

party propounding the interrogatory 

followed by numerical order of the 

interrogatory. For example: 

Designations for Witness One 

ABC/USPS–T1–1 

ABC/USPS–T1–3 

DEF/USPS–T1–1 

GHI/USPS–T1–3 

JKL/USPS–T1–2 

Designations for Witness Two 

DEF/USPS–T2–4 

GHI/USPS–T2–2 

Assuming that no rebuttal case is 

filed, each party shall file its Notice of 

Designations by November 26, 2024. 

Assuming that no rebuttal case is 

filed, on December 2, 2024, the Postal 

Service shall file a ‘‘Notice of 

Designated Materials’’ identifying any 

corrections to the testimony or 

designated materials for each witness 

sponsored by the Postal Service. 

Attached to that notice shall be an 

Adobe PDF file that contains the 

witness’s designated written responses 

in alphabetical order by the name of the 

party propounding the interrogatory 

followed by numerical order of the 

interrogatory (with any corrections to 

the responses highlighted). The Postal 

Service shall also contemporaneously 

file any corrections to testimony (with 

those corrections highlighted). 

N. Presentation of Argument 

1. General Procedures 

Any person that has intervened in 

Docket No. N2024–1 (and thereby 

formally became a party to this 

proceeding) may submit written 

argument by filing a brief or a statement 

of position; they also may request to 

present oral argument at the hearing. 

See 39 CFR 3020.123; see also 39 CFR 

3010.142(a). Any person that has not 

intervened in Docket No. N2024–1 may 

submit written argument by filing a 

statement of position. See 39 CFR 

3020.123(g); see also 39 CFR 

3010.142(a). 

2. Presentation of Written Argument 

A brief is a written document that 

addresses relevant legal and evidentiary 

issues for the Commission to consider 

and must adhere to the requirements of 

39 CFR 3020.123(a)–(f). A statement of 

position is a less formal version of a 

brief that describes the filer’s position 

on the Request and the information on 

the existing record in support of that 

position. See 39 CFR 3020.123(g). 

a. Briefing Deadlines 

Assuming that no rebuttal case is 

filed, initial briefs are due December 12, 

2024, and reply briefs are due December 

19, 2024. If any party files a notice 

confirming its intent to file a rebuttal 

case by November 27, 2024, then the 

briefing schedule may be revised. 

b. Deadline for Statement of Position 

Any interested person, including 

anyone that has not filed a notice of 

intervention and become a party to this 

proceeding, may file a statement of 

position. See 39 CFR 3020.123(g); see 

also 39 CFR 3010.142(a). A statement of 

position is limited to the existing record 

and may not include any new 

evidentiary material. See 39 CFR 

3020.123(g). Filings styled as a brief or 

comments, conforming with the content 

and timing requirements, shall be 

deemed statements of positions. Any 

statement of position is due December 

12, 2024. 

3. Request To Present Oral Argument 

Oral argument has not historically 

been part of N-cases; the Commission 

would only grant a request to present 

oral argument upon an appropriate 

showing of need by the presenting 

party. See Order No. 2080 at 53. 

Assuming that no rebuttal case is filed, 

any party may file a request to present 

oral argument by November 25, 2024. 

O. The Commission’s Advisory Opinion 

In section IV.D., the Commission 

stated that it found good cause to 

modify the procedural schedule such 

that the Commission shall issue its 

advisory opinion within 120 days of the 

filing of the Request. Therefore, absent 

a determination of good cause for 

further extension, the Commission shall 

issue its advisory opinion in this 

proceeding by January 31, 2025. ‘‘The 

opinion shall be in writing and shall 

include a certification by each 

Commissioner agreeing with the 

opinion that in his [or her] judgment the 

opinion conforms to the policies 

established under [title 39, United 

States Code].’’ 39 U.S.C. 3661(c). The 

advisory opinion shall address the 

specific changes proposed by the Postal 

Service in the nature of postal services. 

See 39 CFR 3020.102(b). The 

Commission encourages the Postal 

Service to consider the 

recommendations from the advisory 

opinion before moving forward with 

implementation. 

P. Public Representative 

Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3661(c), Ping 

Gong shall continue to serve as an 

officer of the Commission (Public 

Representative) to represent the 

interests of the general public in this 

proceeding. See Order No. 7414 at 3. 

V. Ordering Paragraphs 

It is ordered: 

1. The procedural schedule for this 

proceeding is set forth below the 

signature of this Order. 

