Standard Mail Volume Incentive Program (aka Summer Sale), 22835-22837 [E9-11321]
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Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 93 / Friday, May 15, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
subsequently do not request
disenrollment;
(iv) Nonservice-connected veterans
not included in paragraph (b)(8)(iii) of
this section and whose income is not
greater than ten percent more than the
income that would permit their
enrollment in priority category 5 or
priority category 7, whichever is higher;
(v) Noncompensable zero percent
service-connected veterans not included
in paragraph (b)(8)(i) or paragraph
(b)(8)(ii) of this section; and
(vi) Nonservice-connected veterans
not included in paragraph (b)(8)(iii) or
paragraph (b)(8)(iv) of this section.
(c) * * *
(1) It is anticipated that each year the
Secretary will consider whether to
change the categories and subcategories
of veterans eligible to be enrolled. The
Secretary at any time may revise the
categories or subcategories of veterans
eligible to be enrolled by amending
paragraph (c)(2) of this section. The
preamble to a Federal Register
document announcing which priority
categories and subcategories are eligible
to be enrolled must specify the
projected number of fiscal year
applicants for enrollment in each
priority category, projected healthcare
utilization and expenditures for
veterans in each priority category,
appropriated funds and other revenue
projected to be available for fiscal year
enrollees, and projected total
expenditures for enrollees by priority
category. The determination should
include consideration of relevant
internal and external factors, e.g.,
economic changes, changes in medical
practices, and waiting times to obtain an
appointment for care. Consistent with
these criteria, the Secretary will
determine which categories of veterans
are eligible to be enrolled based on the
order of priority specified in paragraph
(b) of this section.
(2) Unless changed by a rulemaking
document in accordance with paragraph
(c)(1) of this section, VA will enroll the
priority categories of veterans set forth
in § 17.36(b) beginning [effective date of
regulation], except that those veterans in
subcategories (v) and (vi) of priority
category 8 are not eligible to be enrolled.
(d) * * *
(1) Application for enrollment. A
veteran may apply to be enrolled in the
VA healthcare system at any time. A
veteran who wishes to be enrolled must
apply by submitting a VA Form 10–
10EZ to a VA medical facility or via an
Online submission at https://
www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/
1010ez/.
*
*
*
*
*
VerDate Nov<24>2008
14:00 May 14, 2009
Jkt 217001
(Authority: 38 U.S.C. 101, 501, 1521, 1701,
1705, 1710, 1722)
[FR Doc. E9–11400 Filed 5–14–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Standard Mail Volume Incentive
Program (aka Summer Sale)
Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Postal Service is revising
Mailing Standards of the United States
Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual
(DMM®), to add section 709.2 which
introduces new standards for a special
volume incentive program for mailers of
Standard Mail® letters and flats with
mail volume exceeding their individual
USPSTM-determined threshold levels.
The program period will be from July 1,
2009 through September 30, 2009.
DATES: Effective Date: July 1, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kevin Gunther at 202–268–7208.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal
Service is implementing a volume
incentive program for qualified highvolume mailers of commercial or
Nonprofit Standard Mail letters and
flats, for volume mailed between July 1,
2009 and September 30, 2009, above
their USPS-determined threshold level.
This program encourages mailers to
provide new volume and to take
advantage of our current excess capacity
to process and deliver additional
volume.
To participate, mailers must be the
permit holder (i.e., owner) of a permit
imprint advance deposit account(s) or
the owner of qualifying mail volume
entered through the permit imprint
advance deposit account of a mail
service provider. Qualifying mailers
must be able to demonstrate volume of
at least one million pieces, within the
program qualification period of October
1, 2007 to March 31, 2008, for a permit
imprint advance deposit account(s),
precanceled stamp permit(s), postage
meter permit(s), or by a combination of
these methods. Applicants may also
qualify for the program with volume
mailed through an account(s) owned by
a mail service provider, when adequate
documentation is provided that
specifies the applicant is the owner of
the mail. Those mailers eligible to
participate in the program will be
notified in writing before June 1, 2009.
