Authorization To Manufacture and Distribute Postage Evidencing Systems, 80653-80655 [2023-25628]
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Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 222 / Monday, November 20, 2023 / Proposed Rules
• Estimated number of respondents
per year: 1,684.
• Estimated frequency of responses
per year: This is a one-time collection.
• Estimated average burden per
response: 10 minutes.
• Estimated total annual reporting
and recordkeeping burden: VA
estimates the total annual reporting and
recordkeeping burden to be 280.6667
hours (1,684 respondents × 10 minutes/
60 minutes).
• Estimated cost to respondents per
year: VA estimates the annual cost to
respondents to be $8352.64. Using VA’s
average annual number of 1,684
respondents, VA estimates the total
information collection burden cost to be
$8352.64 per year (280.6667 burden
hours (1,684 respondents × 10 minutes/
60 minutes) × $29.76 mean hourly
wage).
* To estimate the respondents’ total
information collection burden cost, VA
uses the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
mean hourly wage for ‘‘All
Occupations’’ of $29.76. This
information is available at https://
www.bls.gov/oes/2022/may/oes_
nat.htm#00-0000.
List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 38
Administrative practice and
procedure, Cemeteries, Claims,
Veterans.
Signing Authority
Denis McDonough, Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, signed and approved
this document on November 13, 2023,
and authorized the undersigned to sign
and submit the document to the Office
of the Federal Register for publication
electronically as an official document of
the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Luvenia Potts,
Regulation Development Coordinator Office
of Regulation Policy & Management, Office
of General Counsel, Department of Veterans
Affairs.
For the reasons set forth in the
preamble, 38 CFR part 38 is proposed to
be amended as follows:
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
PART 38—NATIONAL CEMETERIES
OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS
1. The authority citation for part 38
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 38 U.S.C. 107, 501, 512, 531,
2306, 2400, 2402, 2403, 2404, 2407, 2408,
2411, 7105.
2. Amend § 38.600 by revising the
definition of Interment to read as
follows:
■
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:53 Nov 17, 2023
Jkt 262001
§ 38.600
Definitions.
(a) * * *
*
*
*
*
*
Interment means the burial or
entombment of casketed or cremated
remains, including the placement of
cremated remains in a columbarium
niche.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 3. Add § 38.634 to read as follows:
§ 38.634 Commemorative urns and
plaques.
(a) General. (1) In lieu of furnishing a
headstone, marker, or medallion under
this part, the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA) will furnish, when
requested—
(i) A commemorative urn; or
(ii) A commemorative plaque.
(2) Definitions. For the purposes of
this section:
(i) Commemorative urn means a
container that signifies the deceased
individual’s status as a veteran, in
which the individual’s cremated
remains may be placed at private
expense.
(ii) Commemorative plaque means a
tablet that signifies the deceased
individual’s status as a veteran.
(3) If VA furnishes a commemorative
plaque or a commemorative urn for an
individual under this section, VA may
not provide for such individual—
(i) A headstone, marker, or medallion;
or
(ii) Any burial benefit under 38 U.S.C.
2402.
(4) Any commemorative plaque or
commemorative urn furnished under
this section shall be the personal
property of the applicant.
(5) The Federal Government shall not
be liable for any damage to a
commemorative plaque or urn furnished
under this section that occurs after the
date on which the commemorative
plaque or urn is furnished. VA will not
replace a commemorative plaque or urn
unless it was damaged during shipping
or contains a manufacturing deficiency
or inscription error.
(b) Eligible individuals to be
commemorated. An eligible individual
for purposes of this section is a
deceased individual:
(1) Who served in the Armed Forces
on or after April 6, 1917;
(2) Who is eligible for, but has not
received, a headstone, marker, or
medallion under 38 U.S.C. 2306(d) (or
would be so eligible but for the date of
the death of the individual); and
(3) Whose remains were cremated and
not interred (see § 38.600 for definition
of interment).
