Semipostal Stamp Program, 11164-11166 [2016-04646]
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11164
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 42 / Thursday, March 3, 2016 / Proposed Rules
(b) Definition. As used in this section,
‘‘designated representative’’ means
Coast Guard Patrol Commanders,
including Coast Guard coxswains, petty
officers, and other officers operating
Coast Guard vessels, and Federal, state,
and local officers designated by or
assisting the Captain of the Port
Charleston in the enforcement of the
regulated areas.
(c) Regulations. (1) All persons and
vessels are prohibited from entering,
transiting through, anchoring in, or
remaining within the regulated area,
except persons and vessels participating
in the Xterra Swim, Myrtle Beach, or
serving as safety vessels.
(2) Persons and vessels desiring to
enter, transit through, anchor in, or
remain within the regulated area may
contact the Captain of the Port
Charleston by telephone at (843) 740–
7050, or a designated representative via
VHF radio on channel 16, to request
authorization. If authorization to enter,
transit through, anchor in, or remain
within the regulated area is granted, all
persons and vessels receiving such
authorization must comply with the
instructions of the Captain of the Port
Charleston or a designated
representative.
(3) The Coast Guard will provide
notice of the regulated area by Marine
Safety Information Bulletins, Local
Notice to Mariners, Broadcast Notice to
Mariners, and on-scene designated
representatives.
(d) Enforcement period. This rule will
be enforced on April 24, 2016 from 7:15
a.m. until 9:15 a.m.
Dated: February 26, 2016.
G.L. Tomasulo,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Captain of the
Port Charleston.
[FR Doc. 2016–04664 Filed 3–2–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 551
Semipostal Stamp Program
Postal ServiceTM.
Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
This proposed rule would
revise the provisions governing the
Postal Service’s discretionary
Semipostal Stamp Program to simplify
and expedite the process for selecting
causes for semipostal stamps, and
facilitate the issuance of five such
stamps over a 10-year period. It would
also remove certain restrictions on the
commencement date for the Postal
Service’s discretionary Semipostal
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
SUMMARY:
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17:24 Mar 02, 2016
Jkt 238001
Stamp Program, and clarify how many
semipostal stamps issued under that
program may be on sale at any one time.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before April 4, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written
comments to the Manager, Stamp
Products & Exhibitions, U.S. Postal
Service®, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW., Room
3306, Washington DC 20260. You may
inspect and photocopy all written
comments at the Stamp Products &
Exhibitions office by appointment only
between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, by calling 202–
268–6711 in advance. Email and faxed
comments are not accepted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori
Mazzone, Manager, Stamp Products &
Exhibitions, 202–268–6711,
lori.l.mazzone@usps.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Semipostal Authorization Act,
Pub. L. 106–253, grants the Postal
Service discretionary authority to issue
and sell semipostal stamps to advance
such causes as it considers to be ‘‘in the
national public interest and
appropriate.’’ See 39 U.S.C. 416(b). On
June 12, 2001, the Postal Service
published a final rule establishing the
regulations in 39 CFR part 551 for the
discretionary Semipostal Stamp
Program (66 FR 31826). Minor revisions
were made to these regulations to
implement Pub. L. 107–67, 115 Stat. 514
(2001), and to reflect minor
organizational changes in the Postal
Service (67 FR 5215 (February 5, 2002)).
On February 19, 2004, the Postal Service
published a final rule clarifying the
cost-offset policy for semipostal stamps
(69 FR 7688), and on February 9, 2005,
the Postal Service also published an
additional minor clarifying revision to
these cost-offset regulations (70 FR
6764).
Most recently, on January 22, 2016,
the Postal Service published a proposed
amendment to 39 CFR 551.5 to remove
certain restrictions on the
commencement date for the
discretionary Semipostal Stamp
Program, and clarify how many
semipostal stamps issued under that
program may be on sale at any one time
(81 FR 3762).