Mailers wishing to participate in the
program, who believe they meet the
PO 00000
Frm 00017
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
22835
eligibility standards under DMM 709.2.2
and were not notified by letter, may
request a review of their eligibility by
contacting the USPS at
summersale@usps.gov.
The Postal Service has a process,
through its Business Service Network
(BSN), to review questions from
qualifying mailers regarding
calculations of their respective
threshold levels or their recorded
volume within the program period.
Qualifying mailers will be provided
with program details and the procedure
for questioning threshold calculations
by letter before June 1, 2009.
A Federal Register final rule,
published April 6, 2009 (74 FR 8009–
8033) implemented a saturation mail
volume incentive program encouraging
mailers to increase their saturation
Standard Mail letters or flats volume
within the period beginning on May 11,
2009 and ending May 10, 2010. This
program initially excluded mailers,
entering into the saturation mail volume
incentive program, from participating in
other Postal Service-sponsored
incentive programs. However, standards
have been revised to allow mailers to be
eligible for the Standard Mail volume
incentive program independently of
their status within the saturation mail
volume incentive program.
Participating mailers demonstrating
Standard Mail letter or flat volume
above their established threshold level
will receive a credit following the close
of the program period. Thresholds will
be calculated independently for each
applicant, by comparing the volume of
Standard Mail letters and flats mailed
within the period from October 1, 2007
to March 31, 2008 to the volume of
Standard Mail letters and flats mailed
within the period of October 1, 2008 to
March 31, 2009. The change in recorded
volume between these two periods will
represent the applicant’s volume trend.
Trends that show growth for the period
of October 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009,
versus that shown in the same period of
the prior year, will appear as a ratio
above 1.0 (expressed here in a decimal
format). A volume decline from October
1, 2008 to March 31, 2009 will appear
as a ratio below 1.0. The applicable ratio
will then be applied to the volume of
Standard Mail letters and flats, for all of
the applicant’s permit volume or other
qualifying volume recorded through the
permit(s) of a mail service provider,
demonstrated during the period from
July 1, 2008 through September 30,
2008. This result represents the USPSdetermined threshold level for an
individual applicant.
Mailers (applicants) are eligible to
participate in the program with
E:\FR\FM\15MYR1.SGM
15MYR1
22836
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 93 / Friday, May 15, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
qualifying volume prepared by a mail
service provider when entered through
a permit owned by the applicant. Mail
volume through a mail service
provider’s permit, may also qualify for
the program, but only if adequate
documentation identifies the mail as
being prepared on behalf of the
applicant and demonstrates the
applicant’s prior mailing activity. Mail
service providers are not eligible for the
Standard Mail volume incentive
program.
Approved program participants,
demonstrating an increase in their total
Standard Mail letter and flat volume
above their approved threshold level,
will qualify for a credit to a designated
permit imprint advance account. The
total postage attributable to Standard
Mail letters and flats within the program
period will be identified for each
participant and divided by the total
number of recorded pieces, to generate
the average price per piece. Participants
receive a credit in the amount of 30
percent of the average price per piece
for the total number of mailpieces of the
incremental volume above their
approved threshold level as recorded
during the program period.
The Standard Mail volume incentive
program is introduced to encourage
mailers to generate new mail volume.
As a deterrent to mailers shifting
previously planned fall volume into the
program to obtain incentive credits,
participating mailers will be monitored
in the calendar month following the end
of the program. The participant’s
previously determined volume trend
will be applied to their volume of
Standard Mail letters and flats mailed
within the month of October 2008, to
determine the participant’s October
2009 expected volume. Each
participant’s actual October 2009
volume will then be compared to their
October 2009 expected volume.
Participants failing to meet (or exceed)
their October 2009 expected volume
will have any demonstrated shortfall in
volume deducted from the number of
mailpieces eligible for an incentive
credit within the program.
