Service Standards for Destination Sectional Center Facility Rate Standard Mail, 12390-12394 [2014-04784]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 43 / Wednesday, March 5, 2014 / Rules and Regulations
penalty for failure to comply with, a
collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act unless that collection of
information displays a currently valid
OMB control number.
Dated: February 27, 2014.
Michelle K. Lee,
Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for
Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of
the United States Patent and Trademark
Office.
[FR Doc. 2014–04806 Filed 3–4–14; 8:45 am]
List of Subjects in 37 CFR Part 1
BILLING CODE 3510–16–P
Administrative practice and
procedure, Courts, Freedom of
information, Inventions and patents,
Reporting and recordkeeping
requirements, Small businesses.
For the reasons set forth in the
preamble, 37 CFR part 1 is amended as
follows:
POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 121
Service Standards for Destination
Sectional Center Facility Rate Standard
Mail
PART 1—RULES OF PRACTICE IN
PATENT CASES
AGENCY:
1. The authority citation for 37 CFR
Part 1 continues to read as follows:
SUMMARY:
ACTION:
■
Authority: 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2).
2. Section 1.102 is amended by
revising paragraph (e)(1) to read as
follows:
■
§ 1.102
Advancement of examination.
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(e) * * *
(1) A request for prioritized
examination may be filed with an
original utility or plant nonprovisional
application under 35 U.S.C. 111(a). The
application must include a specification
as prescribed by 35 U.S.C. 112 including
at least one claim, a drawing when
necessary, and the inventor’s oath or
declaration on filing, except that the
filing of an inventor’s oath or
declaration may be postponed in
accordance with § 1.53(f)(3) if an
application data sheet meeting the
conditions specified in § 1.53(f)(3)(i) is
present upon filing. If the application is
a utility application, it must be filed via
the Office’s electronic filing system and
include the filing fee under § 1.16(a),
search fee under § 1.16(k), and
examination fee under § 1.16(o) upon
filing. If the application is a plant
application, it must include the filing
fee under § 1.16(c), search fee under
§ 1.16(m), and examination fee under
§ 1.16(q) upon filing. The request for
prioritized examination in compliance
with this paragraph must be present
upon filing of the application, except
that the applicant may file an
amendment to cancel any independent
claims in excess of four, any total claims
in excess of thirty, and any multiple
dependent claim not later than one
month from a first decision on the
request for prioritized examination. This
one-month time period is not
extendable.
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Postal ServiceTM.
Final rule.
The Postal Service is revising
the service standards for Standard Mail
that is eligible for Destination Sectional
Center Facility (DSCF) rates. These
changes will allow a more balanced
distribution of DSCF Standard Mail
across delivery days.
DATES: Effective Date: April 10, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Anthony Frost, Industry Engagement
and Outreach, at 202–268–8093; or
Prathmesh Shah, Processing and
Distribution Center Operations, at 404–
792–3195.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Comments
III. Statutory Considerations
IV. Explanation of Final Rules
I. Introduction
On January 3, 2014, the Postal Service
published a proposed rule (the Proposed
Rulemaking) in the Federal Register to
solicit public comment on a proposal to
revise service standards for Standard
Mail eligible for DSCF rates.1 The
comment period for the Proposed
Rulemaking closed on February 3, 2014.
The Postal Service received 13 written
comments in response to the Proposed
Rulemaking.
After considering comments received
in response to the Proposed
1 Service Standards for Destination Sectional
Center Facility Rate Standard Mail, 79 FR 376 (Jan.
3, 2014). Concurrent with this rulemaking, on
December 27, 2013, the Postal Service submitted a
request to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC)
for an advisory opinion on the service changes
associated with the proposed change in service
standards for Standard Mail eligible for DSCF rates,
in accordance with 39 U.S.C. 3661(b). PRC Docket
No. N2014–1, United States Postal Service Request
for an Advisory Opinion on Changes in the Nature
of Postal Services (Dec. 27, 2013). Documents
pertaining to the Request are available at the PRC
Web site, https://www.prc.gov.
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Rulemaking, the Postal Service has
determined to issue the proposed rule as
a final rule. As described in the
Proposed Rulemaking, the final rule
seeks to address the imbalance in the
proportion of volume with a Monday
delivery expectation under current
service standards, and the resulting
burden on resources associated with
Monday delivery operations, by
adjusting the service standards
applicable to DSCF Standard Mail
entered on designated days of the week.
The Postal Service believes that the
initiative will help improve the
efficiency of its operations, and that it
complies with all applicable statutory
requirements. This document explains
the new rule.
II. Comments
In the Proposed Rulemaking, the
Postal Service sought public comment
on proposed revisions to the service
standards for Standard Mail that is
eligible for DSCF rates. The revisions
would change the service standard (a)
from three days to four days for
Standard Mail pieces that are eligible for
a DSCF rate and that are properly
accepted before the day zero Critical
Entry Time on a Friday or Saturday, and
(b) from four days to five days for DSCF
Standard Mail properly accepted at the
SCF in San Juan, Puerto Rico and
destined to the United States Virgin
Islands, and properly accepted DSCF
Standard Mail destined to American
Samoa. The DSCF Standard Mail service
standard change is aimed at leveling out
the volume in the network, and
reducing the burdens and costs
associated with the Monday delivery of
a disproportionate amount of volume.
A. Overview
The Postal Service received 13 written
comments in response to the Proposed
Rulemaking. These responses came from
a variety of sources, including
businesses, publishers, mailer trade
associations, and others. Most of the
written comments received in response
to the Proposed Rulemaking opposed
the service standard change proposed
for Standard Mail eligible for DSCF
rates. Some commenters questioned
various aspects of the initiative but took
no position on the proposed rule.
The commenters that opposed the
DSCF Standard Mail service standard
change focused on the potential
negative impact of the service standard
change on service, and perceived flaws
in the process of developing the service
standard change. With respect to the
potential impact on service, commenters
focused primarily on the potential for
the proposed rule to reduce the
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predictability and quality of delivery,
increase costs for both mailers and the
Postal Service, and unreasonably
burden many customers. In addressing
procedural issues, commenters
expressed dissatisfaction with the
process leading up to the Proposed
Rulemaking, including the live testing,
and identified multiple issues that, in
their opinion, had not been considered
adequately.
