Rate Adjustment, 62712-62714 [2013-24580]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2013 / Notices
Week of November 25, 2013—Tentative
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Dated: October 17, 2013.
Rochelle C. Bavol,
Policy Coordinator, Office of the Secretary.
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BILLING CODE 7590–01–P
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. R2013–11; Order No. 1847]
Rate Adjustment
Postal Regulatory Commission.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
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The Commission is noticing a
recent Postal Service filing seeking
postal rate adjustments based on exigent
circumstances. This notice informs the
public of the filing, invites public
comment, and takes other
administrative steps.
DATES: Comments are due: November 6,
2013. Reply Comments are due:
November 20, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments
electronically via the Commission’s
Filing Online system at https://
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.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel,
at 202–789–6820.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Postal Service Filing
III. Subsequent Procedural Steps
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
I. Introduction
On September 26, 2013, the Postal
Service filed an exigent rate request
with the Commission pursuant to 39
U.S.C. 3622(d)(1)(E) and subpart E of 39
CFR 3010.60 et seq.1 The Exigent
Request seeks an ‘‘across the board’’
increase averaging 4.3 percent for
market dominant postal products and
services, effective January 26, 2014.
Exigent Request at 2.
In a related case (a Type 1–A filing),
also filed September 26, 2013, the Postal
Service proposes an increase, on
average, of 1.6 percent for the same set
of products and services based on the
annual adjustment allowed under 39
U.S.C. 3622(d)(1) and 39 CFR part 3010
subpart B.2
This Order provides public notice of
the Exigent Request; establishes Docket
No. R2013–11 for consideration of the
Exigent Request; establishes an
expedited procedural schedule
consistent with the Commission’s
intention to issue a determination
within 90 days of the Postal Service’s
filing; provides other information
1 Renewed Exigent Request of the United States
Postal Service in Response to Commission Order
No. 1059, September 26, 2013 (Exigent Request).
See also Docket Nos. R2010–4 and R2010–4(R).
Subpart E, captioned Rules for Rate Adjustments in
Extraordinary and Exceptional Circumstances (Type
3 Adjustments), consists of the set of provisions
appearing at 39 CFR 3010.60 et seq.
2 Id. at 7. See Docket No. R2013–10, United States
Postal Service Notice of Market-Dominant Price
Adjustment, September 26, 2013 (Notice).
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concerning the Exigent Request; and
takes related administrative steps.
II. Postal Service Filing
Background. The Exigent Request is
filed pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3622(d)(1)(E)
and the Commission’s rules
implementing that section, 39 CFR Part
3010, subpart E.
The Postal Service provides a
procedural history leading to the filing
of the Exigent Request. Exigent Request
at 3–7. It indicates that the Exigent
Request, which it characterizes ‘‘as a
complete update to its original request,’’
is ‘‘premised on the recent recession as
an exigent event.’’ Id. at 1, 2.
In Order No. 1059, the Commission
stated: 3
If the Postal Service wishes to pursue its
Exigent Request, it must complete the
submission of its entire case to the
Commission. A complete case would include
all information, materials, and testimony on
which the Postal Service would rely to
demonstrate that its Exigent Request satisfies
the causal nexus of ‘‘due to,’’ as interpreted
by the Commission in Order No. 864, as well
as the remaining requirements of section
3622(d)(1)(E).
The Postal Service represents that
‘‘[t]he instant filing is intended to
constitute an ‘entire case,’ as
contemplated by Order No. 1059.’’
Exigent Request at 7.
Although the Postal Service captioned
the Exigent Request as Docket No.
R2010–4R, it indicates that its filing
constitutes an entire case as
contemplated by Order No. 1059.
Because the filing is complete and to
avoid any ambiguity about the record
concerning the instant Request, the
Commission establishes Docket No.