Upon further consideration, however,
it was determined that a further revision
of the rules concerning the discretionary
Semipostal Stamp Program was
necessary to facilitate its smooth and
efficient operation. Accordingly, the
Postal Service now proposes and invites
comments upon a more detailed
revision of 39 CFR part 551. This
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Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
proposal supersedes (but incorporates)
the amendments previously published
on January 22, 2016. The proposed
changes are summarized below.
Proposed Changes
The proposed revision of § 551.3
streamlines and simplifies the selection
process for the causes to receive funds
raised through the sale of semipostal
stamps, and states the Postal Service’s
intention to issue five such stamps over
the statutory ten-year period. It also
notifies the public that no further
consideration will be given to
previously submitted proposals but that
such proposals may be resubmitted
under the revised regulations. The
paragraph relating to proposals
regarding the same subject and
proposals for the sharing of funds
between two agencies is edited for
clarity and moved to § 551.4, concerning
submission requirements and criteria,
where it more appropriately belongs.
The proposed revision of § 551.4
sharpens the submission requirements
and, among other things, makes Postal
Service employees ineligible to submit
proposals for semipostal stamps.
The proposed revision of § 551.5(a)
would remove certain restrictions on the
commencement date of the
discretionary Semipostal Stamp
Program. Under current regulations, the
10-year period for the discretionary
semipostal stamp program commences
on a date determined by the Office of
Stamp Services, but that date must be
after the sales period of the Breast
Cancer Research stamp (BCRS) is
concluded. Most recently, Public Law
114–99 (December 11, 2015) extended
that sales period to December 31, 2019.
Under the proposed revision, the 10year period will commence on a date
determined by the Office of Stamp
Services, but the date need not be after
the BCRS sale period concludes.
The proposed revision of § 551.5(b)
would clarify that although only one
semipostal stamp under the
discretionary Semipostal Stamp
Program under 39 U.S.C. 416 (a
‘‘discretionary program semipostal
stamp’’) will be offered for sale at any
one time, other semipostal stamps
required to be issued by Congress (such
as the BCRS) may be on sale when a
discretionary program semipostal stamp
is on sale. Current regulations state that
the Postal Service will offer only one
semipostal stamp for sale at any given
time during the 10-year period (not
specifying whether it is a discretionary
program semipostal stamp or a
semipostal stamp required by Congress).
Under the proposed revision, the one-ata-time limitation on the sale of
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03MRP1
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 42 / Thursday, March 3, 2016 / Proposed Rules
semipostal stamps would apply only to
discretionary program semipostal
stamps.
To minimize confusion regarding
applicable postage rates, the proposed
revision of § 551.6 specifies that for
purposes of calculating the price of a
semipostal, the First-Class Mail® singlepiece stamped first-ounce rate of
postage will be considered ‘‘the rate of
postage that would otherwise regularly
apply.’’
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 551
Administrative practice and
procedure.
In accordance with 39 U.S.C.
416(e)(2), the Postal Service invites
public comment on the following
proposed amendments to the Code of
Federal Regulations. For the reasons
stated in the preamble, the Postal
Service proposes to revise 39 CFR part
551 as follows:
PART 551—[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR
part 551 continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 39 U.S.C. 101, 201, 203, 401,
403, 404, 410, 414, 416.
■
2. Revise § 551.3 to read as follows:
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
§ 551.3 Procedure for selection of causes
and recipient executive agencies.
The Postal Service has discretionary
authority to select causes and recipient
executive agencies to receive funds
raised through the sale of semipostal
stamps. These regulations apply only to
such discretionary semipostal stamps
and do not apply to semipostal stamps
that are mandated by Act of Congress,
such as the Breast Cancer Research
stamp. The procedure for selection of
causes and recipient executive agencies
is as follows:
(a) The Office of Stamp Services will
accept proposals from interested
persons for future semipostal stamps
beginning on May 16, 2016, or the
effective date of this regulation,
whichever is later. The Office of Stamp
Services will begin considering
proposals on July 1, 2016, or 45 days
after the effective date of this regulation,
whichever is later. The Postal Service
intends to issue five semipostal stamps
under these regulations during the 10year period established by Congress in
39 U.S.C. 416(g). Each semipostal stamp
will be sold for no more than two years.