2. Pursuant to 39 CFR 3010.106 and 

3020.122(b), the Commission appoints 

Stephanie A. Quick to serve as presiding 

officer in Docket No. N2024–1, effective 

immediately. 

3. Stephanie A. Quick is authorized to 

propound formal discovery requests 

upon any party, at her discretion. The 

numerical limitation on interrogatories 

appearing in 39 CFR 3020.117(a) shall 

not apply to the Presiding Officer. 

4. Stephanie A. Quick is authorized to 

rule on procedural issues such as 

motions for late acceptance and 

discovery-related matters such as 

motions to be excused from answering 

discovery requests. 

5. Stephanie A. Quick is authorized to 

make other rulings in this Docket not 

otherwise specifically reserved to the 

Commission according to 39 CFR 3020 

and 3010.106. 

6. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3661(c), Ping 

Gong shall continue to serve as an 

officer of the Commission (Public 

Representative) to represent the 

interests of the general public in this 

proceeding. 

7. The Secretary shall arrange for 

publication of this Order in the Federal 

Register. 

By the Commission. 

Erica A. Barker, 

Secretary. 

PROCEDURAL SCHEDULE FOR DOCKET NO. N2024–1 

[Established by the Commission, October 8, 2024] 

Technical Conference Dates: 

Deadline to Email Registration@prc.gov to Register to Participate in the Live Technical Conference via 

Microsoft Teams.

October 15, 2024. 

Filing of the Postal Service’s Materials (if any) for the Technical Conference .......................................... October 15, 2024. 


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PROCEDURAL SCHEDULE FOR DOCKET NO. N2024–1—Continued 

[Established by the Commission, October 8, 2024] 

Technical Conference (live via Microsoft Teams) ...................................................................................... October 16, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. 

Eastern Time (ET). 

Intervention Deadline: 

Filing of Notice of Intervention .................................................................................................................... October 21, 2024. 

Discovery Deadlines for the Postal Service’s Direct Case: 

Last Filing of Discovery Requests .............................................................................................................. November 5, 2024. 

Filing of the Postal Service’s Answers to Discovery .................................................................................. November 12, 2024. 

Deadlines in Preparation for Hearing (assuming no rebuttal case): 

Filing of Notice Confirming Intent to Oral Conduct Cross-Examination ..................................................... November 25, 2024. 

Filing of Request to Present Oral Argument .............................................................................................. November 25, 2024. 

Filing of Notice of Designations (Parties) ................................................................................................... November 26, 2024. 

Filing of Notices of Designated Materials (Postal Service) ........................................................................ December 2, 2024. 

Rebuttal Case Deadlines (if applicable): 

Filing of Notice Confirming Intent to File a Rebuttal Case ......................................................................... November 27, 2024. 

Filing of Rebuttal Case ............................................................................................................................... December 4, 2024. 

Surrebuttal Case Deadlines (if applicable): 

Filing of Motion for Leave to File Surrebuttal Case ................................................................................... December 6, 2024. 

Filing of Response to Motion for Leave to File Surrebuttal Case .............................................................. December 10, 2024. 

Filing of Surrebuttal Case (if authorized) .................................................................................................... December 13, 2024. 

Hearing Dates: 

Hearings (with no Rebuttal Case) .............................................................................................................. December 4 to 6, 2024. 

Hearings (with Rebuttal Case, but no authorized Surrebuttal Case) ......................................................... December 11 to 13, 2024. 

Hearings (with Rebuttal Case and authorized Surrebuttal Case) .............................................................. December 18 to 20, 2024. 

Briefing Deadlines: 

Filing of Initial Briefs (with no Rebuttal Case) ............................................................................................ December 12, 2024. 

Filing of Reply Briefs (with no Rebuttal Case) ........................................................................................... December 19, 2024. 

Statement of Position Deadline: 

Filing of Statement of Position (with no Rebuttal Case) ............................................................................ December 12, 2024. 

Advisory Opinion Deadline: 

Filing of Advisory Opinion ........................................................................................................................... January 31, 2025. 

Docket N2024–1 Template To Attach 

To Motion for Access to Non-Public 

Material Protective Conditions 

Statement 

The Postal Service requests 

confidential treatment of non-public 

materials identified as lll (nonconfidential description of non-public 

materials) (hereinafter ‘‘these 

materials’’) in Commission Docket No. 

N2024–1. lll (name of participant 

filing motion) (hereinafter ‘‘the 

movant’’) requests access to these 

materials related to Commission Docket 

No. N2024–1 (hereinafter ‘‘this matter’’). 