R2013–11 for consideration of the Postal
Service’s Exigent Request. The
Commission concludes that such an
approach is appropriate, given the 90day statutory deadline for its decision,
and its need not only to manage this
proceeding on an expedited basis, but
also in harmony with its need to manage
its entire administrative calendar and
other responsibilities.4
Proposed rates. The Postal Service
proposes price increases to recover
approximately $1.78 billion in annual
contribution. Id. at 2. It characterizes
this as ‘‘a modest proportion’’ of the
total contribution lost as a result of the
recession. Id. at 2, 11.
The proposed prices increase, on
average, by 4.3 percent and are spread
3 Docket No. R2010–4R, Order Addressing Motion
to Supplement and Related Filing, December 20,
2011, at 6 (Order No. 1059).
4 The documents filed by the Postal Service as
part of its Exigent Request, will be transferred to
and be included in this docket.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2013 / Notices
among the classes (and all products) as
uniformly as practicable, i.e., in an
across-the-board fashion. Id. at 2, 12, 35.
The Postal Service states that the
Governors have determined that this
approach represents ‘‘a reasonable and
equitable way of recovering contribution
lost due to the recession . . . .’’ Id. at
12.
The average increase by class and
product appears in the table below. A
full schedule of the proposed increases
is provided in Attachment A to the
Exigent Request.
POSTAL SERVICE’S PROPOSED
EXIGENT PRICE INCREASES
Percent
change
Product or service
First Class Mail:
Single-Piece Letters & Cards ..
Presort Letters & Cards ..............
Flats ............................................
Parcels ........................................
First-Class Mail International ......
Total First-Class Mail ..............
Standard Mail:
Letters .........................................
Flats ............................................
Parcels ........................................
High Density and Saturation Letters ...........................................
High Density and Saturation
Flats/Parcels ............................
Carrier Route ..............................
EDDM—Retail .............................
Total Standard Mail .................
Periodicals:
Outside County ...........................
Within County ..............................
4.276
4.291
4.627
4.349
2.393
4.281
4.259
4.283
4.335
4.212
4.261
4.288
4.167
4.264
4.297
4.306
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Total Periodicals ......................
Package Services:
Alaska Bypass ............................
Bound Printed Matter Flats .........
Bound Printed Matter Parcels .....
Media Mail/Library Mail ...............
Inbound Surface Parcel Post (at
UPU Prices) .............................
4.297
Total Package Services ..........
Special Services:
Total Ancillary Services ..............
International Ancillary Services ...
Address Management Services ..
Caller Service ..............................
Credit Card Authentication ..........
International Business Reply Mail
Service .....................................
Money Orders .............................
Post Office Box Service ..............
Customized Postage ...................
Stamp Fulfillment Services .........
4.303
Total Special Services .............
4.232
4.626
4.484
4.304
0.000
4.372
4.188
3.542
4.329
5.000
2.819
4.042
4.177
4.308
5.005
4.318
Id. at 7–8 (adapted from Table 1).
Contents. The Exigent Request
includes an introduction summarizing
the filing (Part I); a procedural history
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(Part II); a table of percentage rate
changes (Part III); a discussion
addressing the requirements of subpart
E of part 3010 (Parts IV through IX); and
a description of attachments (Part X). Id.
at 9 through 45. The discussion in Parts
IV through IX addresses extraordinary
or exceptional circumstances (Part IV);
the necessity of the requested
contribution (Part V); honest, efficient,
and economical management (Part VI);
reasonable and equitable (Part VII);
harmonization of exigent increases with
past market dominant increases (Part
VIII); and the timing of the Exigent
Request (Part IX). Id. at 9 through 45.
In support of its Exigent Request, the
Postal Service filed statements by
Thomas E. Thress, Stephen J. Nickerson,
and Altaf Taufique. The Postal Service
states that the Thress statement is an
update to his statement of November
2011, and estimates the effect of the
recession on mail volumes. Id. at 3. It
states that the Nickerson statement
calculates the amount of contribution
lost due to those volume losses,
explains why the exigent price increases
are necessary, and describes actions the
Postal Service has taken to save costs.