Additionally, as part of the program
administration, the Postal Service will
require each program participant to
certify the data used to calculate the
volume trends, threshold levels and
October 2009 expected volumes. This
certification requirement will be similar
to what is currently used on a PS Form
3602, Postage Statement—Standard
Mail, but may not require submission in
hardcopy format. The certification
requirement for this initiative is aimed
at ensuring that the data used by the
Postal Service to calculate the
VerDate Nov<24>2008
14:00 May 14, 2009
Jkt 217001
applicable volume trend, threshold level
and October 2009 expected volume for
each qualifying mailer is accurate.
The Standard Mail volume incentive
program is subject to review by the
Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for
up to 45 days following May 1, 2009.
Upon completion of PRC review, the
Postal Service adopts the following
changes to Mailing Standards of the
United States Postal Service, Domestic
Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by
reference in the Code of Federal
Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
Administrative practice and
procedure, Postal Service.
Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is
amended as follows:
■
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, 404, 414, 416, 3001–3011, 3201–
3219, 3403–3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632,
3633 and 5001.
2. Revise the following sections of
Mailing Standards of the United States
Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual
(DMM) as follows:
■
Mailing Standards of the United States
Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual
(DMM)
*
*
700
*
*
*
*
Special Standards
*
*
*
*
[Revise title of 709 as follows:]
709 Experimental and Temporary
Classifications
*
*
*
*
*
[Add a new section 709.2.0 to
introduce new standards for the
Standard Mail volume incentive
program as follows:]
2.0 Standard Mail Volume Incentive
Program
2.1
Program Description
The Standard Mail Volume Incentive
Program provides special volume
pricing for qualified mailers of
commercial and Nonprofit Standard
Mail letters and flats that are able to
document mail volume exceeding their
individual USPS-determined threshold
level. The program period is July 1,
2009 through September 30, 2009.
Participating mailers documenting
Standard Mail letter or flat volume
above their established threshold level
will receive a credit to a designated
permit imprint advance deposit
PO 00000
Frm 00018
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
account, or Centralized Account
Payment System (CAPS) account
following the close of the program
period. Program participants must
review and certify the accuracy of the
data used by the USPS to calculate their
individual volume trend, threshold
level and October 2009 expected
volume.
2.2
Eligibility Standards
Mailers are considered eligible for the
program as follows:
a. Applicants must be the permit
holder (i.e., owner) of one or more
permit imprint advance deposit
accounts or the owner of qualifying mail
volume entered through the permit
imprint advance deposit account of a
mail service provider.
b. Applicants must be able to
document, in aggregate, volume of at
least one million pieces of Standard
Mail letters or flats, within the program
qualification period of October 1, 2007
to March 31, 2008, as follows:
1. Volume through one or more
permit imprint advance deposit
accounts, precanceled stamp permits, or
postage meter permits owned by the
applicant, or
2. Volume prepared by a mail service
provider when entered through a permit
owned by the applicant, or
3. Volume within a mail service
provider’s permit, which can be
identified as being prepared on behalf of
the applicant.
c. Mail service providers are not
eligible to participate in this program.
2.3
Program Threshold Level
Threshold level figures will be
calculated independently for each
applicant as follows:
a. Total documented volume of
Standard Mail letters and flats recorded
within the period from October 1, 2007
to March 31, 2008 will be compared to
that recorded within the period of
October 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009.
b. The change in recorded mailing
volume between these two periods will
represent the applicant’s volume trend.
Trends that show growth for the period
of October 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009,
versus that shown in the same period of
the prior year, will appear as a ratio
above 1.0 (expressed here in a decimal
format). A volume decline from October
1, 2008 to March 31, 2009 will appear
as a ratio below 1.0.
c. The applicable ratio will then be
applied to the volume of Standard Mail
letters and flats, for all of the applicant’s
permit activity, or other qualifying
volume recorded through the permit of
a mail service provider, demonstrated
E:\FR\FM\15MYR1.SGM
15MYR1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 93 / Friday, May 15, 2009 / Rules and Regulations
during the period from July 1, 2008
through September 30, 2008.
d. The product of the calculation in
2.3c will represent the USPSdetermined threshold level for the
selected applicant.