A small minority of written comments
supported aspects of the Proposed
Rulemaking, including the Postal
Service’s use of intelligent mail data to
identify cost savings opportunities and
its industry outreach to explain the
concept.
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B. Responses to Comments
This section presents the commenters’
concerns by category, along with the
Postal Service’s responses to these
concerns.
1. Effect on Volume
Some commenters stated that the
DSCF Standard Mail service standard
change might lead to accelerated
volume declines. In response to these
commenters, the Postal Service notes
that the initiative is limited to Standard
Mail, and will not impact other classes
of mail. Some of the commenters
asserted that the volume declines would
result from the combination of Postal
Service initiatives, including rate
increases resulting from the exigency
filing and other rate changes, and
facility closings that occurred
independent of the DSCF Standard Mail
service standard change. However, no
commenter offered any empirical basis
for the belief that the service change, by
itself or in conjunction with recent price
increases, could precipitate an
accelerated decline in DSCF Standard
Mail volumes. It is worth noting that no
evidence in support of such belief was
presented to the Postal Regulatory
Commission during its review of the
proposed service change in Docket No.
N2014–1.
In contrast to concerns about the
potential negative impact on volume
that could result from the DSCF
Standard Mail service standard change,
at least one commenter explained that
its members preferred different delivery
days for their mail and their
competitors’ mail, suggesting that load
leveling could make DSCF Standard
Mail more valuable for some mailers.
The Postal Service shares the view that
this change, with its consequent effect
on leveling volume at the beginning of
the week, could create the benefit of
reducing the proportion of Standard
Mail delivered on the heaviest delivery
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day of the week, and decreasing the
likelihood of an individual piece being
overlooked by the recipient because it
arrived as part of a disproportionately
heavy batch of mail on a given day.
2. Effect on Mailers
Some commenters criticize the service
change proposal as imposing on affected
mailers an unfair share of the burden of
cost containment necessary to improve
postal financial stability, and question
whether the Postal Service understands
the mailing industry’s desire for
predictability, reliability, transparency,
and competitive rates. The potential
sources of the additional burden
identified by commenters include
increased logistical costs necessary to
meet in-home dates and accommodate
customer delivery requirements that
will not change in response to the DSCF
Standard Mail service standard change,
and reduced opportunities for discounts
achieved through comingling and
copalletization. The Postal Service plans
to work with the mailing industry in
helping mailers adapt to the DSCF
Standard Mail service standard change
and continue their effective use of the
mail, through the IMb Planning Tool
and other channels offered by the Postal
Service. It should be noted that during
the months of April, May, and June in
2014, the Postal Service will offer a
Premium Advertising Mail promotion,
which offers an upfront discount on
First-Class Mail presort postage on
mailpieces composed entirely of
marketing or advertising content. But
the significance of any burdens resulting
from the DSCF Standard Mail service
standard change is unclear because
despite the concerns raised in response
to the Proposed Rulemaking, the Postal
Service has observed no change in
mailer behavior and experienced no
increase in customer complaints in
locations affected by testing associated
with the DSCF Standard Mail service
standard change.
Some mailers expressed concerns
about the difficulty in obtaining Facility
Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST)
appointments at favorable times, and
the potential for the new rule to
condense mailers’ internal operating
schedules. The Postal Service
acknowledges that some mailers may
need to adjust their mail entry patterns.
Accordingly, in response to these
concerns, the Postal Service will work
with mailers to provide FAST
appointments that better suit their
needs. At the same time, to enhance the
availability of FAST appointments,
mailers must take corrective action to
address the fact that, for more than half
of the time slots reserved via the FAST
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system, no one shows up to present mail
for acceptance. The scheduling of
excessive, unused appointments causes
the FAST system to report as
unavailable mail acceptance
opportunities at facilities that actually
are available.
One commenter requested that the
service standard change preserve and
incorporate postal policy regarding inhome delivery dates requested for nonmachinable, non-barcoded Standard
Mail entered as Saturation Mail. Under
current policy, local postal managers are
expected to respond to properly
submitted in-home delivery date
requests by exploring whether, in the
normal course of operations,
opportunities exist to process and
deliver mail in a manner that is
consistent with applicable service
standards and requested in-home dates.
The DSCF Standard Mail service change
is not intended to affect the current
procedures through which mailers may
request delivery on or by a specific date
within the applicable service standard.
However, such requests do not establish
new service standards. Accordingly,
there is no basis for referencing them in
the regulations published at 39 CFR part
121.
3. Alternatives
Commenters offered suggestions for
alternative operational changes. For
example, some commenters cited their
utilization of a flexible work force to
meet customer needs as a model
available to the Postal Service that
would enable the preservation of
current service standards. The Postal
Service has increased its use of a
flexible workforce, but this increased
flexibility alone will not resolve the
issues targeted by the DSCF Standard
Mail service standard change. The
continued delivery of the
disproportionate amount of Monday
delivery volume under current service
standards would require the acquisition
of a significant number of additional
vehicles and deployment of employees
who would be necessary only for
Monday delivery operations. Although
the Postal Service continues its pursuit
of even more flexibility in its workforce,
it is limited by restrictions in its current
collective bargaining agreements that do
not permit implementation of various
commenter suggestions for workforce
flexibility as alternatives to the DSCF
Standard Mail service standard change.
The Postal Service continues its
pursuit of other efficiency-enhancing
initiatives simultaneously with the final
rule, but neither the DSCF Standard
Mail service standard change nor any of
the other initiatives are sufficient by
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themselves to achieve the level of
efficiency targeted by the Postal Service.
Rather, they are all necessary. From the
outset, the Postal Service has made clear
that the impetus for the DSCF Standard
Mail service change is the improvement
of operations by leveling the delivery
workload across the days of the week.
Although the resulting efficiencies are
expected to generate cost reductions,
such cost reductions are a consequence
of the initiative, not its goal.
Accordingly, the load leveling initiative
should not be viewed as a centerpiece
of the Postal Service’s ongoing efforts to
align its overall cost and revenues.