Id. It states that the Taufique statement
presents the proposed price increases
and explains why they are reasonable
and equitable. Id.
The Exigent Request also includes
thirteen supporting library references (of
which ten are public and three are nonpublic); and two attachments. Id.
Attachment A, captioned Changes to
Mail Classification Schedule, is
presented in legislative format and
includes rate schedules and
classification changes. Attachment B,
captioned List of Supporting Materials,
identifies three statements referred to
above and the public and non-public
library references. The library references
include:
USPS–R2010–4R/2 First-Class Mail
Worksheets
USPS–R2010–4R/3 Standard Mail
Worksheets
USPS–R2010–4R/4 Periodicals Worksheets
USPS–R2010–4R/5 Package Services
Worksheets
USPS–R2010–4R/6 Special Services
Worksheets
USPS–R2010–4R/7 Product Cost &
Contribution Estimation Model (Public
Version)
USPS–R2010–4R/8 Cost Factor
Development (Public Version)
USPS–R2010–4R/9 Revenue and Volume
Forecast Materials (Public Version)
USPS–R2010–4R/10 Decomposition of Mail
Volume Into Sources of Change
USPS–R2010–4R/11 Calculation of
Contribution Lost from Recession-Related
Volume Losses
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USPS–R2010–4R/NP1 Product Cost &
Contribution Estimation Model (NonPublic Version)
USPS–R2010–4R/NP2 Cost Factor
Development (Non-Public Version)
USPS–R2010–4R/NP3 Revenue and Volume
Forecast Materials (Non-Public Version)
Confidential treatment. In Attachment
B, the Postal Service incorporates by
reference the Application of the United
States Postal Service for Nonpublic
Treatment of Materials filed as
Attachment D to its Docket No. R2010–
4 Request (July 6, 2010).
III. Subsequent Procedural Steps
Additional information. The
Commission may require the Postal
Service to provide clarification of its
request or to provide information to gain
a better understanding of the request or
the justification for specific rate
adjustments. 39 CFR 3010.62.
Public hearing. The Commission will
hold a public hearing on the request. 39
CFR 3010.65(b). The Commission
preliminarily allocates three days for
public hearings (October 30, October 31,
and November 1, 2013); however, the
actual number of days will depend on
the nature of the circumstances giving
rise to the request and the clarity and
completeness of the supporting
materials the Postal Service provides
with its request. 39 CFR 3010.65(d).
Submission of questions. Interested
persons may submit to the Commission
suggested relevant questions that might
be posed during the public hearing.5 39
CFR 3010.65(c). These questions, and
any explanatory materials submitted to
clarify the purpose of the questions, are
to be filed in accordance with section
3001.9 no later than October 24, 2013,
and will become part of the
administrative record of this
proceeding. 39 CFR 3010.65(c).
Post-hearing participation—initial
and reply comments. Following the
conclusion of public hearings and
submission of any supplementary
materials, interested persons may
submit written comments, no later than
November 6, 2013, on: (1) The
sufficiency of the justification for an
exigent rate adjustment; (2) the
adequacy of the justification for
adjustments in the amounts requested
by the Postal Service; and (3) whether
the specific rate adjustments requested
are reasonable and equitable. 39 CFR
3010.65(f)(1) through 3010.65(f)(3).
5 The procedures the Commission has established
in subpart E do not include any provision for formal
intervention. Interested persons submitting
questions for the hearing and/or comments are to
follow the procedures discussed in this Order and
codified in 39 CFR 3001.9 (method of filing); 39
CFR 3010.65.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 22, 2013 / Notices
Reply comments may be filed by the
Postal Service and other interested
persons no later than November 20,
2013. 39 CFR 3010.65(g).
Filing method. To ensure inclusion in
the formal docket, all submissions from
interested persons in this proceeding
must be filed online as provided by rule
9 of the Commission’s rules of practice,
unless a waiver is obtained. 39 CFR
3001.9. Submissions that do not
conform to the rules of practice for
online filings and do not obtain a waiver
from the online filing requirements will
be treated as informal statements of
views and shall be placed in a separate
file to be maintained by the Secretary as
provided in 39 CFR 3001.20b.
