[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 28 (Thursday, February 10, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7881-7882]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02886]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. PI2022-1; Order No. 6101]


Public Inquiry on Resolving Suspended Post Offices

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Commission is initiating a public inquiry proceeding to 
identify and address issues impeding the Postal Service's progress in 
resolving suspended post offices. This document informs the public of 
this proceeding, invites public comment, and takes other administrative 
steps.

DATES: Comments are due: April 29, 2022.

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. Background
III. Comments
IV. Ordering Paragraphs

I. Introduction

    The Commission establishes this public inquiry proceeding to 
identify and address issues impeding the Postal Service's progress in 
resolving suspended post offices in a timely manner. Specifically, the 
Commission seeks input from the public regarding suggested procedures 
or courses of action for how the Postal Service may expeditiously 
resolve suspended post offices. The Commission welcomes comments with 
any data analysis related to suspended post offices, including, but not 
limited to, the spatial analysis of suspended post offices.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Spatial analysis is a diverse and comprehensive capability 
that includes the simple visual analysis of maps and imagery, 
computational analysis of geographic patterns, finding optimum 
routes, site selection, and advanced predictive modeling. ESRI, The 
Language of Spatial Analysis, available at https://www.esri.com/content/dam/esrisites/sitecore-archive/Files/Pdfs/library/books/the-language-of-spatial-analysis.pdf, at 6.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Background

    The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) \2\ requires 
the Postal Service to include in its Annual Compliance Report (ACR) 
``measures of the quality of service afforded by the Postal Service in 
connection with [each Market Dominant] product, including . . . the 
degree of customer satisfaction with the service provided.'' 39 U.S.C. 
3652(a)(2)(B)(ii). As part of its annual reporting concerning customer 
satisfaction, the Postal Service must report information concerning 
suspended post offices. See 39 CFR 3055.91(a)(4)-0 (6). A suspension 
occurs when the Postal Service stops operations at a post office due to 
an emergency or similar situation. See 39 CFR 241.3(a)(5)(i)(B). The 
Postal Service resolves a suspension by either discontinuing or 
reopening the post office.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Public Law 109-435, 120 Stat. 3198 (2006).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission has monitored the Postal Service's progress in 
resolving suspensions for multiple fiscal years, primarily via its ACR 
review proceedings. At the end of FY 2016, there were 662 suspended 
post offices.\3\ Of these post offices, 206 remained suspended at the 
end of FY 2021. Id. at 80. In addition, the Postal Service reports in 
the FY 2021 ACR that it suspended 247 other post offices between FY 
2017 and FY 2021,\4\ for a total of 453 post offices suspended at the 
end of 2021.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Docket No. ACR2021, United States Postal Service FY 2021 
Annual Compliance Report, December 29, 2021, at 79.
    \4\ See Docket No. ACR2021, Library Reference USPS-FY21-33, 
December 29, 2021, folder ``USPS.FY21.33.Files,'' Excel file 
``PostOfficesFY2021.xlsx,'' tab ``Suspension Summary,'' cell I17.
    \5\ The numbers in this order reflect the most up-to-date 
numbers provided by the Postal Service in the FY 2021 ACR, FY 2021 
post office suspension quarterly reports, and Library Reference 
USPS-FY21-33. CHIRs were issued in Docket No. ACR2021 to reconcile 
these numbers, and the Commission will provide updated numbers in 
the upcoming FY 2021 ACD.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In its FY 2016 ACD, the Commission stated that it expected the 
Postal Service to significantly reduce the number of suspended post 
offices.\6\ In its FY 2020 ACD, the Commission expressed concern 
regarding the apparent lack of commitment by the Postal Service in 
addressing and resolving suspended post offices in recent years and 
announced its intent to initiate a public inquiry docket on the 
matter.\7\ Accordingly, the Commission establishes this proceeding to 
identify and address issues impeding the Postal Service's progress in 
resolving suspended post offices in a timely manner.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ Docket No. ACR2016, Postal Regulatory Commission, Annual 
Compliance Determination Report Fiscal Year 2016, March 28, 2017, at 
151.
    \7\ Docket No. ACR2020, Postal Regulatory Commission, Annual 
Compliance Determination Report Fiscal Year 2020, March 29, 2021, at 
221.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

III. Comments

    The Commission invites comments on suggested procedures or courses 
of action that would allow for the Postal Service to expeditiously 
resolve the 206 suspended post offices remaining from FY 2016, with a 
special focus on the post offices that have been suspended for more 
than 5 years.
    The Commission also invites comments on how the Postal Service 
should resolve the post offices suspended after FY 2016. The Commission 
encourages the commenters to discuss specific issues related to the 
recent suspension of post offices (after FY 2019). These comments 
should focus on facilitating the process for resolving the backlog of 
suspended post offices, as well as prevent such backlogs from 
recurring.
    The scope of this proceeding is limited to the Postal Service's 
process for resolving suspended post offices as a whole. This 
proceeding does not cover ancillary issues, including concerns about 
individual post offices and the Commission's jurisdiction to consider 
post office closing appeals. The Commission, however, welcomes comments 
with any data analysis related to the suspended post offices, 
including, but not limited to, the spatial analysis of the suspended 
post offices. Comments are due on April 29, 2022. Material filed in 
this docket--including tables, figures and library references--will be 
available for review on the Commission's website, http://www.prc.gov.

[[Page 7882]]

    Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Kenneth R. Moeller will serve as an 
officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to represent the 
interests of the general public in this docket.

IV. Ordering Paragraphs

    It is ordered:
    1. The Commission establishes Docket No. PI2022-1 to identify and 
address issues impeding the Postal Service's progress in resolving 
suspended post offices in a timely manner.
    2. Interested persons may submit written comments no later than 
April 29, 2022.
    3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Kenneth R. Moeller will serve as an 
officer of the Commission (Public Representative) to represent the 
interests of the general public in this proceeding.
    4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of a general 
statement as to the basis and purpose of this Notice in the Federal 
Register.

    By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-02886 Filed 2-9-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P