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4. Scope of Change
Focusing on the scope of the DSCF
Standard Mail service standard change,
some mailers questioned the
justification for including Standard Mail
parcels and letters in the service
standard change. These mailers view the
issues targeted by the DSCF Standard
Mail service standard change as limited
only to operations concerning Standard
Mail flats. However, the Postal Service
needs the same flexibility for letter
operations as well. Accordingly, the
DSCF Standard Mail service standard
change applies to both letters and flats.
Parcels comprise only a very small
proportion of all DSCF Standard Mail.
In the interest of minimizing mail
processing operational complexity and
in the absence of any compelling reason
for treating parcels differently, the
service change applies to all DSCF
Standard Mail.
One commenter questioned whether
the issues targeted by DSCF Standard
Mail service standard change resulted
from Standard Mail volume, suggesting
instead that the increase in Monday
overtime hours resulted from route
consolidation, network consolidation,
parcel volume increases, extended
casing time, and later carrier arrival at
the office. Although a variety of events
and conditions could have caused the
current situation of a disproportionate
amount of mail volume with a Monday
delivery expectation, the process
associated with the Proposed
Rulemaking focused on solutions, rather
than on the causes of the current
situation.
5. Effect on Election Mail
One commenter expressed a concern
about the potential impact of the DSCF
Standard Mail service standard change
on the reliability and security of
election mail delivery. As is the case
today, local postal managers will work
closely with elections board and
political campaign organization mailers
to ensure that DSCF Standard Mail
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continues as a reliable and secure
medium of communication. The Postal
Service will continue to provide mailers
exploring the differences between DSCF
Standard Mail and First-Class Mail with
information explaining their respective
service standards and the long-standing
priority of dispatch and processing
accorded to First-Class Mail. In
addition, the Postal Service will provide
information to local elections boards
and campaign mailers through multiple
channels, including local Postal
Customer Councils, its Business
Services Network, its online Rapid
Information Bulletin Board System, and
local Business Mail Entry Units.
difficult. In the absence of legislative
change, the Postal Service has no
current plans to implement a five-day
delivery environment. However,
assuming that mailers would drop ship
mail in a five-day environment on the
same days as in the present
environment, it is expected that the
implementation of load leveling would
reduce the impact to delivery operations
in making the transition to a situation
where Standard Mail is delivered five
days per week to street addresses.
As the Postal Service implements the
final rule, it will remain mindful of the
concerns expressed by commenters and
will work to minimize those concerns.
6. Rate Cap Implications
One commenter questioned whether
the DSCF Standard Mail service
standard change might represent an
additional price increase with rate cap
implications. The Postal Service does
not anticipate that the DSCF Standard
Mail service standard change will have
any rate cap implications.
III. Statutory Considerations
In addition to considering comments,
the Postal Service has considered the
requirements of 39 U.S.C. 3691 and
other applicable provisions of title 39.
Section 3691(b) sets forth objectives that
the Postal Service’s market-dominant
service standards must serve, and
section 3691(c) sets forth factors that the
Postal Service must take into account
when revising the service standards.
The Postal Service believes that it has
properly considered the subsection (c)
factors, and that the revised service
standards achieve the subsection (b)
objectives.
Since the passage of the Postal
Reorganization Act (PRA), the Postal
Service has been required to be largely
self-supporting. The PRA established a
cost-of-service system, which allowed
the Postal Service to set prices at levels
necessary to fully cover its costs. This
system was dramatically altered in 2006
with the passage of the Postal
Accountability and Enhancement Act
(PAEA). In contrast to the PRA, the
PAEA established a price cap system,
with strict limitations on price increases
for market-dominant product classes. As
the PRC has observed, a primary goal of
the price cap system is ‘‘to incent the
Postal Service to reduce costs and
improve efficiency.’’ 2
Section 3691 is situated within this
larger context of inducing efficiency
gains, and the subsection (c) factors are
aligned with that goal in that, taken
together, they balance levels of service
for customers with the Postal Service’s
operational and business needs. From
the formal rulemaking comments that
the Postal Service has received, it is
clear that some customers view the
current service standards as vitally
important, and that some customers
would experience difficulties if service
standards are changed. On a broader
7. Testing
With respect to the implementation
process for the DSCF Standard Mail
service standard change, some
commenters questioned the adequacy of
the South Jersey Operations Test, and
encouraged the Postal Service to
conduct additional testing before
implementation. Consistent with this
concern, the Postal Service has
scheduled additional testing in the
service areas of approximately 30 mail
processing facilities nationwide, and
intends to incorporate the results of
these tests into the national
implementation of the DSCF Standard
Mail service standard change.
The performance of live testing before
implementation is not customary for
service standard changes. Under
common practice, the Postal Service
relies on modeling. Accordingly, the use
of live testing at multiple sites should
provide the Postal Service with helpful
experience that can facilitate successful
implementation of the DSCF Standard
Mail service standard change.
8. Nonstandard Delivery Weeks
Some commenters expressed a
concern regarding the alleged failure of
the Postal Service to consider the
potential effects on delivery after a
three-day weekend or in a five-day
delivery environment. On a regular
basis, the Postal Service manages the
delivery of increased volumes of mail
after a three-day weekend, and the
DSCF Standard Mail service standard
change will not make the challenge
presented by that situation more
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2 PRC Docket No. R2010–4, Order No. 547 (Sept.
30, 2010), at 80.
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level, however, the Postal Service has
received no indication that the public as
a whole views the current service
standards as an essential element of the
mail.
In regard to the subsection (c) factors
that relate to the Postal Service’s
operational and business needs, the
Postal Service has already set forth, in
the Proposed Rulemaking, the mail
volume and financial realities that
necessitate the DSCF Standard Mail
service standard change. The Postal
Service faces an uneven workload for
postal delivery operations and a
disproportionate allocation of resources
to meet Monday delivery expectations,
based on current service standards.