Public Representative. Pursuant to 39
U.S.C. 505, the Commission hereby
appoints James Waclawski to serve as an
officer of the Commission (Public
Representative) to represent the
interests of the general public in this
proceeding. Neither Mr. Waclawski nor
any staff member assigned to assist him
shall participate in or provide any
advice on any Commission decision in
this proceeding other than in their
designated capacity.
Schedule. A schedule appears as an
attachment to this order. Among other
things, three technical conferences are
scheduled to provide interested persons
an opportunity to develop a better
understanding of the Postal Service’s
proposal. The first technical conference
will be held October 9, 2013 and be
devoted to consideration of the Taufique
statement. The second technical
conference will be held October 17,
2013 and be devoted to consideration of
the Thress statement. This conference
will begin at 10:30 a.m. The third
technical conference will be held
October 18, 2013 and be devoted to
consideration of the Nickerson
statement. The Postal Service should
have on hand sufficient, knowledgeable
personnel to address interested persons’
questions. Absent specific notice to the
contrary, all technical conferences and
hearings (other than the October 17th
conference) will convene at 9:30 a.m.,
eastern daylight time in the
Commission’s hearing room in Suite
200, 901 New York Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20268–0001.
Developments may warrant adoption
of additional procedural dates and/or
requirements. If so, the Commission will
issue further procedural orders as it
deems advisable or necessary to ensure
timely completion of its review. All
such rulings will be published on the
Commission Web site: (https://
www.prc.gov). The technical
conferences and public hearings, which
are scheduled for October 30, 31, and
November 1, 2013, will be webcast.
Posting of request; posting of other
documents. The Commission has posted
the public version of the Exigent
Request on its Web site (https://
www.prc.gov). 39 CFR 3010.65(a). The
Commission encourages interested
persons to review the Exigent Request to
determine its impact on their concerns.
Access to nonpublic material.
Information on the Commission
practices with respect to material filed
under seal, including how to obtain
access to such material, appears in 39
CFR part 3007.
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
It is ordered:
1. The Commission establishes Docket
No. R2013–11 to consider matters raised
in the Postal Service’s September 26,
2013 Exigent Request.
2. The Commission adopts the
procedural schedule in the Attachment
to this order, subject to further
developments.
3. The Commission will sit en banc in
this proceeding.
4. Comments by interested persons
are due no later than November 6, 2013.
5. Reply comments may be filed by
the Postal Service and other interested
persons are due no later than November
20, 2013.
6. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the
Commission appoints James Waclawski
to represent the interests of the general
public in this proceeding.
7. The Secretary shall arrange for
publication of this order in the Federal
Register.
ATTACHMENT—DOCKET NO. R2013–11 SCHEDULE
All dates refer to 2013
Date
Action
Thursday, September 26 ....................................
Wednesday, October 9 .......................................
Tuesday, October 17 (starting at 10:30 a.m.) .....
Friday, October 18 ..............................................
Thursday, October 24 .........................................
Filing of Exigent Request.
First Technical Conference Taufique.
Second Technical Conference* Thress.
Third Technical Conference* Nickerson.
Deadline for filing suggested questions to be asked of the Postal Service during the public
hearing (39 CFR 3010.65(c)).
Public Hearings* (39 CFR 3010.65(b)).
Deadline for filing initial comments (39 CFR 3010.65(f)).
Deadline for filing reply comments (39 CFR 3010.65(g)).
90th day following filing of the Exigent Request.
Wednesday–Friday Oct. 30, Oct. 31, Nov. 1 ......
Wednesday, November 6 ....................................
Wednesday, November 20 ..................................
Wednesday, December 25 ..................................
By the Commission.
Shoshana M. Grove,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013–24580 Filed 10–21–13; 8:45 am]
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BILLING CODE 7710–FW–P
POSTAL SERVICE
Product Change—Priority Mail
Negotiated Service Agreement
Postal
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
ServiceTM.
