[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 140 (Wednesday, July 22, 1998)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39238-39239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19464]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Ancillary Service Endorsement to Allow Forwarding of First-Class 
Mail Destined for an Address With a Temporary Change-of-Address on File

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This final rule provides an additional option for ancillary 
service endorsements to allow the forwarding of First-Class Mail 
destined for an address with a temporary change-of-address on file. 
This change will improve customer satisfaction by forwarding the piece 
to the temporary address instead of returning it to the mailer with the 
reason for nondelivery.

DATES: This final rule is effective on August 1, 1998. Comments must be 
received on or before August 21, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Address 
Management, National Customer Support Center, 6060 Primacy PKWY STE 
201, Memphis, TN 38188-0001. Copies of all written comments will be 
available at the above address for inspection and photocopying between 
9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Audrey Conley, (901) 681-4474.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) F010.5.1,

[[Page 39239]]

mailers may opt to receive a notice of new address or reason for 
nondelivery by placing the endorsement ``Return Service Requested'' on 
all First-Class Mail. Consistent with DMM F010.5.1, undeliverable as 
addressed (UAA) pieces bearing this endorsement are returned to the 
mailer. Under present standards, the ``Return Service Requested'' 
endorsement does not provide forwarding service.
    Since the implementation of the ``Return Service Requested'' option 
on July 1, 1997, the Postal Service has received requests from some 
mailers who use the ``Return Service Requested'' endorsement to have 
the service provide forwarding of temporary address changes. These 
mailers would prefer that UAA pieces destined for customers who have 
submitted temporary change-of-address notices to the Postal Service be 
forwarded to the customer rather than returned to the mailer. This 
change will improve customer satisfaction for these mailers by 
forwarding the piece to the temporary address instead of returning it 
to the mailer with the reason for nondelivery. Under current Postal 
regulations and the Privacy Act, temporary change-of-address 
information is not provided to mailers, therefore, this change also 
benefits the Postal Service by eliminating the need to return pieces 
bearing address correction information which would be of no use or 
value to the sender.
    To accommodate those First-Class mailers who currently use the 
``Return Service Requested'' endorsement, and who want pieces forwarded 
to the temporary address, the Postal Service has agreed to implement a 
new endorsement, ``Temp--Return Service Requested'', which would allow 
mailpieces to be forwarded to a temporary address when a temporary 
change-of-address notice is on file. This endorsement will only provide 
forwarding for temporary change-of-address, and does not apply to 
permanent change-of-address. Since this option is available only to 
First-Class Mailers, it is reasonable to conclude that all mailers who 
elect this option will be aware of the nature of the service provided 
and the consequences in the event a piece bearing the endorsement is 
undeliverable as addressed. This change is accordingly effective August 
1, 1998.
    The Postal Service is soliciting comments on this final rule.
    Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553 (b), (c)) regarding proposed 
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invites comments on 
the following revisions of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated 
by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR Part 111.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Postal service.
    For the reasons discussed above, the Postal Service hereby adopts 
the following amendments to the Domestic Mail Manual, which is 
incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations (see 39 
CFR part 111):

PART 111--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 39 CFR Part 111 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 3001-3011, 
3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.

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

F  Forwarding and Related Services

F010 Basic Information

* * * * *

5.0  Class Treatment for Ancillary Services

5.1  Priority Mail and First-Class Mail

[Revise the table in 5.1 as follows to add the new endorsement:]

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
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                            *   *   *   *   *                           
``Temp--Return Service Requested''.....  Piece returned with new address
                                          or reason for nondelivery     
                                          attached; no charge. If       
                                          temporary change-of-address,  
                                          piece forwarded; no charge; no
                                          separate notice of new        
                                          temporary change-of-address   
                                          provided.                     
                                                                        
                            *   *   *   *   *                           
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    An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 will be published to 
reflect these changes.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 98-19464 Filed 7-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P