(c) Application process—(1)
Applicant. An applicant for a
PO 00000
Frm 00013
Fmt 4702
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80653
commemorative plaque or urn must be
a member of the veteran’s family, which
includes the veteran’s spouse or
individual who was in a legal union as
defined in § 3.1702(b)(1)(ii) of this
chapter with the veteran; a child,
parent, or sibling of the veteran,
whether biological, adopted, or step
relation; and any lineal or collateral
descendant of the veteran.
(2) Application. An applicant must
submit a completed VA Form 40–
1330UP, Claim for Commemorative Urn
or Commemorative Plaque for Veteran’s
Cremains Not Interred in a Cemetery.
The National Cemetery Administration
will verify the decedent’s eligibility for
a commemorative plaque or urn.
Applicants must certify that they have
read a statement about other benefits to
which the veteran will lose benefit
rights, that the decedent’s remains were
cremated and are not interred at the
time of application, that the applicant is
a member of the decedent’s family
authorized to make decisions about the
disposition of the decedent’s remains,
and that the applicant is in possession
of the entirety of the cremains. Other
required claim information will include
documentation of the decedent’s
eligibility and the applicant’s contact
information and mailing address. VA’s
duty to notify claimants of necessary
information or evidence under
§ 3.159(b) of this chapter and duty to
assist claimants in obtaining evidence
under § 3.159(c) of this chapter will
apply.
[FR Doc. 2023–25595 Filed 11–17–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8320–01–P
POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 501
Authorization To Manufacture and
Distribute Postage Evidencing
Systems
Postal ServiceTM.
Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Postal Service is
amending its Postage Evidencing
Systems regulations to ensure
compliance for Automated
Clearinghouse or ACH payment
transactions and to clarify obligations
related to all payments. These changes
require the applicable resetting
company (RC) and PC Postage provider
to comply with the latest NACHA rules
published by the North American
Clearing House Association for ACH
transactions. These responsibilities
include providing a written statement
signed by an executive officer of the
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\20NOP1.SGM
20NOP1
80654
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 222 / Monday, November 20, 2023 / Proposed Rules
company attesting to that compliance at
least annually. These changes also
require the applicable RC and PC
Postage provider to obtain and store an
agreement with each customer utilizing
ACH debit as a payment method.
Failure to comply may result in
revocation of access to applicable Postal
Service ACH programs.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before December 20, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver comments to
the Banking Manager, United States
Postal Service, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW,
RM. 8134, Washington, DC 20260. You
may inspect and photocopy all written
comments at USPS® Headquarters
Library, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, 11th
Floor N, Washington, DC by
appointment only between the hours of
9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday by calling 1–202–268–2906 in
advance. Email comments, containing
the name and address of the commenter,
to: PCFederalRegister@usps.gov, with a
subject line of ‘‘[Date], Authorization to
Manufacture and Distribute Postage
Evidencing Systems.’’ Faxed comments
are not accepted. All submitted
comments and attachments are part of
the public record and subject to
disclosure. Do not enclose any material
in your comments that you consider to
be confidential or inappropriate for
public disclosure.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Douglas Graham, Banking Manager,
United States Postal Service, 475
L’Enfant Plaza SW, RM. 8134,
Washington, DC 20260, (202) 268–2188.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 501
Administrative practice and
procedure, Postal Service.
PART 501—AUTHORIZATION TO
MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTE
POSTAGE EVIDENCING SYSTEMS
1. The authority citation for part 501
continues to read as follows:
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
■
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101,
401, 403, 404, 410, 2601, 2605; Inspector
General Act of 1978, as amended (Pub. L. 95–
452, as amended); 5 U.S.C. App. 3.
2. Amend § 501.15 by revising
paragraph (g) to read as follows:
■
§ 501.15 Computerized Meter Resetting
System.
*
*
*
*
*
(g) The RC must reimburse the Postal
Service for returned payments
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:53 Nov 17, 2023
Jkt 262001
promptly, comply with NACHA rules,
and maintain customer ACH debit
agreements.