Proposals may be submitted and will be
considered on a rolling basis until May
15, 2023, or seven years after the
effective date of this regulation,
whichever is later. The Office of Stamp
Services may publicize this request for
proposals in the Federal Register or
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17:24 Mar 02, 2016
Jkt 238001
through other means, as it determines in
its discretion. Proposals for semipostal
stamps made prior to May 16, 2016, or
the effective date of this regulation,
whichever is later, will not be given
further consideration. Nothing in these
regulations should be construed as
barring the resubmission of previously
submitted causes and recipient
executive agencies.
(b) Proposals will be received by the
Office of Stamp Services, which will
review each proposal under § 551.4.
(c) The Office of Stamp Services will
forward those proposals that satisfy the
requirements of § 551.4 to the Citizens’
Stamp Advisory Committee for its
consideration.
(d) Based on the proposals received
from the Office of Stamp Services, the
Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee
may make recommendations on causes
and eligible recipient executive agencies
to the postmaster general. The Citizens’
Stamp Advisory Committee may
recommend more than one cause and
eligible recipient executive agency at
the same time.
(e) Meetings of the Citizens’ Stamp
Advisory Committee are closed, and
deliberations of the Citizens’ Stamp
Advisory Committee are pre-decisional
in nature.
(f) In making decisions concerning
semipostal stamps, the postmaster
general may take into consideration
such factors, including the
recommendations of the Citizens’ Stamp
Advisory Committee, as the postmaster
general determines are appropriate. The
decision of the postmaster general shall
be the final agency decision.
(g) The Office of Stamp Services will
notify each executive agency in writing
of a decision designating that agency as
a recipient of funds from a semipostal
stamp.
(h) As either a separate matter, or in
combination with recommendations on
a cause and recipient executive
agencies, the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory
Committee may recommend to the
postmaster general a design (i.e.,
artwork) for the semipostal stamp. The
postmaster general will make a final
decision on the design to be featured.
(i) The decision of the postmaster
general to exercise the Postal Service’s
discretionary authority to issue a
semipostal stamp is final and not
subject to challenge or review.
■ 3. Revise § 551.4 to read as follows:
§ 551.4 Submission requirements and
selection criteria.
(a) Proposals on recipient executive
agencies and causes must satisfy the
following requirements:
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Sfmt 4702
11165
(1) Interested persons must timely
submit the proposal by U.S. Mail to the
Office of Stamp Services, Attn:
Semipostal Discretionary Program, 475
L’Enfant Plaza SW., Room 3300,
Washington, DC 20260–3501, or in a
single Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) file sent by
email to semipostal@usps.gov. Indicate
in the Subject Line: Semipostal
Discretionary Program. For purposes of
this section, interested persons include,
but are not limited to, individuals,
corporations, associations, and
executive agencies under 5 U.S.C. 105.
(2) The proposal must be signed by
the individual or a duly authorized
representative and must provide the
mailing address, phone number, fax
number (if available), and email address
of a designated point of contact.
(3) The proposal must describe the
cause and the purposes for which the
funds would be used.
(4) The proposal must demonstrate
that the cause to be funded has broad
national appeal, and that the cause is in
the national public interest and furthers
human welfare. Respondents are
encouraged to submit supporting
documentation demonstrating that
funding the cause would benefit the
national public interest.
(5) The proposal must include a letter
from an executive agency or agencies on
agency letterhead representing that:
(i) It is an executive agency as defined
in 5 U.S.C. 105,
(ii) It is willing and able to implement
the proposal, and
(iii) It is willing and able to meet the
requirements of the Semipostal
Authorization Act, if it is selected. The
letter must be signed by a duly
authorized representative of the agency.