2.4 Application
Mailers meeting the eligibility criteria
will be contacted by letter, describing
the application process and
requirements. Mailers interested in
applying will be provided with a
registration Web site and their USPSdetermined threshold level. Mailers
meeting the eligibility standards under
709.2.2, and not notified by letter, may
request a review of their eligibility by
contacting the USPS at
summersale@usps.gov. Mailers wishing
to dispute their threshold level
calculations will be provided with
instructions on that process. Following
registration, mailers will be notified of
their approval for participation in the
program, their approved threshold level,
and their revised threshold level (if
applicable).
2.5 Program Participation
Mailers may participate in the
program with qualifying volume as
follows:
a. Standard Mail letter and flat
volume mailed by the participant
through the participant’s own permit
imprint advance account, precanceled
stamp permit(s), or postage meter
permit(s);
b. Standard Mail letter and flat
volume prepared by a mail service
provider, when entered through a
permit owned by the participant;
c. Standard Mail letter and flat pieces
mailed through a mail service provider’s
permit, only when the pieces can be
identified as being prepared for the
participant and when the applicant’s
prior mailing activity through the mail
service provider’s permit can be
validated.
2.6 Incentive Program Credits
Approved participants demonstrating
an increase in Standard Mail letter and
flat volume above their approved
threshold level qualify for a credit to
their applicable permit imprint advance
account or, if approved, the permit
imprint advance account of a designated
mail service provider as follows:
a. The total postage paid for
commercial and Nonprofit Standard
Mail letters and flats recorded during
the program will be identified for each
participant.
b. The total postage paid during the
program period will be divided by the
total number of recorded pieces to
VerDate Nov<24>2008
14:00 May 14, 2009
Jkt 217001
generate the average price per piece for
the program period.
c. Participants will receive a credit in
the amount of 30 percent of the average
price per piece applied to the total
number of mailpieces, for the
incremental volume above their
approved threshold level, recorded
during the program period.
2.7 Mailing Activity Review
Mailing activity by participants will
be reviewed in the calendar month
following the end of the program. The
qualifying volume recorded for
participants may be adjusted in
accordance with the following:
a. The participant’s previously
determined volume trend will be
applied to the volume of Standard Mail
letters and flats mailed by the
participant within the month of October
2008, to determine the program
participant’s October 2009 expected
volume.
b. The participant’s actual October
2009 volume will then be compared to
their October 2009 expected volume.
c. Participants failing to meet their
October 2009 expected volume will
have any shortfall in volume deducted
from the number of mailpieces eligible
for an incentive credit within the
program.
*
*
*
*
*
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. E9–11321 Filed 5–14–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710–12–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R02–OAR–2008–0497, FRL–8905–7]
Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; New Jersey
Reasonable Further Progress Plans,
Reasonably Available Control
Technology, Reasonably Available
Control Measures and Conformity
Budgets
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is approving portions of
two State Implementation Plan revisions
submitted by New Jersey that are
intended to meet several Clean Air Act
(Act) requirements for attaining the 0.08
part per million (ppm) 8-hour ozone
national ambient air quality standards.
EPA is approving: the 2008 reasonable
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
22837
further progress plans and associated
2008 ozone projection year emission
inventories, contingency measures for
the 2008 reasonable further progress
plans, 2008 conformity budgets used for
planning purposes, and the reasonably
available control measure analysis. In
addition, EPA is conditionally
approving New Jersey’s efforts to meet
the reasonably available control
technology requirement. The intended
effect of this action is to approve those
programs that meet Act requirements
and to further achieve emission
reductions that will be critical to
attainment of the national ambient air
quality standard for ozone in New
Jersey’s two nonattainment areas.
DATES: Effective Date: This rule is
effective on June 15, 2009.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA–R02–OAR–2008–0497. All
documents in the docket are listed on
the https://www.regulations.gov Web
site. Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available,
e.g., CBI or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute.
Certain other material, such as
copyrighted material, is not placed on
the Internet and will be publicly
available only in hard copy form.