21:08 Oct 21, 2013
The Postal Service gives
notice of filing a request with the Postal
Regulatory Commission to add a
domestic shipping services contract to
the list of Negotiated Service
Agreements in the Mail Classification
Schedule’s Competitive Products List.
DATES: Effective date: October 22, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elizabeth A. Reed, 202–268–3179.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
United States Postal Service® hereby
gives notice that, pursuant to 39 U.S.C.
3642 and 3632(b)(3), on September 27,
SUMMARY:
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2013, it filed with the Postal Regulatory
Commission a Request of the United
States Postal Service to Add Priority
Mail Contract 65 to Competitive Product
List. Documents are available at
www.prc.gov, Docket Nos. MC2013–63,
CP2013–83.
Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Legal Policy & Legislative Advice.
[FR Doc. 2013–24335 Filed 10–21–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710–12–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 22, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62712-62714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24580]
=======================================================================
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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
[Docket No. R2013-11; Order No. 1847]
Rate Adjustment
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a recent Postal Service filing
seeking postal rate adjustments based on exigent circumstances. This
notice informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and
takes other administrative steps.
DATES: Comments are due: November 6, 2013. Reply Comments are due:
November 20, 2013.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing
Online system at https://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: Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel,
at 202-789-6820.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Postal Service Filing
III. Subsequent Procedural Steps
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
I. Introduction
On September 26, 2013, the Postal Service filed an exigent rate
request with the Commission pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3622(d)(1)(E) and
subpart E of 39 CFR 3010.60 et seq.\1\ The Exigent Request seeks an
``across the board'' increase averaging 4.3 percent for market dominant
postal products and services, effective January 26, 2014. Exigent
Request at 2.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Renewed Exigent Request of the United States Postal Service
in Response to Commission Order No. 1059, September 26, 2013
(Exigent Request). See also Docket Nos. R2010-4 and R2010-4(R).
Subpart E, captioned Rules for Rate Adjustments in Extraordinary and
Exceptional Circumstances (Type 3 Adjustments), consists of the set
of provisions appearing at 39 CFR 3010.60 et seq.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In a related case (a Type 1-A filing), also filed September 26,
2013, the Postal Service proposes an increase, on average, of 1.6
percent for the same set of products and services based on the annual
adjustment allowed under 39 U.S.C. 3622(d)(1) and 39 CFR part 3010
subpart B.\2\
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\2\ Id. at 7. See Docket No. R2013-10, United States Postal
Service Notice of Market-Dominant Price Adjustment, September 26,
2013 (Notice).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Order provides public notice of the Exigent Request;
establishes Docket No. R2013-11 for consideration of the Exigent
Request; establishes an expedited procedural schedule consistent with
the Commission's intention to issue a determination within 90 days of
the Postal Service's filing; provides other information concerning the
Exigent Request; and takes related administrative steps.
II. Postal Service Filing
Background. The Exigent Request is filed pursuant to 39 U.S.C.
3622(d)(1)(E) and the Commission's rules implementing that section, 39
CFR Part 3010, subpart E.
The Postal Service provides a procedural history leading to the
filing of the Exigent Request. Exigent Request at 3-7. It indicates
that the Exigent Request, which it characterizes ``as a complete update
to its original request,'' is ``premised on the recent recession as an
exigent event.'' Id. at 1, 2.
In Order No. 1059, the Commission stated: \3\
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\3\ Docket No. R2010-4R, Order Addressing Motion to Supplement
and Related Filing, December 20, 2011, at 6 (Order No. 1059).
If the Postal Service wishes to pursue its Exigent Request, it
must complete the submission of its entire case to the Commission. A
complete case would include all information, materials, and
testimony on which the Postal Service would rely to demonstrate that
its Exigent Request satisfies the causal nexus of ``due to,'' as
interpreted by the Commission in Order No. 864, as well as the
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
remaining requirements of section 3622(d)(1)(E).