(6) (i) A proposal may designate one
or two recipient executive agencies to
receive funds, but if more than one
executive agency is proposed, the
proposal must specify the percentage
shares of differential revenue, net of the
Postal Service’s reasonable costs, to be
given to each agency. If percentage
shares are not specified, it is presumed
that the proposal intends that the funds
be split evenly between the agencies. If
more than two recipient executive
agencies are proposed to receive funds
and the proposal is selected, the
postmaster general will provide the
recipient executive agencies with an
opportunity to jointly decide which two
agencies will receive funds. If the
agencies are unable to reach a joint
decision within 20 days, the postmaster
general shall either decide which two
agencies will receive funds or select
another proposal.
(ii) If more than one proposal is
submitted for the same cause, and the
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03MRP1
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 42 / Thursday, March 3, 2016 / Proposed Rules
proposals would have different
executive agencies receiving funds, the
funds may be evenly divided among the
executive agencies, with no more than
two agencies being designated to receive
funds, as determined by the postmaster
general.
(b) Proposals become the property of
the Postal Service and are not returned
to interested persons who submit them.
Interested persons who submit
proposals are not entitled to any
remuneration, compensation, or any
other form of payment, whether their
proposals are selected or not, for any
reason.
(c) The following persons may not
submit proposals:
(1) Employees of the United States
Postal Service;
(2) Any contractor of the Postal
Service that may stand to benefit
financially from the Semipostal Stamp
Program; or
(3) Members of the Citizens’ Stamp
Advisory Committee and their
immediate families, and contractors of
the Postal Service, and their immediate
families, who are involved in any
decision-making related to causes,
recipient agencies, or artwork for the
Semipostal Stamp Program.
(d) Consideration for evaluation will
not be given to proposals that request
support for any of the following:
Anniversaries; public works; people;
specific organizations or associations;
commercial enterprises or products;
cities, towns, municipalities, counties,
or secondary schools; hospitals,
libraries, or similar institutions;
religious institutions; causes that do not
further human welfare; or causes
determined by the Postal Service or the
Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee to
be inconsistent with the spirit, intent, or
history of the Semipostal Authorization
Act.
(e) Artwork and stamp designs may
not be submitted with proposals.
■ 5. Revise § 551.5 to read as follows:
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
§ 551.5
(a) The Postal Service is authorized to
issue semipostal stamps for a 10-year
period beginning on the date on which
semipostal stamps are first sold to the
public under 39 U.S.C. 416. The Office
of Stamp Services will determine the
date of commencement of the 10-year
period.
(b) The Postal Service will offer only
one discretionary semipostal stamp for
sale at any given time during the 10-year
period, although a discretionary
semipostal stamp may be offered for sale
at the same time as one or more
congressionally mandated semipostal
stamps.
17:24 Mar 02, 2016
Jkt 238001
§ 551.6
Pricing.
(a) The Semipostal Authorization Act,
as amended by Public Law 107–67,
section 652, 115 Stat. 514 (2001),
prescribes that the price of a semipostal
stamp is the rate of postage that would
otherwise regularly apply, plus a
differential of not less than 15 percent.
The price of a semipostal stamp shall be
an amount that is evenly divisible by
five. For purposes of this provision, the
First-Class Mail® single-piece stamped
first-ounce rate of postage will be
considered the rate of postage that
would otherwise regularly apply.
(b) The prices of semipostal stamps
are determined by the Governors of the
United States Postal Service in
accordance with the requirements of 39
U.S.C. 416.
Reconsideration must been filed by
February 29, 2016, and replies to an
opposition must be filed on or before
March 25, 2016. This document corrects
the due date for replies to an opposition.
DATES: Replies to an opposition to the
petition for reconsideration published
February 12, 2016 (81 FR 7491) must be
filed on or before March 10, 2016.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Hugh Van Tuyl, Policy and Rules
Division, Office of Engineering and
Technology, (202) 418–7506, email:
Hugh.VanTuyl@fcc.gov. Paul Murray,
Policy and Rules Division, Office of
Engineering and Technology, (202) 418–
0688, email: Paul.Murray@fcc.gov.