Specifically, the high volume of
Standard Mail with a service standard
that creates a Monday delivery
expectation contributes to the
significant challenge faced by the Postal
Service in seeking to achieve efficient
and timely completion of delivery
operations on Monday, and to make
dispatch of collection mail picked up by
carriers to mail processing plants for
timely cancellation. This general
imbalance in the proportion of volume
with a Monday delivery expectation
contributes significantly to increased
overtime workhours in delivery
operations at a time when the Postal
Service is faced with increased costs
while revenues decline as a result of the
overall reduction in mail volumes. It is
imperative, then, for the Postal Service
to achieve a more balanced distribution
of DSCF Standard Mail across delivery
days.
The Postal Service believes that the
revised service standards are designed
to achieve the section 3691(b)
objectives. Standard Mail should
continue to retain its value to
customers. The change applies only to
mail entered on Fridays and Saturdays
and the Postal Service will work with
mailers to help them adjust to the new
standards and preserve Standard Mail as
an attractive and viable medium for the
delivery of messages and parcels.
The DSCF Standard Mail service
standard change will also help improve
the Postal Service’s performance in
meeting service standards, by achieving
a more balanced distribution of DSCF
Standard Mail across delivery days.
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IV. Final Revisions to Service
Standards
The Postal Service’s DSCF Standard
Mail service standards are contained in
39 CFR part 121. The new version of 39
CFR part 121 appears at the end of this
document. The following is a summary
of the revisions.
Before describing how service
standards will be revised, it is important
to explain how service standards are
structured. Service standards are
comprised of two components: (1) A
delivery day range within which all
mail in a given product is expected to
be delivered; and (2) business rules that
determine, within a product’s
applicable day range, the specific
number of delivery days after
acceptance of a mail piece by which a
customer can expect that piece to be
delivered, based on the 3-digit ZIP Code
prefixes associated with the piece’s
point of entry into the mail stream and
its delivery address.
Business rules are based on the
Critical Entry Time (CET). The CET is
the latest time on a particular day that
a mail piece can be entered into the
postal network and still have its service
standard calculated based on that day
(this day is termed ‘‘day-zero’’). In other
words, if a mail piece is entered before
the CET, the mail piece’s service
standard is calculated from the day of
entry, whereas if the mail piece is
entered after the CET, its service
standard is calculated from the
following day. For example, if the
applicable CET is 4:00 p.m., and a letter
is entered at 3:00 p.m. on a Tuesday, its
service standard will be calculated from
Tuesday, whereas if the letter is entered
at 5:00 p.m. on a Tuesday, its service
standard will be calculated from
Wednesday.
The Postal Service is revising the
Standard Mail service standards for
pieces that qualify for a DSCF rate and
are accepted before the day zero CET at
the proper DSCF on Friday or Saturday,
to enable a more balanced distribution
of Standard Mail volume across delivery
days. For these Standard Mail pieces
entered on Friday or Saturday at the
DSCF rate, the Postal Service is
changing the current three-day delivery
expectation to a four-day delivery
expectation. And for pieces entered at
the SCF in San Juan, PR and destined
for the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as all
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12393
DSCF entry pieces destined for
American Samoa, the delivery
expectation for pieces entered on Friday
or Saturday changes from four days to
five days.
The Postal Service has not made other
revisions to its service standards in this
document.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 121
Market-dominant mail products,
Service standards.
For the reasons set out in the
preamble, 39 CFR part 121 is amended
as set forth below.
PART 121—SERVICE STANDARDS
FOR MARKET DOMINANT MAIL
PRODUCTS
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR
part 121 continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404,
1001, 3691.
2. In § 121.3, revise paragraphs (b)(2)
and (b)(3) to read as follows:
■
§ 121.3
Standard Mail.
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(b) * * *
(2) Standard Mail pieces that qualify
for a DSCF rate and that are accepted
before the day-zero Critical Entry Time
at the proper DSCF have a 3-day service
standard when accepted on Sunday
through Thursday and a 4-day service
standard when accepted on Friday or
Saturday, except for mail dropped at the
SCF in the territory of Puerto Rico and
destined to the territory of the U.S.
Virgin Islands, or mail destined to
American Samoa.
(3) Standard Mail pieces that qualify
for a Destination Sectional Center
Facility (DSCF) rate and that are
accepted before the day zero Critical
Entry Time at the SCF in the territory
of Puerto Rico and destined for the
territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands, or
are destined to American Samoa, have
a 4-day service standard when accepted
on Sunday through Thursday and a 5day service standard when accepted on
Friday or Saturday.
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■ 3. In Appendix A to part 121, revise
Tables 5 and 6 to read as follows:
Appendix A to Part 121—Tables
Depicting Service Standard Day Ranges
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TABLE 5—DESTINATION ENTRY SERVICE STANDARD DAY RANGES FOR MAIL TO THE CONTIGUOUS 48 STATES AND THE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Contiguous United States
Destination entry (at appropriate facility)
Mail class
DDU
(Days)
Periodicals .......................................................................................................
Standard Mail ...................................................................................................
Package Services ............................................................................................
SCF
(Days)
1
2
1
ADC
(Days)
1
3–4
2
NDC
(Days)
1–2
........................
........................
1–2
5
3
TABLE 6—DESTINATION ENTRY SERVICE STANDARD DAY RANGES FOR MAIL TO NON-CONTIGUOUS STATES AND
TERRITORIES
Destination entry (at appropriate facility)
SCF (days)
Mail class
DDU
(days)
Periodicals .................................................
Standard Mail ............................................
Package Services .....................................
1
................
................
2
1
ADC (days)
Alaska
Hawaii,
Guam, &
American
Samoa
Puerto
Rico &
USVI
Alaska
Hawaii,
Guam, &
American
Samoa
NDC (days)
Puerto
Rico &
USVI
Alaska
Hawaii,
Guam, &
American
Samoa
Puerto
Rico &
USVI
1–2
................
................
3–4
2
1
................
................
3–5
2
1–2
................
................
3–5
2–3
1–3 (AK)
11 (JNU)
11 (KTN)
................
................
1 (HI)
2 (GU)
................
................
................
1–2
................
................
................
................
10–11
................
................
14
12
10
................
................
13
11
8–10
................
................
12
11
AK = Alaska 3-digit ZIP Codes 995–997; JNU = Juneau AK 3-digit ZIP Code 998; KTN = Ketchikan AK 3-digit
ZIP Code 999; HI = Hawaii 3-digit ZIP Codes 967 and 968; GU = Guam 3-digit ZIP Code 969.
Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Legal Policy & Legislative Advice.
[FR Doc. 2014–04784 Filed 3–4–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710–12–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R07–OAR–2013–0698; FRL–9907–32–
Region 7]
Approval and Promulgation of
Implementation Plans; State of
Missouri
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is approving a revision to
the State Implementation Plan (SIP)
submitted by the State of Missouri
which revises the written reporting
requirements for maintenance, start-up,
or shutdown activities; updates the
information a source operator must
provide to the department when a
notice of excess emissions is received;
and corrects references in the reporting
and record keeping section.
DATES: This final rule is effective on
April 4, 2014.
ADDRESSES: EPA has established a
docket for this action under Docket ID
No. EPA–R07–OAR–2013–0698. All
sroberts on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with RULES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
15:46 Mar 04, 2014
Jkt 232001
documents in the docket are listed on
the www.regulations.gov Web site.
Although listed in the index, some
information is not publicly available,
i.e., 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
www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at
the Environmental Protection Agency,
Air Planning and Development Branch,
11201 Renner Boulevard, Lenexa,
Kansas 66219. The Regional Office’s
official hours of business are Monday
through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
excluding Federal holidays. The
interested persons wanting to examine
these documents should make an
appointment with the office at least 24
hours in advance.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Amy Bhesania, Environmental
Protection Agency, Air Planning and
Development Branch, 11201 Renner
Boulevard, Lenexa, Kansas 66219 at
913–551–7147, or by email at
bhesania.amy@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Throughout this document ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’
or ‘‘our’’ refer to EPA. This section
provides additional information by
addressing the following:
I. What is being addressed in this document?
PO 00000
Frm 00042
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
II. Have the requirements for approval of a
SIP revision been met?
III. What is EPA’s response to comments?
IV. What action is EPA taking?
I. What is being addressed in this
document?
EPA is approving revisions to the
Missouri SIP submitted to EPA on July
8, 2010 which amends 10 CSR 10–6.050
Start-up, Shutdown, and Malfunction
Conditions. Specifically, Missouri
amended subsection 3(B) to remove the
option for verbal notification and
therefore only written notification is
allowed for any maintenance, start-up,
or shutdown activity which is expected
to cause an excess release of emissions
that exceeds one hour. This change
makes the written notification
requirements consistent for subsections
(3)(B) which covers maintenance, startup and shutdown, and (3)(A) which
covers malfunctions. Subparagrah
(3)(B)3. was removed because the
requirement was only applicable to
malfunctions which is addressed in
subsection (3)(A).
The remaining revisions to the rule
are administrative changes which revise
the rule to be consistent with the state’s
standard rule format or make other
minor clarifying changes.
Subparagraphs (3)(B)3 through (3)(B)9
were renumbered to adjust for the
removal of item (3)(B)3. Subparagraph
(3)(C)2 includes minor administrative
changes to meet the state’s standard rule
E:\FR\FM\05MRR1.SGM
05MRR1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 5, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12390-12394]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04784]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 121
Service Standards for Destination Sectional Center Facility Rate
Standard Mail
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Postal Service is revising the service standards for
Standard Mail that is eligible for Destination Sectional Center
Facility (DSCF) rates. These changes will allow a more balanced
distribution of DSCF Standard Mail across delivery days.
DATES: Effective Date: April 10, 2014.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anthony Frost, Industry Engagement and
Outreach, at 202-268-8093; or Prathmesh Shah, Processing and
Distribution Center Operations, at 404-792-3195.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Comments
III. Statutory Considerations
IV. Explanation of Final Rules
I. Introduction
On January 3, 2014, the Postal Service published a proposed rule
(the Proposed Rulemaking) in the Federal Register to solicit public
comment on a proposal to revise service standards for Standard Mail
eligible for DSCF rates.\1\ The comment period for the Proposed
Rulemaking closed on February 3, 2014. The Postal Service received 13
written comments in response to the Proposed Rulemaking.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Service Standards for Destination Sectional Center Facility
Rate Standard Mail, 79 FR 376 (Jan. 3, 2014). Concurrent with this
rulemaking, on December 27, 2013, the Postal Service submitted a
request to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for an advisory
opinion on the service changes associated with the proposed change
in service standards for Standard Mail eligible for DSCF rates, in
accordance with 39 U.S.C. 3661(b). PRC Docket No. N2014-1, United
States Postal Service Request for an Advisory Opinion on Changes in
the Nature of Postal Services (Dec. 27, 2013). Documents pertaining
to the Request are available at the PRC Web site, https://www.prc.gov.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
After considering comments received in response to the Proposed
Rulemaking, the Postal Service has determined to issue the proposed
rule as a final rule. As described in the Proposed Rulemaking, the
final rule seeks to address the imbalance in the proportion of volume
with a Monday delivery expectation under current service standards, and
the resulting burden on resources associated with Monday delivery
operations, by adjusting the service standards applicable to DSCF
Standard Mail entered on designated days of the week. The Postal
Service believes that the initiative will help improve the efficiency
of its operations, and that it complies with all applicable statutory
requirements. This document explains the new rule.
II. Comments
In the Proposed Rulemaking, the Postal Service sought public
comment on proposed revisions to the service standards for Standard
Mail that is eligible for DSCF rates. The revisions would change the
service standard (a) from three days to four days for Standard Mail
pieces that are eligible for a DSCF rate and that are properly accepted
before the day zero Critical Entry Time on a Friday or Saturday, and
(b) from four days to five days for DSCF Standard Mail properly
accepted at the SCF in San Juan, Puerto Rico and destined to the United
States Virgin Islands, and properly accepted DSCF Standard Mail
destined to American Samoa. The DSCF Standard Mail service standard
change is aimed at leveling out the volume in the network, and reducing
the burdens and costs associated with the Monday delivery of a
disproportionate amount of volume.
A. Overview
The Postal Service received 13 written comments in response to the
Proposed Rulemaking. These responses came from a variety of sources,
including businesses, publishers, mailer trade associations, and
others. Most of the written comments received in response to the
Proposed Rulemaking opposed the service standard change proposed for
Standard Mail eligible for DSCF rates. Some commenters questioned
various aspects of the initiative but took no position on the proposed
rule.