(1) Financial responsibility for
returned payments. The RC is required
to reimburse the Postal Service upon
request for any returned payments. The
RC must, upon first becoming aware of
a returned payment, immediately lock
the customer’s CMRS account to prevent
a meter reset until the RC receives
confirmation of payment for the
returned payment. If a fee, penalty or
fine is assessed against the Postal
Service for returned payments from an
RC’s customer, the Postal Service may
request reimbursement for such fee,
penalty or fine from the RC. The RC is
required to remit the amount of the
returned payment to the Postal Service
plus the reimbursement request, to the
extent applicable, within ten (10)
banking days. Invoices will be created
monthly for returns and/or applicable
penalties or fines incurred for the
previous month. The ten (10) banking
days will start once the invoice is
mailed. The RC has discretion to decide
whether to charge its customer for any
such reimbursement costs (of fees,
penalties, or fines) the RC pays to the
Postal Service in connection with the
customer’s returned payment.
(2) Responsibility to comply with
NACHA rules. The RC is required to
comply with the latest NACHA rules
published by the North American
Clearing House Association. Each RC
must provide a written statement signed
by an executive officer of the company
attesting to that compliance at least
annually. If the RC cannot provide that
written statement attesting to
compliance due to identified areas of
non-compliance, the RC must provide to
the USPS within 30 days a written plan
describing its prioritized approach,
including milestone dates, toward
achieving compliance within a mutually
agreed period. USPS will provide
specific written guidance separately if
requested. Failure to comply may result
in revocation of access to applicable
USPS ACH programs.
(3) Responsibility to maintain
customer ACH agreements. The RC
must obtain and store an agreement
with each and every customer utilizing
ACH debit as a payment method. The
customer agreement must authorize the
RC to debit the designated bank account
identified to pay for postage through the
USPS account of its choice. The
agreement must have at least the
following elements: Company Name (if
applicable), Name and Title and
Address of the person entering into the
agreement, Contact Information (Phone
Number, Fax Number and eMail
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
Address as applicable), Date and
Signature (or appropriate electronic
signature evidence) of Agreement,
Customer’s Bank Name and Address,
Bank Routing Number, Account Number
and Account Type (Checking or
Savings, Business or Personal) being
agreed to transact upon, an Attestation
that the person submitting the form is
authorized to act on behalf of the
account, and Termination Date and
Signature (or appropriate electronic
signature evidence) of the Agreement (if
applicable). The agreement must be
stored for at least two years after
termination of the agreement, must be
easily reproducible, and must be
provided electronically to the Postal
Service within three business days of
electronic written request by the Postal
Service in a format that can be easily
and readily used for all NACHA and
ACH related purposes including,
without limitation, audit and defense of
claims. USPS will provide specific
written guidance separately if requested.
Failure to comply may result in
revocation of access to applicable Postal
Service ACH programs.
*
*
*
*
*
■ 3. Amend § 501.16 by revising
paragraph (d) to read as follows:
§ 501.16 PC postage payment
methodology.
*
*
*
*
*
(d) The provider must reimburse the
Postal Service for returned payments
promptly, comply with NACHA rules,
and maintain customer ACH
agreements.
(1) Financial responsibility for
returned payments. The provider must
reimburse the Postal Service upon
request for any returned payments. The
provider must, upon first becoming
aware of a returned payment,
immediately lock the customer account
to prevent resetting the account until
the provider receives confirmation of
payment for the returned payment. If a
fee, penalty or fine is assessed against
the Postal Service for returned payments
from a provider’s customer, the Postal
Service may request reimbursement for
such fee, penalty or fine from the
provider. The provider is required to
remit the amount of the returned
payment plus the amount of the
reimbursement request, to the extent
applicable, to the Postal Service within
ten (10) banking days. Invoices will be
created monthly for returns and/or
applicable penalties or fines incurred
for the previous month. The ten (10)
banking days will start once the invoice
is mailed. The provider has discretion to
decide whether to charge its customer
for any such reimbursement costs (of
E:\FR\FM\20NOP1.SGM
20NOP1
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 222 / Monday, November 20, 2023 / Proposed Rules
fees, penalties or fines) the provider
pays to the Postal Service in connection
with the customer’s returned payment.