Correction
In the Federal Register of February
12, 2016, in FR Doc. 2016–02899, on
page 7491, in the second column,
correct the DATES caption to read:
DATES: Oppositions to Petitions for
Reconsideration must been filed by
February 29, 2016. Replies to an
opposition must be filed on or before
March 10, 2016.
Federal Communications Commission.
Marlene H. Dortch,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016–04521 Filed 3–2–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration
Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
50 CFR Part 622
[FR Doc. 2016–04646 Filed 3–2–16; 8:45 am]
RIN 0648–BF70
[Docket No. 160211104–6104–01]
BILLING CODE 7710–12–P
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of
Mexico, and South Atlantic; Reef Fish
Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico; Gag
Management Measures
47 CFR Parts 15 and 74
Frequency and other limitations.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
(c) The sales period for any given
discretionary semipostal stamp is
limited to no more than two years, as
determined by the Office of Stamp
Services.
(d) Prior to or after the issuance of a
given discretionary semipostal stamp,
the Postal Service may withdraw the
semipostal stamp from sale, or to reduce
the sales period, if, inter alia:
(1) Its sales or revenue statistics are
lower than expected,
(2) The sales or revenue projections
are lower than expected, or
(3) The cause or recipient executive
agency does not further, or does not
comply with, the statutory purposes or
requirements of the Semipostal
Authorization Act.
■ 6. Revise § 551.6 to read as follows:
AGENCY:
[OET Docket Nos. 14–165, 14–166 and 12–
268; Report No. 3037]
Petitions for Reconsideration of Action
in a Rulemaking Proceeding;
Correction
Federal Communications
Commission.
ACTION: Petition for reconsideration;
correction.
AGENCY:
On February 12, 2016, the
Commission published a summary of
Commission’s document, Report No.
3037, 81 FR 7491, announcing that
oppositions to Petitions for
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00035
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule; request for
comments.
NMFS proposes to implement
management measures described in a
framework action to the Fishery
Management Plan for the Reef Fish
Resources of the Gulf of Mexico (FMP),
as prepared by the Gulf of Mexico
Fishery Management Council (Council).
If implemented, this action would revise
the recreational closed season for gag
and the recreational minimum size
limits for gag and black grouper in the
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\03MRP1.SGM
03MRP1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 42 (Thursday, March 3, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11164-11166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04646]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 551
Semipostal Stamp Program
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This proposed rule would revise the provisions governing the
Postal Service's discretionary Semipostal Stamp Program to simplify and
expedite the process for selecting causes for semipostal stamps, and
facilitate the issuance of five such stamps over a 10-year period. It
would also remove certain restrictions on the commencement date for the
Postal Service's discretionary Semipostal Stamp Program, and clarify
how many semipostal stamps issued under that program may be on sale at
any one time.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 4, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Stamp
Products & Exhibitions, U.S. Postal Service[supreg], 475 L'Enfant Plaza
SW., Room 3306, Washington DC 20260. You may inspect and photocopy all
written comments at the Stamp Products & Exhibitions office by
appointment only between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, by calling 202-268-6711 in advance. Email and faxed comments
are not accepted.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lori Mazzone, Manager, Stamp Products
& Exhibitions, 202-268-6711, lori.l.mazzone@usps.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Semipostal Authorization Act, Pub. L. 106-253, grants the
Postal Service discretionary authority to issue and sell semipostal
stamps to advance such causes as it considers to be ``in the national
public interest and appropriate.'' See 39 U.S.C. 416(b). On June 12,
2001, the Postal Service published a final rule establishing the
regulations in 39 CFR part 551 for the discretionary Semipostal Stamp
Program (66 FR 31826). Minor revisions were made to these regulations
to implement Pub. L. 107-67, 115 Stat. 514 (2001), and to reflect minor
organizational changes in the Postal Service (67 FR 5215 (February 5,
2002)). On February 19, 2004, the Postal Service published a final rule
clarifying the cost-offset policy for semipostal stamps (69 FR 7688),
and on February 9, 2005, the Postal Service also published an
additional minor clarifying revision to these cost-offset regulations
(70 FR 6764).