The commenters that opposed the DSCF Standard Mail service standard
change focused on the potential negative impact of the service standard
change on service, and perceived flaws in the process of developing the
service standard change. With respect to the potential impact on
service, commenters focused primarily on the potential for the proposed
rule to reduce the
[[Page 12391]]
predictability and quality of delivery, increase costs for both mailers
and the Postal Service, and unreasonably burden many customers. In
addressing procedural issues, commenters expressed dissatisfaction with
the process leading up to the Proposed Rulemaking, including the live
testing, and identified multiple issues that, in their opinion, had not
been considered adequately.
A small minority of written comments supported aspects of the
Proposed Rulemaking, including the Postal Service's use of intelligent
mail data to identify cost savings opportunities and its industry
outreach to explain the concept.
B. Responses to Comments
This section presents the commenters' concerns by category, along
with the Postal Service's responses to these concerns.
1. Effect on Volume
Some commenters stated that the DSCF Standard Mail service standard
change might lead to accelerated volume declines. In response to these
commenters, the Postal Service notes that the initiative is limited to
Standard Mail, and will not impact other classes of mail. Some of the
commenters asserted that the volume declines would result from the
combination of Postal Service initiatives, including rate increases
resulting from the exigency filing and other rate changes, and facility
closings that occurred independent of the DSCF Standard Mail service
standard change. However, no commenter offered any empirical basis for
the belief that the service change, by itself or in conjunction with
recent price increases, could precipitate an accelerated decline in
DSCF Standard Mail volumes. It is worth noting that no evidence in
support of such belief was presented to the Postal Regulatory
Commission during its review of the proposed service change in Docket
No. N2014-1.
In contrast to concerns about the potential negative impact on
volume that could result from the DSCF Standard Mail service standard
change, at least one commenter explained that its members preferred
different delivery days for their mail and their competitors' mail,
suggesting that load leveling could make DSCF Standard Mail more
valuable for some mailers. The Postal Service shares the view that this
change, with its consequent effect on leveling volume at the beginning
of the week, could create the benefit of reducing the proportion of
Standard Mail delivered on the heaviest delivery day of the week, and
decreasing the likelihood of an individual piece being overlooked by
the recipient because it arrived as part of a disproportionately heavy
batch of mail on a given day.
2. Effect on Mailers
Some commenters criticize the service change proposal as imposing
on affected mailers an unfair share of the burden of cost containment
necessary to improve postal financial stability, and question whether
the Postal Service understands the mailing industry's desire for
predictability, reliability, transparency, and competitive rates. The
potential sources of the additional burden identified by commenters
include increased logistical costs necessary to meet in-home dates and
accommodate customer delivery requirements that will not change in
response to the DSCF Standard Mail service standard change, and reduced
opportunities for discounts achieved through comingling and
copalletization. The Postal Service plans to work with the mailing
industry in helping mailers adapt to the DSCF Standard Mail service
standard change and continue their effective use of the mail, through
the IMb Planning Tool and other channels offered by the Postal Service.
It should be noted that during the months of April, May, and June in
2014, the Postal Service will offer a Premium Advertising Mail
promotion, which offers an upfront discount on First-Class Mail presort
postage on mailpieces composed entirely of marketing or advertising
content. But the significance of any burdens resulting from the DSCF
Standard Mail service standard change is unclear because despite the
concerns raised in response to the Proposed Rulemaking, the Postal
Service has observed no change in mailer behavior and experienced no
increase in customer complaints in locations affected by testing
associated with the DSCF Standard Mail service standard change.
Some mailers expressed concerns about the difficulty in obtaining
Facility Access and Shipment Tracking (FAST) appointments at favorable
times, and the potential for the new rule to condense mailers' internal
operating schedules. The Postal Service acknowledges that some mailers
may need to adjust their mail entry patterns. Accordingly, in response
to these concerns, the Postal Service will work with mailers to provide
FAST appointments that better suit their needs. At the same time, to
enhance the availability of FAST appointments, mailers must take
corrective action to address the fact that, for more than half of the
time slots reserved via the FAST system, no one shows up to present
mail for acceptance. The scheduling of excessive, unused appointments
causes the FAST system to report as unavailable mail acceptance
opportunities at facilities that actually are available.
One commenter requested that the service standard change preserve
and incorporate postal policy regarding in-home delivery dates
requested for non-machinable, non-barcoded Standard Mail entered as
Saturation Mail. Under current policy, local postal managers are
expected to respond to properly submitted in-home delivery date
requests by exploring whether, in the normal course of operations,
opportunities exist to process and deliver mail in a manner that is
consistent with applicable service standards and requested in-home
dates. The DSCF Standard Mail service change is not intended to affect
the current procedures through which mailers may request delivery on or
by a specific date within the applicable service standard. However,
such requests do not establish new service standards. Accordingly,
there is no basis for referencing them in the regulations published at
39 CFR part 121.
3. Alternatives
Commenters offered suggestions for alternative operational changes.
For example, some commenters cited their utilization of a flexible work
force to meet customer needs as a model available to the Postal Service
that would enable the preservation of current service standards. The
Postal Service has increased its use of a flexible workforce, but this
increased flexibility alone will not resolve the issues targeted by the
DSCF Standard Mail service standard change. The continued delivery of
the disproportionate amount of Monday delivery volume under current
service standards would require the acquisition of a significant number
of additional vehicles and deployment of employees who would be
necessary only for Monday delivery operations. Although the Postal
Service continues its pursuit of even more flexibility in its
workforce, it is limited by restrictions in its current collective
bargaining agreements that do not permit implementation of various
commenter suggestions for workforce flexibility as alternatives to the
DSCF Standard Mail service standard change.
The Postal Service continues its pursuit of other efficiency-
enhancing initiatives simultaneously with the final rule, but neither
the DSCF Standard Mail service standard change nor any of the other
initiatives are sufficient by
[[Page 12392]]
themselves to achieve the level of efficiency targeted by the Postal
Service. Rather, they are all necessary. From the outset, the Postal
Service has made clear that the impetus for the DSCF Standard Mail
service change is the improvement of operations by leveling the
delivery workload across the days of the week. Although the resulting
efficiencies are expected to generate cost reductions, such cost
reductions are a consequence of the initiative, not its goal.
