[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 79 (Monday, April 25, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24350-24351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-08765]


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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION

[Docket No. N2022-1; Presiding Officer's Ruling No. 1]


Service Standard Changes

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Commission is providing notice that a hearing and certain 
procedural events have been removed from the procedural schedule in 
this proceeding. This notice informs the public of the modified 
procedural schedule.

ADDRESSES: For additional information, Presiding Officer's Ruling No. 1 
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 April 14, 2022, the Postal Service filed 
a motion for consideration of its stipulation and agreement regarding 
the advisory opinion in this proceeding in accordance with 39 CFR 
3010.320.\1\ The Stipulation and Agreement, negotiated between the only 
two parties in this proceeding--the Postal Service and the Public 
Representative, concerns certain procedural and evidentiary matters. 
Specifically, the Postal Service and the Public Representative agree 
that the direct testimony of Postal Service witnesses, supporting 
Library References, and any designated response to the Presiding 
Officer's Information Requests provide substantial evidence supporting 
an advisory opinion. Motion, Stipulation and Agreement at 2.
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    \1\ Motion of the United States Postal Service for Consideration 
of the Stipulation and Agreement as the Basis for Advisory Opinion, 
April 14, 2022 (Motion).
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    They also agree that neither a hearing nor oral argument or 
examination are necessary in determining whether the proposed service 
standard changes are in accordance with the policies of Title 39 of the 
United States Code and in furtherance of the public interest. Id. In 
addition, they agree that they will file no further discovery requests 
or testimony, unless requested by the Commission. However, both parties 
reserve the right to submit initial or reply briefs, if necessary. Id.
    The Postal Service states that it will move for the admission into 
record evidence the testimonies and supporting documentation. Id. The 
Postal Service also states that it will move for the adoption of a 
revised procedural schedule, removing the dates for the hearing, 
modifying the deadline to file designated materials, and shortening the 
time to file reply briefs, if necessary:
<bullet> Deadline of Discovery Requests: April 18, 2022
<bullet> Deadline for Discovery Responses: April 25, 2022
<bullet> Notice of Designations: April 26, 2022
<bullet> Filing Designated Materials: April 27, 2022
<bullet> Initial Brief: May 11, 2022
<bullet> Statements of Position: May 11, 2022
<bullet> Reply Brief (if needed): May 13, 2022

    Id. at 2-3. The Motion is granted. Having considered the 
Stipulation and Agreement, the Presiding Officer finds that, based on 
the agreement between parties, certain procedural events can be removed 
from the schedule. See 39 CFR 3020.110(b). Moreover, adopting the 
Stipulation and Agreement will not affect the ability of interested 
parties to participate (i.e., file statements of position) in this 
proceeding.
    Accordingly, the Presiding Officer adopts the revised schedule as 
proposed by the Postal Service.\2\ Accompanying this Ruling is an 
updated version of the Procedural Schedule (Attachment) for Docket No. 
N2022-1.
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    \2\ The Postal Service has not yet filed its motion to admit 
evidence into the record. On April 15, 2022, the Postal Service 
filed a notice of revisions to certain direct testimonies and stated 
that the revised pages will be incorporated into the final version 
of those testimonies when they are presented for inclusion into the 
evidentiary record. See Notice of the United States Postal Service 
of Revisions to Certain Pages of USPS-T-1 and USPS-T-3--Errata, 
April 15, 2022, at 1-2. The Presiding Officer will rule on the 
Postal Service's motion once it has been filed.
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Ruling

    It is ordered:
    1. The Motion of the United States Postal Service for Consideration 
of the Stipulation and Agreement as the Basis for Advisory Opinion, 
filed April 14, 2022, is granted.
    2. The modified procedural schedule for this proceeding is set 
forth below the signature of this Ruling.
    3. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this Ruling in 
the Federal Register.

Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.

               Procedural Schedule for Docket No. N2022-1
                        [Updated April 19, 2022]
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Discovery Deadlines for the Postal Service's
 Direct Case:
    Filing of Discovery Requests................  April 18, 2022.
    Filing of the Postal Service's Answers to     April 25, 2022.
     Discovery.
Deadlines in Preparation for Hearing (assuming
 no rebuttal case):
    Filing of Notice of Designations............  April 26, 2022.
    Filing of Notices of Designated Materials...  April 27, 2022.
Briefing Deadlines:
    Filing of Initial Briefs....................  May 11, 2022.

[[Page 24351]]

 
    Filing of Reply Briefs......................  May 13, 2022.
Statement of Position Deadline:
    Filing of Statement of Position.............  May 11, 2022.
Advisory Opinion Deadline:
    Filing of Advisory Opinion (absent            June 21, 2022.
     determination of good cause for extension).
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[FR Doc. 2022-08765 Filed 4-22-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P