Most recently, on January 22, 2016, the Postal Service published a
proposed amendment to 39 CFR 551.5 to remove certain restrictions on
the commencement date for the discretionary Semipostal Stamp Program,
and clarify how many semipostal stamps issued under that program may be
on sale at any one time (81 FR 3762).
Upon further consideration, however, it was determined that a
further revision of the rules concerning the discretionary Semipostal
Stamp Program was necessary to facilitate its smooth and efficient
operation. Accordingly, the Postal Service now proposes and invites
comments upon a more detailed revision of 39 CFR part 551. This
proposal supersedes (but incorporates) the amendments previously
published on January 22, 2016. The proposed changes are summarized
below.
Proposed Changes
The proposed revision of Sec. 551.3 streamlines and simplifies the
selection process for the causes to receive funds raised through the
sale of semipostal stamps, and states the Postal Service's intention to
issue five such stamps over the statutory ten-year period. It also
notifies the public that no further consideration will be given to
previously submitted proposals but that such proposals may be
resubmitted under the revised regulations. The paragraph relating to
proposals regarding the same subject and proposals for the sharing of
funds between two agencies is edited for clarity and moved to Sec.
551.4, concerning submission requirements and criteria, where it more
appropriately belongs.
The proposed revision of Sec. 551.4 sharpens the submission
requirements and, among other things, makes Postal Service employees
ineligible to submit proposals for semipostal stamps.
The proposed revision of Sec. 551.5(a) would remove certain
restrictions on the commencement date of the discretionary Semipostal
Stamp Program. Under current regulations, the 10-year period for the
discretionary semipostal stamp program commences on a date determined
by the Office of Stamp Services, but that date must be after the sales
period of the Breast Cancer Research stamp (BCRS) is concluded. Most
recently, Public Law 114-99 (December 11, 2015) extended that sales
period to December 31, 2019. Under the proposed revision, the 10-year
period will commence on a date determined by the Office of Stamp
Services, but the date need not be after the BCRS sale period
concludes.
The proposed revision of Sec. 551.5(b) would clarify that although
only one semipostal stamp under the discretionary Semipostal Stamp
Program under 39 U.S.C. 416 (a ``discretionary program semipostal
stamp'') will be offered for sale at any one time, other semipostal
stamps required to be issued by Congress (such as the BCRS) may be on
sale when a discretionary program semipostal stamp is on sale. Current
regulations state that the Postal Service will offer only one
semipostal stamp for sale at any given time during the 10-year period
(not specifying whether it is a discretionary program semipostal stamp
or a semipostal stamp required by Congress). Under the proposed
revision, the one-at-a-time limitation on the sale of
[[Page 11165]]
semipostal stamps would apply only to discretionary program semipostal
stamps.
To minimize confusion regarding applicable postage rates, the
proposed revision of Sec. 551.6 specifies that for purposes of
calculating the price of a semipostal, the First-Class Mail[supreg]
single-piece stamped first-ounce rate of postage will be considered
``the rate of postage that would otherwise regularly apply.''
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 551
Administrative practice and procedure.
In accordance with 39 U.S.C. 416(e)(2), the Postal Service invites
public comment on the following proposed amendments to the Code of
Federal Regulations. For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Postal
Service proposes to revise 39 CFR part 551 as follows:
PART 551--[AMENDED]
0
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 551 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 39 U.S.C. 101, 201, 203, 401, 403, 404, 410, 414,
416.
0
2. Revise Sec. 551.3 to read as follows:
Sec. 551.3 Procedure for selection of causes and recipient executive
agencies.