(2) Responsibility to comply with
NACHA rules. The provider is required
to comply with the latest NACHA rules
published by the North American
Clearing House Association. Each
provider must provide a written
statement signed by an executive officer
of the company attesting to that
compliance at least annually. If the
provider cannot provide that written
statement attesting to compliance due to
identified areas of non-compliance, the
PC provider must provide to the Postal
Service within 30 days a written plan
describing its prioritized approach,
including milestone dates, toward
achieving compliance within a mutually
agreed period. The Postal Service will
provide specific written guidance
separately if requested. Failure to
comply may result in revocation of
access to applicable Postal Service ACH
programs.
(3) Responsibility to maintain
customer ACH agreements. The
provider must obtain and store an
agreement with each and every
customer utilizing ACH debit as a
payment method. The customer
agreement must authorize the provider
to debit the designated bank account
identified to pay for postage through the
Postal Service account of its choice. The
agreement must have at least the
following elements: Company Name (if
applicable), Name and Title and
Address of the person entering into the
agreement, Contact Information (Phone
Number, Fax Number and eMail
Address as applicable), Date and
Signature (or appropriate electronic
signature evidence) of Agreement,
Customer’s Bank Name and Address,
Bank Routing Number, Account Number
and Account Type (Checking or
Savings, Business or Personal) being
agreed to transact upon, an Attestation
that the person submitting the form is
authorized to act on behalf of the
account, and Termination Date and
Signature (or appropriate electronic
signature evidence) of the Agreement (if
applicable). The agreement must be
stored for at least two years after
termination of the agreement, must be
easily reproducible, and must be
provided electronically to the Postal
Service within three business days of
electronic written request by the Postal
Service in a format that can be easily
and readily used for all NACHA and
ACH related purposes including,
without limitation, audit and defense of
claims. The Postal Service will provide
specific written guidance separately if
requested. Failure to comply may result
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:53 Nov 17, 2023
Jkt 262001
in revocation of access to applicable
Postal Service ACH programs.
(4) Credit cards. Unless otherwise
established in a written agreement
between the Postal Service and the
provider, the provider is fully
responsible for its own credit card
compliance.
*
*
*
*
*
Sarah Sullivan,
Attorney, Ethics & Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023–25628 Filed 11–17–23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710–12–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
40 CFR Part 52
[EPA–R01–OAR–2023–0187; FRL–11554–
03–R1]
Approval and Promulgation of Air
Quality Implementation Plans; New
Hampshire; Regional Haze State
Implementation Plan for the Second
Implementation Period
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) is proposing to approve
the Regional Haze State Implementation
Plan (SIP) revision submitted by New
Hampshire on May 5, 2022, as satisfying
applicable requirements under the
Clean Air Act (CAA) and EPA’s
Regional Haze Rule for the program’s
second implementation period. New
Hampshire’s SIP submission addresses
the requirement that states must
periodically revise their long-term
strategies for making reasonable
progress towards the national goal of
preventing any future, and remedying
any existing, anthropogenic impairment
of visibility, including regional haze, in
mandatory Class I Federal areas. The
SIP submission also addresses other
applicable requirements for the second
implementation period of the regional
haze program. The EPA is taking this
action pursuant to sections 110 and
169A of the Clean Air Act.
DATES: Written comments must be
received on or before December 20,
2023.
SUMMARY:
Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA- at
https://www.regulations.gov. For
comments submitted at Regulations.gov,
follow the online instructions for
submitting comments. Once submitted,
comments cannot be edited or removed
from Regulations.gov. For either manner
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
80655
of submission, the EPA may publish any
comment received to its public docket.