The Postal Service represents that ``[t]he instant filing is
intended to constitute an `entire case,' as contemplated by Order No.
1059.'' Exigent Request at 7.
Although the Postal Service captioned the Exigent Request as Docket
No. R2010-4R, it indicates that its filing constitutes an entire case
as contemplated by Order No. 1059. Because the filing is complete and
to avoid any ambiguity about the record concerning the instant Request,
the Commission establishes Docket No. R2013-11 for consideration of the
Postal Service's Exigent Request. The Commission concludes that such an
approach is appropriate, given the 90-day statutory deadline for its
decision, and its need not only to manage this proceeding on an
expedited basis, but also in harmony with its need to manage its entire
administrative calendar and other responsibilities.\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ The documents filed by the Postal Service as part of its
Exigent Request, will be transferred to and be included in this
docket.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proposed rates. The Postal Service proposes price increases to
recover approximately $1.78 billion in annual contribution. Id. at 2.
It characterizes this as ``a modest proportion'' of the total
contribution lost as a result of the recession. Id. at 2, 11.
The proposed prices increase, on average, by 4.3 percent and are
spread
[[Page 62713]]
among the classes (and all products) as uniformly as practicable, i.e.,
in an across-the-board fashion. Id. at 2, 12, 35. The Postal Service
states that the Governors have determined that this approach represents
``a reasonable and equitable way of recovering contribution lost due to
the recession . . . .'' Id. at 12.
The average increase by class and product appears in the table
below. A full schedule of the proposed increases is provided in
Attachment A to the Exigent Request.
Postal Service's Proposed Exigent Price Increases
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percent
Product or service change
------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Class Mail:
Single-Piece Letters & Cards.............................. 4.276
Presort Letters & Cards..................................... 4.291
Flats....................................................... 4.627
Parcels..................................................... 4.349
First-Class Mail International.............................. 2.393
---------
Total First-Class Mail.................................... 4.281
Standard Mail:
Letters..................................................... 4.259
Flats....................................................... 4.283
Parcels..................................................... 4.335
High Density and Saturation Letters......................... 4.212
High Density and Saturation Flats/Parcels................... 4.261
Carrier Route............................................... 4.288
EDDM--Retail................................................ 4.167
---------
Total Standard Mail....................................... 4.264
Periodicals:
Outside County.............................................. 4.297
Within County............................................... 4.306
---------
Total Periodicals......................................... 4.297
Package Services:
Alaska Bypass............................................... 4.232
Bound Printed Matter Flats.................................. 4.626
Bound Printed Matter Parcels................................ 4.484
Media Mail/Library Mail..................................... 4.304
Inbound Surface Parcel Post (at UPU Prices)................. 0.000
---------
Total Package Services.................................... 4.303
Special Services:
Total Ancillary Services.................................... 4.372
International Ancillary Services............................ 4.188
Address Management Services................................. 3.542
Caller Service.............................................. 4.329
Credit Card Authentication.................................. 5.000
International Business Reply Mail Service................... 2.819
Money Orders................................................ 4.042
Post Office Box Service..................................... 4.177
Customized Postage.......................................... 4.308
Stamp Fulfillment Services.................................. 5.005
---------
Total Special Services.................................... 4.318
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Id. at 7-8 (adapted from Table 1).
Contents. The Exigent Request includes an introduction summarizing
the filing (Part I); a procedural history (Part II); a table of
percentage rate changes (Part III); a discussion addressing the
requirements of subpart E of part 3010 (Parts IV through IX); and a
description of attachments (Part X). Id. at 9 through 45. The
discussion in Parts IV through IX addresses extraordinary or
exceptional circumstances (Part IV); the necessity of the requested
contribution (Part V); honest, efficient, and economical management
(Part VI); reasonable and equitable (Part VII); harmonization of
exigent increases with past market dominant increases (Part VIII); and
the timing of the Exigent Request (Part IX). Id. at 9 through 45.