Publicly available docket materials are
available either electronically through
https://www.regulations.gov or in hard
copy at the Environmental Protection
Agency, Region II Office, Air Programs
Branch, 290 Broadway, 25th Floor, New
York, New York 10007–1866. This
Docket Facility is open from 8:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
excluding legal holidays. The Docket
telephone number is 212–637–4249.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Raymond Forde
(forde.raymond@epa.gov) concerning
emission inventories and reasonable
further progress and Paul Truchan
(truchan.paul@epa.gov) concerning
other portions of the SIP revision, Air
Programs Branch, Environmental
Protection Agency, 290 Broadway, 25th
Floor, New York, New York 10007–
1866, (212) 637–4249.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. What action is EPA taking?
II. What was included in New Jersey’s SIP
submittals?
III. What comments were received?
IV. What SIP Elements is EPA approving?
A. Emission Inventories
B. Reasonable Further Progress Plans
C. Contingency Measures
D. RACT for Stationary Sources
E. RACM Analysis
F. Conformity Budgets
E:\FR\FM\15MYR1.SGM
15MYR1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 93 (Friday, May 15, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22835-22837]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11321]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Standard Mail Volume Incentive Program (aka Summer Sale)
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]), to add
section 709.2 which introduces new standards for a special volume
incentive program for mailers of Standard Mail[supreg] letters and
flats with mail volume exceeding their individual USPSTM-
determined threshold levels. The program period will be from July 1,
2009 through September 30, 2009.
DATES: Effective Date: July 1, 2009.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Gunther at 202-268-7208.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service is implementing a volume
incentive program for qualified high-volume mailers of commercial or
Nonprofit Standard Mail letters and flats, for volume mailed between
July 1, 2009 and September 30, 2009, above their USPS-determined
threshold level. This program encourages mailers to provide new volume
and to take advantage of our current excess capacity to process and
deliver additional volume.
To participate, mailers must be the permit holder (i.e., owner) of
a permit imprint advance deposit account(s) or the owner of qualifying
mail volume entered through the permit imprint advance deposit account
of a mail service provider. Qualifying mailers must be able to
demonstrate volume of at least one million pieces, within the program
qualification period of October 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008, for a permit
imprint advance deposit account(s), precanceled stamp permit(s),
postage meter permit(s), or by a combination of these methods.
Applicants may also qualify for the program with volume mailed through
an account(s) owned by a mail service provider, when adequate
documentation is provided that specifies the applicant is the owner of
the mail. Those mailers eligible to participate in the program will be
notified in writing before June 1, 2009. Mailers wishing to participate
in the program, who believe they meet the eligibility standards under
DMM 709.2.2 and were not notified by letter, may request a review of
their eligibility by contacting the USPS at summersale@usps.gov.
The Postal Service has a process, through its Business Service
Network (BSN), to review questions from qualifying mailers regarding
calculations of their respective threshold levels or their recorded
volume within the program period. Qualifying mailers will be provided
with program details and the procedure for questioning threshold
calculations by letter before June 1, 2009.
A Federal Register final rule, published April 6, 2009 (74 FR 8009-
8033) implemented a saturation mail volume incentive program
encouraging mailers to increase their saturation Standard Mail letters
or flats volume within the period beginning on May 11, 2009 and ending
May 10, 2010. This program initially excluded mailers, entering into
the saturation mail volume incentive program, from participating in
other Postal Service-sponsored incentive programs. However, standards
have been revised to allow mailers to be eligible for the Standard Mail
volume incentive program independently of their status within the
saturation mail volume incentive program.
Participating mailers demonstrating Standard Mail letter or flat
volume above their established threshold level will receive a credit
following the close of the program period. Thresholds will be
calculated independently for each applicant, by comparing the volume of
Standard Mail letters and flats mailed within the period from October
1, 2007 to March 31, 2008 to the volume of Standard Mail letters and
flats mailed within the period of October 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009.