The Postal Service has discretionary authority to select causes and
recipient executive agencies to receive funds raised through the sale
of semipostal stamps. These regulations apply only to such
discretionary semipostal stamps and do not apply to semipostal stamps
that are mandated by Act of Congress, such as the Breast Cancer
Research stamp. The procedure for selection of causes and recipient
executive agencies is as follows:
(a) The Office of Stamp Services will accept proposals from
interested persons for future semipostal stamps beginning on May 16,
2016, or the effective date of this regulation, whichever is later. The
Office of Stamp Services will begin considering proposals on July 1,
2016, or 45 days after the effective date of this regulation, whichever
is later. The Postal Service intends to issue five semipostal stamps
under these regulations during the 10-year period established by
Congress in 39 U.S.C. 416(g). Each semipostal stamp will be sold for no
more than two years. Proposals may be submitted and will be considered
on a rolling basis until May 15, 2023, or seven years after the
effective date of this regulation, whichever is later. The Office of
Stamp Services may publicize this request for proposals in the Federal
Register or through other means, as it determines in its discretion.
Proposals for semipostal stamps made prior to May 16, 2016, or the
effective date of this regulation, whichever is later, will not be
given further consideration. Nothing in these regulations should be
construed as barring the resubmission of previously submitted causes
and recipient executive agencies.
(b) Proposals will be received by the Office of Stamp Services,
which will review each proposal under Sec. 551.4.
(c) The Office of Stamp Services will forward those proposals that
satisfy the requirements of Sec. 551.4 to the Citizens' Stamp Advisory
Committee for its consideration.
(d) Based on the proposals received from the Office of Stamp
Services, the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee may make
recommendations on causes and eligible recipient executive agencies to
the postmaster general. The Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee may
recommend more than one cause and eligible recipient executive agency
at the same time.
(e) Meetings of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee are closed,
and deliberations of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee are pre-
decisional in nature.
(f) In making decisions concerning semipostal stamps, the
postmaster general may take into consideration such factors, including
the recommendations of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, as the
postmaster general determines are appropriate. The decision of the
postmaster general shall be the final agency decision.
(g) The Office of Stamp Services will notify each executive agency
in writing of a decision designating that agency as a recipient of
funds from a semipostal stamp.
(h) As either a separate matter, or in combination with
recommendations on a cause and recipient executive agencies, the
Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee may recommend to the postmaster
general a design (i.e., artwork) for the semipostal stamp. The
postmaster general will make a final decision on the design to be
featured.
(i) The decision of the postmaster general to exercise the Postal
Service's discretionary authority to issue a semipostal stamp is final
and not subject to challenge or review.
0
3. Revise Sec. 551.4 to read as follows:
Sec. 551.4 Submission requirements and selection criteria.
(a) Proposals on recipient executive agencies and causes must
satisfy the following requirements:
(1) Interested persons must timely submit the proposal by U.S. Mail
to the Office of Stamp Services, Attn: Semipostal Discretionary
Program, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 3300, Washington, DC 20260-3501,
or in a single Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) file sent by email to
semipostal@usps.gov. Indicate in the Subject Line: Semipostal
Discretionary Program. For purposes of this section, interested persons
include, but are not limited to, individuals, corporations,
associations, and executive agencies under 5 U.S.C. 105.
(2) The proposal must be signed by the individual or a duly
authorized representative and must provide the mailing address, phone
number, fax number (if available), and email address of a designated
point of contact.
(3) The proposal must describe the cause and the purposes for which
the funds would be used.
(4) The proposal must demonstrate that the cause to be funded has
broad national appeal, and that the cause is in the national public
interest and furthers human welfare. Respondents are encouraged to
submit supporting documentation demonstrating that funding the cause
would benefit the national public interest.
(5) The proposal must include a letter from an executive agency or
agencies on agency letterhead representing that:
(i) It is an executive agency as defined in 5 U.S.C. 105,
(ii) It is willing and able to implement the proposal, and
(iii) It is willing and able to meet the requirements of the
Semipostal Authorization Act, if it is selected. The letter must be
signed by a duly authorized representative of the agency.