Accordingly, the load leveling initiative should not be viewed as a
centerpiece of the Postal Service's ongoing efforts to align its
overall cost and revenues.
4. Scope of Change
Focusing on the scope of the DSCF Standard Mail service standard
change, some mailers questioned the justification for including
Standard Mail parcels and letters in the service standard change. These
mailers view the issues targeted by the DSCF Standard Mail service
standard change as limited only to operations concerning Standard Mail
flats. However, the Postal Service needs the same flexibility for
letter operations as well. Accordingly, the DSCF Standard Mail service
standard change applies to both letters and flats. Parcels comprise
only a very small proportion of all DSCF Standard Mail. In the interest
of minimizing mail processing operational complexity and in the absence
of any compelling reason for treating parcels differently, the service
change applies to all DSCF Standard Mail.
One commenter questioned whether the issues targeted by DSCF
Standard Mail service standard change resulted from Standard Mail
volume, suggesting instead that the increase in Monday overtime hours
resulted from route consolidation, network consolidation, parcel volume
increases, extended casing time, and later carrier arrival at the
office. Although a variety of events and conditions could have caused
the current situation of a disproportionate amount of mail volume with
a Monday delivery expectation, the process associated with the Proposed
Rulemaking focused on solutions, rather than on the causes of the
current situation.
5. Effect on Election Mail
One commenter expressed a concern about the potential impact of the
DSCF Standard Mail service standard change on the reliability and
security of election mail delivery. As is the case today, local postal
managers will work closely with elections board and political campaign
organization mailers to ensure that DSCF Standard Mail continues as a
reliable and secure medium of communication. The Postal Service will
continue to provide mailers exploring the differences between DSCF
Standard Mail and First-Class Mail with information explaining their
respective service standards and the long-standing priority of dispatch
and processing accorded to First-Class Mail. In addition, the Postal
Service will provide information to local elections boards and campaign
mailers through multiple channels, including local Postal Customer
Councils, its Business Services Network, its online Rapid Information
Bulletin Board System, and local Business Mail Entry Units.
6. Rate Cap Implications
One commenter questioned whether the DSCF Standard Mail service
standard change might represent an additional price increase with rate
cap implications. The Postal Service does not anticipate that the DSCF
Standard Mail service standard change will have any rate cap
implications.
7. Testing
With respect to the implementation process for the DSCF Standard
Mail service standard change, some commenters questioned the adequacy
of the South Jersey Operations Test, and encouraged the Postal Service
to conduct additional testing before implementation. Consistent with
this concern, the Postal Service has scheduled additional testing in
the service areas of approximately 30 mail processing facilities
nationwide, and intends to incorporate the results of these tests into
the national implementation of the DSCF Standard Mail service standard
change.
The performance of live testing before implementation is not
customary for service standard changes. Under common practice, the
Postal Service relies on modeling. Accordingly, the use of live testing
at multiple sites should provide the Postal Service with helpful
experience that can facilitate successful implementation of the DSCF
Standard Mail service standard change.
8. Nonstandard Delivery Weeks
Some commenters expressed a concern regarding the alleged failure
of the Postal Service to consider the potential effects on delivery
after a three-day weekend or in a five-day delivery environment. On a
regular basis, the Postal Service manages the delivery of increased
volumes of mail after a three-day weekend, and the DSCF Standard Mail
service standard change will not make the challenge presented by that
situation more difficult. In the absence of legislative change, the
Postal Service has no current plans to implement a five-day delivery
environment. However, assuming that mailers would drop ship mail in a
five-day environment on the same days as in the present environment, it
is expected that the implementation of load leveling would reduce the
impact to delivery operations in making the transition to a situation
where Standard Mail is delivered five days per week to street
addresses.
As the Postal Service implements the final rule, it will remain
mindful of the concerns expressed by commenters and will work to
minimize those concerns.
III. Statutory Considerations
In addition to considering comments, the Postal Service has
considered the requirements of 39 U.S.C. 3691 and other applicable
provisions of title 39. Section 3691(b) sets forth objectives that the
Postal Service's market-dominant service standards must serve, and
section 3691(c) sets forth factors that the Postal Service must take
into account when revising the service standards. The Postal Service
believes that it has properly considered the subsection (c) factors,
and that the revised service standards achieve the subsection (b)
objectives.
Since the passage of the Postal Reorganization Act (PRA), the
Postal Service has been required to be largely self-supporting. The PRA
established a cost-of-service system, which allowed the Postal Service
to set prices at levels necessary to fully cover its costs. This system
was dramatically altered in 2006 with the passage of the Postal
Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA). In contrast to the PRA, the
PAEA established a price cap system, with strict limitations on price
increases for market-dominant product classes. As the PRC has observed,
a primary goal of the price cap system is ``to incent the Postal
Service to reduce costs and improve efficiency.'' \2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ PRC Docket No. R2010-4, Order No. 547 (Sept. 30, 2010), at
80.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Section 3691 is situated within this larger context of inducing
efficiency gains, and the subsection (c) factors are aligned with that
goal in that, taken together, they balance levels of service for
customers with the Postal Service's operational and business needs.
From the formal rulemaking comments that the Postal Service has
received, it is clear that some customers view the current service
standards as vitally important, and that some customers would
experience difficulties if service standards are changed. On a broader
[[Page 12393]]
level, however, the Postal Service has received no indication that the
public as a whole views the current service standards as an essential
element of the mail.
In regard to the subsection (c) factors that relate to the Postal
Service's operational and business needs, the Postal Service has
already set forth, in the Proposed Rulemaking, the mail volume and
financial realities that necessitate the DSCF Standard Mail service
standard change. The Postal Service faces an uneven workload for postal
delivery operations and a disproportionate allocation of resources to
meet Monday delivery expectations, based on current service standards.
