[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 153 (Thursday, August 12, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Page 44409]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17189]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. N2021-2; Presiding Officer's Ruling No. 6]


Service Standard Changes

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is providing notice that the hearing dates 
reserved for August 11-13, 2021, are cancelled. This notice informs the 
public of the cancelling of said hearing dates and excuses the 
witnesses from appearing.

ADDRESSES: For additional information, Presiding Officer's Ruling No. 6 
can be accessed electronically through the Commission's website at 
https://www.prc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at 
202-789-6820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 17, 2021, the Postal Service filed a 
request for an advisory opinion regarding planned changes to the 
service standards for First-Class Package Service.\1\ On July 23, 2021, 
the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO (APWU) filed a notice of its 
intent to file rebuttal testimony.\2\
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    \1\ United States Postal Service Request for an Advisory Opinion 
on Changes in the Nature of Postal Services, June 17, 2021 
(Request).
    \2\ American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO Notice of Intent to 
File Rebuttal Testimony, July 23, 2021.
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    The Commission's procedural schedule reserved August 11-13, 2021, 
as hearing dates, if any party filed a notice of intent to file a 
rebuttal case.\3\ In accordance with this schedule, the Presiding 
Officer established August 4, 2021, as the deadline for any parties to 
file any notices of intent to conduct oral cross-examination on the 
Postal Service's direct case or to file a request to present oral 
argument at the hearing. POR No. 3. No party filed a notice of intent 
to cross-examine any of the Postal Service's witnesses or a request to 
present oral argument by the established deadline. Additionally, the 
Presiding Officer established August 5, 2021, as the deadline for any 
parties to file any notices of intent to conduct oral cross-examination 
on the APWU's rebuttal case. No party filed a notice of intent to 
cross-examine the APWU's rebuttal witness.\4\ Therefore, the hearing 
dates reserved for August 11-13, 2021, are cancelled.
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    \3\ Presiding Officers Ruling No. 3 at 2 (citing Order Modifying 
Procedural Schedule, July 8, 2021, at 3 (Order No. 5933) (modifying 
Notice and Order on the Postal Service's Request for an Advisory 
Opinion on Changes in the Nature of Postal Services, June 21, 2021 
(Order No. 5920)) (POR No. 3).
    \4\ The Postal Service stated that it did not intend to conduct 
oral cross-examination of the rebuttal witness and reserved the 
right to conduct follow-up cross-examination in the event that any 
other party did file a notice of intent to conduct oral cross-
examination. See United States Postal Service Notice Concerning Oral 
Cross-Examination of Rebuttal Witnesses, August 5, 2021, at 1.
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    The Postal Service's witnesses--Stephen B. Hagenstein (USPS-T-1), 
Michelle Kim (USPS-T-2), Thomas J. Foti (USPS-T-3), and Sharon Owens 
(institutional witness)--are not called for oral cross-examination and 
are excused from appearing. No later than Tuesday, August 10, 2021, the 
Postal Service shall file any corrected testimony, corrected designated 
written-cross examination, etc., applicable to the excused witnesses 
with a declaration/affidavit from the witness attesting to the proposed 
record material. The Postal Service may move to admit these materials 
by written motion by Wednesday, August 11, 2021. Objections to the 
admission of the proposed record material for these excused witnesses 
are due Thursday, August 12, 2021.
    Additionally, the rebuttal witness--Anita Morrison (APWU-RT-1)--is 
not called for oral cross-examination and is excused from appearing. No 
later than Thursday, August 12, 2021, the rebuttal witness shall file a 
motion, in writing, to admit her testimony, along with a declaration 
that her testimony would be the same if offered orally (and proffer any 
corrections if necessary). Objections to the admission of the proposed 
record material for this excused rebuttal witness are due Friday, 
August 13, 2021.

Ruling

    1. The hearing dates reserved for August 11-13, 2021, are 
cancelled.
    2. Proposed record materials from the excused Postal Service 
witnesses shall be filed with the Commission by August 10, 2021, 
consistent with the body of this Ruling.
    3. The Postal Service shall move to admit the proposed record 
materials for excused witnesses by August 11, 2021, consistent with the 
body of this Ruling.
    4. Objections to the admission of the Postal Service's proposed 
record materials are due August 12, 2021.
    5. Excused rebuttal witness shall move to have her testimony (or 
corrected testimony) admitted by August 12, 2021, consistent with the 
body of this Ruling.
    6. Objections to the admission of the rebuttal witness' proposed 
record materials are due August 13, 2021, consistent with the body of 
this Ruling.
    7. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this ruling in 
the Federal Register.

Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-17189 Filed 8-11-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P