The change in recorded volume between these two periods will represent
the applicant's volume trend. Trends that show growth for the period of
October 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009, versus that shown in the same period
of the prior year, will appear as a ratio above 1.0 (expressed here in
a decimal format). A volume decline from October 1, 2008 to March 31,
2009 will appear as a ratio below 1.0. The applicable ratio will then
be applied to the volume of Standard Mail letters and flats, for all of
the applicant's permit volume or other qualifying volume recorded
through the permit(s) of a mail service provider, demonstrated during
the period from July 1, 2008 through September 30, 2008. This result
represents the USPS-determined threshold level for an individual
applicant.
Mailers (applicants) are eligible to participate in the program
with
[[Page 22836]]
qualifying volume prepared by a mail service provider when entered
through a permit owned by the applicant. Mail volume through a mail
service provider's permit, may also qualify for the program, but only
if adequate documentation identifies the mail as being prepared on
behalf of the applicant and demonstrates the applicant's prior mailing
activity. Mail service providers are not eligible for the Standard Mail
volume incentive program.
Approved program participants, demonstrating an increase in their
total Standard Mail letter and flat volume above their approved
threshold level, will qualify for a credit to a designated permit
imprint advance account. The total postage attributable to Standard
Mail letters and flats within the program period will be identified for
each participant and divided by the total number of recorded pieces, to
generate the average price per piece. Participants receive a credit in
the amount of 30 percent of the average price per piece for the total
number of mailpieces of the incremental volume above their approved
threshold level as recorded during the program period.
The Standard Mail volume incentive program is introduced to
encourage mailers to generate new mail volume. As a deterrent to
mailers shifting previously planned fall volume into the program to
obtain incentive credits, participating mailers will be monitored in
the calendar month following the end of the program. The participant's
previously determined volume trend will be applied to their volume of
Standard Mail letters and flats mailed within the month of October
2008, to determine the participant's October 2009 expected volume. Each
participant's actual October 2009 volume will then be compared to their
October 2009 expected volume. Participants failing to meet (or exceed)
their October 2009 expected volume will have any demonstrated shortfall
in volume deducted from the number of mailpieces eligible for an
incentive credit within the program.
Additionally, as part of the program administration, the Postal
Service will require each program participant to certify the data used
to calculate the volume trends, threshold levels and October 2009
expected volumes. This certification requirement will be similar to
what is currently used on a PS Form 3602, Postage Statement--Standard
Mail, but may not require submission in hardcopy format. The
certification requirement for this initiative is aimed at ensuring that
the data used by the Postal Service to calculate the applicable volume
trend, threshold level and October 2009 expected volume for each
qualifying mailer is accurate.
The Standard Mail volume incentive program is subject to review by
the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for up to 45 days following May
1, 2009.
Upon completion of PRC review, the Postal Service adopts the
following changes to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal
Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by reference in the
Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.
0
Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is amended as follows:
PART 111--[AMENDED]
0
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, 404, 414,
416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633
and 5001.
0
2. Revise the following sections of Mailing Standards of the United
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) as follows:
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail
Manual (DMM)
* * * * *
700 Special Standards
* * * * *
[Revise title of 709 as follows:]
709 Experimental and Temporary Classifications
* * * * *
[Add a new section 709.2.0 to introduce new standards for the
Standard Mail volume incentive program as follows:]
2.0 Standard Mail Volume Incentive Program
2.1 Program Description
The Standard Mail Volume Incentive Program provides special volume
pricing for qualified mailers of commercial and Nonprofit Standard Mail
letters and flats that are able to document mail volume exceeding their
individual USPS-determined threshold level. The program period is July
1, 2009 through September 30, 2009. Participating mailers documenting
Standard Mail letter or flat volume above their established threshold
level will receive a credit to a designated permit imprint advance
deposit account, or Centralized Account Payment System (CAPS) account
following the close of the program period. Program participants must
review and certify the accuracy of the data used by the USPS to
calculate their individual volume trend, threshold level and October
2009 expected volume.