The movant has provided to each 

person seeking access to these materials: 

Æ This Protective Conditions 

Statement; 

Æ The Certification to Comply with 

Protective Conditions; 

Æ The Certification of Compliance 

with Protective Conditions and 

Termination of Access; and 

Æ The Commission’s rules applicable 

to access to non-public materials filed in 

Commission proceedings (subpart C of 

part 3011 of the U.S. Code of Federal 

Regulations). 

Each person (and any individual 

working on behalf of that person) 

seeking access to these materials has 

executed a Certification to Comply with 

Protective Conditions by signing in ink 

or by typing /s/ before his or her name 

in the signature block. The movant 

attaches the Protective Conditions 

Statement and the executed 

Certification(s) to Comply with 

Protective Conditions to the motion for 

access filed with the Commission. 

The movant and each person seeking 

access to these materials agree to 

comply with the following protective 

conditions: 

1. In accordance with 39 CFR 

3011.303, the Commission may impose 

sanctions on any person who violates 

these protective conditions, the persons 

or entities on whose behalf the person 

was acting, or both. 

2. In accordance with 39 CFR 

3011.300(b), no person involved in 

competitive decision-making for any 

individual or entity that might gain 

competitive advantage from using these 

materials shall be granted access to 

these materials. Involved in competitive 

decision-making includes consulting on 

marketing or advertising strategies, 

pricing, product research and 

development, product design, or the 

competitive structuring and 

composition of bids, offers or proposals. 

It does not include rendering legal 

advice or performing other services that 

are not directly in furtherance of 

activities in competition with an 

individual or entity having a proprietary 

interest in the protected material. 

3. In accordance with 39 CFR 

3011.302(a), a person granted access to 

these materials may not disseminate 

these materials in whole or in part to 

any person not allowed access pursuant 

to 39 CFR 3011.300(a) (Commission and 

court personnel) or 3011.301 (other 

persons granted access by Commission 

order) except in compliance with: 

a. Specific Commission order, 

b. Subpart B of 39 CFR 3011 

(procedure for filing these materials in 

Commission proceedings), or 

c. 39 CFR 3011.305 (production of 

these materials in a court or other 

administrative proceeding). 

4. In accordance with 39 CFR 

3011.302(b) and (c), all persons granted 

access to these materials: 

a. Must use these materials only 

related to this matter; and 

b. Must protect these materials from 

any person not authorized to obtain 

access under 39 CFR 3011.300 or 

3011.301 by using the same degree of 

care, but no less than a reasonable 

degree of care, to prevent the 

unauthorized disclosure of these 

materials as those persons, in the 

ordinary course of business, would be 

expected to use to protect their own 

proprietary material or trade secrets and 

other internal, confidential, 

commercially sensitive, and privileged 

information. 

5. The duties of each person granted 

access to these materials apply to all: 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
83718 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 201 / Thursday, October 17, 2024 / Notices 

1See Docket No. RM2018–3, Order Adopting 

Final Rules Relating to Non-Public Information, 

June 27, 2018, Attachment A at 19–22 (Order No. 

4679). 

a. Disclosures or duplications of these 

materials in writing, orally, 

electronically, or otherwise, by any 

means, format, or medium; 

b. Excerpts from, parts of, or the 

entirety of these materials; 

c. Written materials that quote or 

contain these materials; and 

d. Revised, amended, or supplemental 

versions of these materials. 

6. All copies of these materials will be 

clearly marked as ‘‘Confidential’’ and 

bear the name of the person granted 

access. 

7. Immediately after access has 

terminated pursuant to 39 CFR 

3011.304(a)(1), each person (and any 

individual working on behalf of that 

person) who has obtained a copy of 

these materials must execute the 

Certification of Compliance with 

Protective Conditions and Termination 

of Access. In compliance with 39 CFR 

3011.304(a)(2), the movant will attach 

the executed Certification(s) of 

Compliance with Protective Conditions 

and Termination of Access to the notice 

of termination of access filed with the 

Commission. 

8. Each person granted access to these 

materials consents to these or such other 

conditions as the Commission may 

approve. 

Respectfully submitted, 

/s/ 

lllllllllllllllllll

Attorney/Non-Attorney Representative 

for 

(signature of representative) 

(print name of representative) 

(address line 1 of representative) 

(address line 2 of representative) 

(telephone number of representative) 

(e-mail address of representative) 

(choose the appropriate response) 

(name of the movant) 

You may delete the instructional text 

to complete this form. This form may be 

filed as an attachment to the motion for 

access to non-public materials under 39 

CFR 3011.301(b)(5). 