Specifically, the high volume of Standard Mail with a service standard
that creates a Monday delivery expectation contributes to the
significant challenge faced by the Postal Service in seeking to achieve
efficient and timely completion of delivery operations on Monday, and
to make dispatch of collection mail picked up by carriers to mail
processing plants for timely cancellation. This general imbalance in
the proportion of volume with a Monday delivery expectation contributes
significantly to increased overtime workhours in delivery operations at
a time when the Postal Service is faced with increased costs while
revenues decline as a result of the overall reduction in mail volumes.
It is imperative, then, for the Postal Service to achieve a more
balanced distribution of DSCF Standard Mail across delivery days.
The Postal Service believes that the revised service standards are
designed to achieve the section 3691(b) objectives. Standard Mail
should continue to retain its value to customers. The change applies
only to mail entered on Fridays and Saturdays and the Postal Service
will work with mailers to help them adjust to the new standards and
preserve Standard Mail as an attractive and viable medium for the
delivery of messages and parcels.
The DSCF Standard Mail service standard change will also help
improve the Postal Service's performance in meeting service standards,
by achieving a more balanced distribution of DSCF Standard Mail across
delivery days.
IV. Final Revisions to Service Standards
The Postal Service's DSCF Standard Mail service standards are
contained in 39 CFR part 121. The new version of 39 CFR part 121
appears at the end of this document. The following is a summary of the
revisions.
Before describing how service standards will be revised, it is
important to explain how service standards are structured. Service
standards are comprised of two components: (1) A delivery day range
within which all mail in a given product is expected to be delivered;
and (2) business rules that determine, within a product's applicable
day range, the specific number of delivery days after acceptance of a
mail piece by which a customer can expect that piece to be delivered,
based on the 3-digit ZIP Code prefixes associated with the piece's
point of entry into the mail stream and its delivery address.
Business rules are based on the Critical Entry Time (CET). The CET
is the latest time on a particular day that a mail piece can be entered
into the postal network and still have its service standard calculated
based on that day (this day is termed ``day-zero''). In other words, if
a mail piece is entered before the CET, the mail piece's service
standard is calculated from the day of entry, whereas if the mail piece
is entered after the CET, its service standard is calculated from the
following day. For example, if the applicable CET is 4:00 p.m., and a
letter is entered at 3:00 p.m. on a Tuesday, its service standard will
be calculated from Tuesday, whereas if the letter is entered at 5:00
p.m. on a Tuesday, its service standard will be calculated from
Wednesday.
The Postal Service is revising the Standard Mail service standards
for pieces that qualify for a DSCF rate and are accepted before the day
zero CET at the proper DSCF on Friday or Saturday, to enable a more
balanced distribution of Standard Mail volume across delivery days. For
these Standard Mail pieces entered on Friday or Saturday at the DSCF
rate, the Postal Service is changing the current three-day delivery
expectation to a four-day delivery expectation. And for pieces entered
at the SCF in San Juan, PR and destined for the U.S. Virgin Islands, as
well as all DSCF entry pieces destined for American Samoa, the delivery
expectation for pieces entered on Friday or Saturday changes from four
days to five days.
The Postal Service has not made other revisions to its service
standards in this document.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 121
Market-dominant mail products, Service standards.
For the reasons set out in the preamble, 39 CFR part 121 is amended
as set forth below.
PART 121--SERVICE STANDARDS FOR MARKET DOMINANT MAIL PRODUCTS
0
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 121 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 1001, 3691.
0
2. In Sec. 121.3, revise paragraphs (b)(2) and (b)(3) to read as
follows:
Sec. 121.3 Standard Mail.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(2) Standard Mail pieces that qualify for a DSCF rate and that are
accepted before the day-zero Critical Entry Time at the proper DSCF
have a 3-day service standard when accepted on Sunday through Thursday
and a 4-day service standard when accepted on Friday or Saturday,
except for mail dropped at the SCF in the territory of Puerto Rico and
destined to the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands, or mail destined
to American Samoa.
(3) Standard Mail pieces that qualify for a Destination Sectional
Center Facility (DSCF) rate and that are accepted before the day zero
Critical Entry Time at the SCF in the territory of Puerto Rico and
destined for the territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands, or are destined
to American Samoa, have a 4-day service standard when accepted on
Sunday through Thursday and a 5-day service standard when accepted on
Friday or Saturday.
* * * * *
0
3. In Appendix A to part 121, revise Tables 5 and 6 to read as follows:
Appendix A to Part 121--Tables Depicting Service Standard Day Ranges
* * * * *
[[Page 12394]]
Table 5--Destination Entry Service Standard Day Ranges for Mail to the Contiguous 48 States and the District of
Columbia
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contiguous United States
---------------------------------------------------------------
Mail class Destination entry (at appropriate facility)
---------------------------------------------------------------
DDU (Days) SCF (Days) ADC (Days) NDC (Days)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Periodicals..................................... 1 1 1-2 1-2
Standard Mail................................... 2 3-4 .............. 5
Package Services................................ 1 2 .............. 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Table 6--Destination Entry Service Standard Day Ranges for Mail to Non-Contiguous States and Territories
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Destination entry (at appropriate facility)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCF (days) ADC (days) NDC (days)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mail class DDU Hawaii, Hawaii, Hawaii,
(days) Guam, & Puerto Guam, & Puerto Guam, & Puerto
Alaska American Rico & Alaska American Rico & Alaska American Rico &
Samoa USVI Samoa USVI Samoa USVI
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Periodicals............................... 1 1-2 1 1-2 1-3 (AK) 1 (HI) 1-2 10-11 10 8-10
......... ......... ......... ......... 11 (JNU) 2 (GU) ......... ......... ......... .........
......... ......... ......... ......... 11 (KTN) ......... ......... ......... ......... .........
Standard Mail............................. 2 3-4 3-5 3-5 ......... ......... ......... 14 13 12
Package Services.......................... 1 2 2 2-3 ......... ......... ......... 12 11 11
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AK = Alaska 3-digit ZIP Codes 995-997; JNU = Juneau AK 3-digit ZIP Code 998; KTN = Ketchikan AK 3-digit
ZIP Code 999; HI = Hawaii 3-digit ZIP Codes 967 and 968; GU = Guam 3-digit ZIP Code 969.
Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Legal Policy & Legislative Advice.
[FR Doc. 2014-04784 Filed 3-4-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