In support of its Exigent Request, the Postal Service filed
statements by Thomas E. Thress, Stephen J. Nickerson, and Altaf
Taufique. The Postal Service states that the Thress statement is an
update to his statement of November 2011, and estimates the effect of
the recession on mail volumes. Id. at 3. It states that the Nickerson
statement calculates the amount of contribution lost due to those
volume losses, explains why the exigent price increases are necessary,
and describes actions the Postal Service has taken to save costs. Id.
It states that the Taufique statement presents the proposed price
increases and explains why they are reasonable and equitable. Id.
The Exigent Request also includes thirteen supporting library
references (of which ten are public and three are non-public); and two
attachments. Id. Attachment A, captioned Changes to Mail Classification
Schedule, is presented in legislative format and includes rate
schedules and classification changes. Attachment B, captioned List of
Supporting Materials, identifies three statements referred to above and
the public and non-public library references. The library references
include:
USPS-R2010-4R/2 First-Class Mail Worksheets
USPS-R2010-4R/3 Standard Mail Worksheets
USPS-R2010-4R/4 Periodicals Worksheets
USPS-R2010-4R/5 Package Services Worksheets
USPS-R2010-4R/6 Special Services Worksheets
USPS-R2010-4R/7 Product Cost & Contribution Estimation Model (Public
Version)
USPS-R2010-4R/8 Cost Factor Development (Public Version)
USPS-R2010-4R/9 Revenue and Volume Forecast Materials (Public
Version)
USPS-R2010-4R/10 Decomposition of Mail Volume Into Sources of Change
USPS-R2010-4R/11 Calculation of Contribution Lost from Recession-
Related Volume Losses
USPS-R2010-4R/NP1 Product Cost & Contribution Estimation Model (Non-
Public Version)
USPS-R2010-4R/NP2 Cost Factor Development (Non-Public Version)
USPS-R2010-4R/NP3 Revenue and Volume Forecast Materials (Non-Public
Version)
Confidential treatment. In Attachment B, the Postal Service
incorporates by reference the Application of the United States Postal
Service for Nonpublic Treatment of Materials filed as Attachment D to
its Docket No. R2010-4 Request (July 6, 2010).
III. Subsequent Procedural Steps
Additional information. The Commission may require the Postal
Service to provide clarification of its request or to provide
information to gain a better understanding of the request or the
justification for specific rate adjustments. 39 CFR 3010.62.
Public hearing. The Commission will hold a public hearing on the
request. 39 CFR 3010.65(b). The Commission preliminarily allocates
three days for public hearings (October 30, October 31, and November 1,
2013); however, the actual number of days will depend on the nature of
the circumstances giving rise to the request and the clarity and
completeness of the supporting materials the Postal Service provides
with its request. 39 CFR 3010.65(d).
Submission of questions. Interested persons may submit to the
Commission suggested relevant questions that might be posed during the
public hearing.\5\ 39 CFR 3010.65(c). These questions, and any
explanatory materials submitted to clarify the purpose of the
questions, are to be filed in accordance with section 3001.9 no later
than October 24, 2013, and will become part of the administrative
record of this proceeding. 39 CFR 3010.65(c).
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\5\ The procedures the Commission has established in subpart E
do not include any provision for formal intervention. Interested
persons submitting questions for the hearing and/or comments are to
follow the procedures discussed in this Order and codified in 39 CFR
3001.9 (method of filing); 39 CFR 3010.65.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post-hearing participation--initial and reply comments. Following
the conclusion of public hearings and submission of any supplementary
materials, interested persons may submit written comments, no later
than November 6, 2013, on: (1) The sufficiency of the justification for
an exigent rate adjustment; (2) the adequacy of the justification for
adjustments in the amounts requested by the Postal Service; and (3)
whether the specific rate adjustments requested are reasonable and
equitable. 39 CFR 3010.65(f)(1) through 3010.65(f)(3).