Certification To Comply With 

Protective Conditions 

The Postal Service requests 

confidential treatment of non-public 

materials identified as lll (nonconfidential description of non-public 

materials) (hereinafter ‘‘these 

materials’’) filed in Commission Docket 

No. N2024–1. 

lll (name of participant filing 

motion) requests that the Commission 

grant me access to these materials to use 

related to Docket No. N2024–1 

(hereinafter ‘‘this matter’’). I certify that: 

Æ I have read and understand the 

Protective Conditions Statement and 

this Certification to Comply with 

Protective Conditions; 

Æ I am eligible to receive access to 

these materials because I am not 

involved in competitive decisionmaking for any individual or entity that 

might gain competitive advantage from 

using these materials; and 

Æ I will comply with all protective 

conditions established by the 

Commission. 

/s/ 

lllllllllllllllllll

(signature of individual receiving 

access) 

(print name of individual receiving 

access) 

(title of individual receiving access) 

(employer of individual receiving 

access) 

(name of the participant filing the 

motion) 

(date) 

You may delete the instructional text 

to complete this form. This form may be 

filed as an attachment to the motion for 

access to non-public materials under 39 

CFR 3011.301(b)(6). 

[FR Doc. 2024–23853 Filed 10–16–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P 

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION 

and K2025–45; MC2025–47 and K2025–46; 

MC2025–48 and K2025–47; MC2025–49 and 

K2025–48; MC2025–50 and K2025–49; 

MC2025–51 and K2025–50; MC2025–52 and 

K2025–51; MC2025–53 and K2025–52; 

MC2025–54 and K2025–53; MC2025–55 and 

K2025–54; MC2025–56 and K2025–55; 

MC2025–57 and K2025–56; MC2025–59 and 

K2025–57; MC2025–60 and K2025–58; 

MC2025–61 and K2025–59; MC2025–62 and 

K2025–60] 

New Postal Products 

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a 

recent Postal Service filing for the 

Commission’s consideration concerning 

a negotiated service agreement. This 

notice informs the public of the filing, 

invites public comment, and takes other 

administrative steps. 

DATES: Comments are due: October 18, 

2024. 

ADDRESSES: Submit comments 

electronically via the Commission’s 

Filing Online system at http://

www.prc.gov. Those who cannot submit 

comments electronically should contact 

the person identified in the FOR FURTHER

INFORMATION CONTACT section by 

telephone for advice on filing 

alternatives. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 

202–789–6820. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents 

I. Introduction 

II. Public Proceeding(s) 

III. Summary Proceeding(s) 

I. Introduction 

Pursuant to 39 CFR 3041.405, the 

Commission gives notice that the Postal 

Service filed request(s) for the 

Commission to consider matters related 

to Competitive negotiated service 

agreement(s). The request(s) may 

propose the addition of a negotiated 

service agreement from the Competitive 

product list or the modification of an 

existing product currently appearing on 

the Competitive product list. 

The public portions of the Postal 

Service’s request(s) can be accessed via 

the Commission’s website (http://

www.prc.gov). Non-public portions of 

the Postal Service’s request(s), if any, 

can be accessed through compliance 

with the requirements of 39 CFR 

3011.301.1

Section II identifies the docket 

number(s) associated with each Postal 

Service request, if any, that will be 

reviewed in a public proceeding as 

defined by 39 CFR 3010.101(p), the title 

of each such request, the request’s 

acceptance date, and the authority cited 

by the Postal Service for each request. 

For each such request, the Commission 

appoints an officer of the Commission to 

represent the interests of the general 

public in the proceeding, pursuant to 39 

U.S.C. 505 and 39 CFR 3000.114 (Public 

Representative). Section II also 

establishes comment deadline(s) 

pertaining to each such request. 

The Commission invites comments on 

whether the Postal Service’s request(s) 

identified in Section II, if any, are 

consistent with the policies of title 39. 

Applicable statutory and regulatory 

requirements include 39 U.S.C. 3632, 39 

U.S.C. 3633, 39 U.S.C. 3642, 39 CFR 

part 3035, and 39 CFR part 3041. 

Comment deadline(s) for each such 

request, if any, appear in Section II. 

Section III identifies the docket 

number(s) associated with each Postal 

Service request, if any, to add a 

standardized distinct product to the 

Competitive product list or to amend a 

standardized distinct product, the title 

of each such request, the request’s 

acceptance date, and the authority cited 

by the Postal Service for each request. 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1