(6) (i) A proposal may designate one or two recipient executive
agencies to receive funds, but if more than one executive agency is
proposed, the proposal must specify the percentage shares of
differential revenue, net of the Postal Service's reasonable costs, to
be given to each agency. If percentage shares are not specified, it is
presumed that the proposal intends that the funds be split evenly
between the agencies. If more than two recipient executive agencies are
proposed to receive funds and the proposal is selected, the postmaster
general will provide the recipient executive agencies with an
opportunity to jointly decide which two agencies will receive funds. If
the agencies are unable to reach a joint decision within 20 days, the
postmaster general shall either decide which two agencies will receive
funds or select another proposal.
(ii) If more than one proposal is submitted for the same cause, and
the
[[Page 11166]]
proposals would have different executive agencies receiving funds, the
funds may be evenly divided among the executive agencies, with no more
than two agencies being designated to receive funds, as determined by
the postmaster general.
(b) Proposals become the property of the Postal Service and are not
returned to interested persons who submit them. Interested persons who
submit proposals are not entitled to any remuneration, compensation, or
any other form of payment, whether their proposals are selected or not,
for any reason.
(c) The following persons may not submit proposals:
(1) Employees of the United States Postal Service;
(2) Any contractor of the Postal Service that may stand to benefit
financially from the Semipostal Stamp Program; or
(3) Members of the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee and their
immediate families, and contractors of the Postal Service, and their
immediate families, who are involved in any decision-making related to
causes, recipient agencies, or artwork for the Semipostal Stamp
Program.
(d) Consideration for evaluation will not be given to proposals
that request support for any of the following: Anniversaries; public
works; people; specific organizations or associations; commercial
enterprises or products; cities, towns, municipalities, counties, or
secondary schools; hospitals, libraries, or similar institutions;
religious institutions; causes that do not further human welfare; or
causes determined by the Postal Service or the Citizens' Stamp Advisory
Committee to be inconsistent with the spirit, intent, or history of the
Semipostal Authorization Act.
(e) Artwork and stamp designs may not be submitted with proposals.
0
5. Revise Sec. 551.5 to read as follows:
Sec. 551.5 Frequency and other limitations.
(a) The Postal Service is authorized to issue semipostal stamps for
a 10-year period beginning on the date on which semipostal stamps are
first sold to the public under 39 U.S.C. 416. The Office of Stamp
Services will determine the date of commencement of the 10-year period.
(b) The Postal Service will offer only one discretionary semipostal
stamp for sale at any given time during the 10-year period, although a
discretionary semipostal stamp may be offered for sale at the same time
as one or more congressionally mandated semipostal stamps.
(c) The sales period for any given discretionary semipostal stamp
is limited to no more than two years, as determined by the Office of
Stamp Services.
(d) Prior to or after the issuance of a given discretionary
semipostal stamp, the Postal Service may withdraw the semipostal stamp
from sale, or to reduce the sales period, if, inter alia:
(1) Its sales or revenue statistics are lower than expected,
(2) The sales or revenue projections are lower than expected, or
(3) The cause or recipient executive agency does not further, or
does not comply with, the statutory purposes or requirements of the
Semipostal Authorization Act.
0
6. Revise Sec. 551.6 to read as follows:
Sec. 551.6 Pricing.
(a) The Semipostal Authorization Act, as amended by Public Law 107-
67, section 652, 115 Stat. 514 (2001), prescribes that the price of a
semipostal stamp is the rate of postage that would otherwise regularly
apply, plus a differential of not less than 15 percent. The price of a
semipostal stamp shall be an amount that is evenly divisible by five.
For purposes of this provision, the First-Class Mail[supreg] single-
piece stamped first-ounce rate of postage will be considered the rate
of postage that would otherwise regularly apply.
(b) The prices of semipostal stamps are determined by the Governors
of the United States Postal Service in accordance with the requirements
of 39 U.S.C. 416.
Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Federal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2016-04646 Filed 3-2-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P