[[Page 62714]]
Reply comments may be filed by the Postal Service and other interested
persons no later than November 20, 2013. 39 CFR 3010.65(g).
Filing method. To ensure inclusion in the formal docket, all
submissions from interested persons in this proceeding must be filed
online as provided by rule 9 of the Commission's rules of practice,
unless a waiver is obtained. 39 CFR 3001.9. Submissions that do not
conform to the rules of practice for online filings and do not obtain a
waiver from the online filing requirements will be treated as informal
statements of views and shall be placed in a separate file to be
maintained by the Secretary as provided in 39 CFR 3001.20b.
Public Representative. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission
hereby appoints James Waclawski to serve as an officer of the
Commission (Public Representative) to represent the interests of the
general public in this proceeding. Neither Mr. Waclawski nor any staff
member assigned to assist him shall participate in or provide any
advice on any Commission decision in this proceeding other than in
their designated capacity.
Schedule. A schedule appears as an attachment to this order. Among
other things, three technical conferences are scheduled to provide
interested persons an opportunity to develop a better understanding of
the Postal Service's proposal. The first technical conference will be
held October 9, 2013 and be devoted to consideration of the Taufique
statement. The second technical conference will be held October 17,
2013 and be devoted to consideration of the Thress statement. This
conference will begin at 10:30 a.m. The third technical conference will
be held October 18, 2013 and be devoted to consideration of the
Nickerson statement. The Postal Service should have on hand sufficient,
knowledgeable personnel to address interested persons' questions.
Absent specific notice to the contrary, all technical conferences and
hearings (other than the October 17th conference) will convene at 9:30
a.m., eastern daylight time in the Commission's hearing room in Suite
200, 901 New York Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20268-0001.
Developments may warrant adoption of additional procedural dates
and/or requirements. If so, the Commission will issue further
procedural orders as it deems advisable or necessary to ensure timely
completion of its review. All such rulings will be published on the
Commission Web site: (https://www.prc.gov). The technical conferences
and public hearings, which are scheduled for October 30, 31, and
November 1, 2013, will be webcast.
Posting of request; posting of other documents. The Commission has
posted the public version of the Exigent Request on its Web site
(https://www.prc.gov). 39 CFR 3010.65(a). The Commission encourages
interested persons to review the Exigent Request to determine its
impact on their concerns.
Access to nonpublic material. Information on the Commission
practices with respect to material filed under seal, including how to
obtain access to such material, appears in 39 CFR part 3007.
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
It is ordered:
1. The Commission establishes Docket No. R2013-11 to consider
matters raised in the Postal Service's September 26, 2013 Exigent
Request.
2. The Commission adopts the procedural schedule in the Attachment
to this order, subject to further developments.
3. The Commission will sit en banc in this proceeding.
4. Comments by interested persons are due no later than November 6,
2013.
5. Reply comments may be filed by the Postal Service and other
interested persons are due no later than November 20, 2013.
6. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints James
Waclawski to represent the interests of the general public in this
proceeding.
7. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the
Federal Register.
Attachment--Docket No. R2013-11 Schedule
All dates refer to 2013
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Date Action
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, September 26............ Filing of Exigent Request.
Wednesday, October 9.............. First Technical Conference Taufique.
Tuesday, October 17 (starting at Second Technical Conference* Thress.
10:30 a.m.).
Friday, October 18................ Third Technical Conference*
Nickerson.
Thursday, October 24.............. Deadline for filing suggested
questions to be asked of the Postal
Service during the public hearing
(39 CFR 3010.65(c)).
Wednesday-Friday Oct. 30, Oct. 31, Public Hearings* (39 CFR
Nov. 1. 3010.65(b)).
Wednesday, November 6............. Deadline for filing initial comments
(39 CFR 3010.65(f)).
Wednesday, November 20............ Deadline for filing reply comments
(39 CFR 3010.65(g)).
Wednesday, December 25............ 90th day following filing of the
Exigent Request.
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By the Commission.
Shoshana M. Grove,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-24580 Filed 10-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P