2.2 Eligibility Standards
Mailers are considered eligible for the program as follows:
a. Applicants must be the permit holder (i.e., owner) of one or
more permit imprint advance deposit accounts or the owner of qualifying
mail volume entered through the permit imprint advance deposit account
of a mail service provider.
b. Applicants must be able to document, in aggregate, volume of at
least one million pieces of Standard Mail letters or flats, within the
program qualification period of October 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008, as
follows:
1. Volume through one or more permit imprint advance deposit
accounts, precanceled stamp permits, or postage meter permits owned by
the applicant, or
2. Volume prepared by a mail service provider when entered through
a permit owned by the applicant, or
3. Volume within a mail service provider's permit, which can be
identified as being prepared on behalf of the applicant.
c. Mail service providers are not eligible to participate in this
program.
2.3 Program Threshold Level
Threshold level figures will be calculated independently for each
applicant as follows:
a. Total documented volume of Standard Mail letters and flats
recorded within the period from October 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008 will
be compared to that recorded within the period of October 1, 2008 to
March 31, 2009.
b. The change in recorded mailing volume between these two periods
will represent the applicant's volume trend. Trends that show growth
for the period of October 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009, versus that shown
in the same period of the prior year, will appear as a ratio above 1.0
(expressed here in a decimal format). A volume decline from October 1,
2008 to March 31, 2009 will appear as a ratio below 1.0.
c. The applicable ratio will then be applied to the volume of
Standard Mail letters and flats, for all of the applicant's permit
activity, or other qualifying volume recorded through the permit of a
mail service provider, demonstrated
[[Page 22837]]
during the period from July 1, 2008 through September 30, 2008.
d. The product of the calculation in 2.3c will represent the USPS-
determined threshold level for the selected applicant.
2.4 Application
Mailers meeting the eligibility criteria will be contacted by
letter, describing the application process and requirements. Mailers
interested in applying will be provided with a registration Web site
and their USPS-determined threshold level. Mailers meeting the
eligibility standards under 709.2.2, and not notified by letter, may
request a review of their eligibility by contacting the USPS at
summersale@usps.gov. Mailers wishing to dispute their threshold level
calculations will be provided with instructions on that process.
Following registration, mailers will be notified of their approval for
participation in the program, their approved threshold level, and their
revised threshold level (if applicable).
2.5 Program Participation
Mailers may participate in the program with qualifying volume as
follows:
a. Standard Mail letter and flat volume mailed by the participant
through the participant's own permit imprint advance account,
precanceled stamp permit(s), or postage meter permit(s);
b. Standard Mail letter and flat volume prepared by a mail service
provider, when entered through a permit owned by the participant;
c. Standard Mail letter and flat pieces mailed through a mail
service provider's permit, only when the pieces can be identified as
being prepared for the participant and when the applicant's prior
mailing activity through the mail service provider's permit can be
validated.
2.6 Incentive Program Credits
Approved participants demonstrating an increase in Standard Mail
letter and flat volume above their approved threshold level qualify for
a credit to their applicable permit imprint advance account or, if
approved, the permit imprint advance account of a designated mail
service provider as follows:
a. The total postage paid for commercial and Nonprofit Standard
Mail letters and flats recorded during the program will be identified
for each participant.
b. The total postage paid during the program period will be divided
by the total number of recorded pieces to generate the average price
per piece for the program period.
c. Participants will receive a credit in the amount of 30 percent
of the average price per piece applied to the total number of
mailpieces, for the incremental volume above their approved threshold
level, recorded during the program period.
2.7 Mailing Activity Review
Mailing activity by participants will be reviewed in the calendar
month following the end of the program. The qualifying volume recorded
for participants may be adjusted in accordance with the following:
a. The participant's previously determined volume trend will be
applied to the volume of Standard Mail letters and flats mailed by the
participant within the month of October 2008, to determine the program
participant's October 2009 expected volume.
b. The participant's actual October 2009 volume will then be
compared to their October 2009 expected volume.
c. Participants failing to meet their October 2009 expected volume
will have any shortfall in volume deducted from the number of
mailpieces eligible for an incentive credit within the program.
* * * * *
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. E9-11321 Filed 5-14-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P