Do not submit electronically any
information you consider to be
confidential business information (CBI)
or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Multimedia
submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be
accompanied by a written comment.
The written comment is considered the
official comment and should include
discussion of all points you wish to
make. The EPA will generally not
consider comments or comment
contents located outside of the primary
submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or
other file sharing system). For
additional submission methods, please
contact the person identified in the FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
For the full EPA public comment policy,
information about CBI or multimedia
submissions, and general guidance on
making effective comments, please visit
https://www.epa.gov/dockets/
commenting-epa-dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric
Rackauskas, Air Quality Branch, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA
Region 1, 5 Post Office Square—Suite
100, (Mail code 5–MI), Boston, MA
02109–3912, tel. (617) 918–1628, email
rackauskas.eric@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. What action is the EPA proposing?
II. Background and Requirements for
Regional Haze Plans
A. Regional Haze Background
B. Roles of Agencies in Addressing
Regional Haze
III. Requirements for Regional Haze Plans for
the Second Implementation Period
A. Identification of Class I Areas
B. Calculations of Baseline, Current, and
Natural Visibility Conditions; Progress to
Date; and the Uniform Rate of Progress
C. Long-Term Strategy for Regional Haze
D. Reasonable Progress Goals
E. Monitoring Strategy and Other State
Implementation Plan Requirements
F. Requirements for Periodic Reports
Describing Progress Towards the
Reasonable Progress Goals
G. Requirements for State and Federal
Land Manager Coordination
IV. The EPA’s Evaluation of New
Hampshire’s Regional Haze Submission
for the Second Implementation Period
A. Background on New Hampshire’s First
Implementation Period SIP Submission
B. New Hampshire’s Second
Implementation Period SIP Submission
and the EPA’s Evaluation
C. Identification of Class I Areas
D. Calculations of Baseline, Current, and
Natural Visibility Conditions; Progress to
Date; and the Uniform Rate of Progress
E. Long-Term Strategy for Regional Haze
a. New Hampshire’s Response to the Six
MANE–VU Asks
E:\FR\FM\20NOP1.SGM
20NOP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 222 (Monday, November 20, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 80653-80655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-25628]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 501
Authorization To Manufacture and Distribute Postage Evidencing
Systems
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Postal Service is amending its Postage Evidencing Systems
regulations to ensure compliance for Automated Clearinghouse or ACH
payment transactions and to clarify obligations related to all
payments. These changes require the applicable resetting company (RC)
and PC Postage provider to comply with the latest NACHA rules published
by the North American Clearing House Association for ACH transactions.
These responsibilities include providing a written statement signed by
an executive officer of the
[[Page 80654]]
company attesting to that compliance at least annually. These changes
also require the applicable RC and PC Postage provider to obtain and
store an agreement with each customer utilizing ACH debit as a payment
method. Failure to comply may result in revocation of access to
applicable Postal Service ACH programs.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 20, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver comments to the Banking Manager, United
States Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, RM. 8134, Washington, DC
20260. You may inspect and photocopy all written comments at
USPS[supreg] Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor N,
Washington, DC by appointment only between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4
p.m., Monday through Friday by calling 1-202-268-2906 in advance. Email
comments, containing the name and address of the commenter, to:
[email protected], with a subject line of ``[Date],
Authorization to Manufacture and Distribute Postage Evidencing
Systems.'' Faxed comments are not accepted. All submitted comments and
attachments are part of the public record and subject to disclosure. Do
not enclose any material in your comments that you consider to be
confidential or inappropriate for public disclosure.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Douglas Graham, Banking Manager,
United States Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, RM. 8134,
Washington, DC 20260, (202) 268-2188.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 501
Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.
PART 501--AUTHORIZATION TO MANUFACTURE AND DISTRIBUTE POSTAGE
EVIDENCING SYSTEMS
0
1. The authority citation for part 501 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 410,
2601, 2605; Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended (Pub. L. 95-
452, as amended); 5 U.S.C. App. 3.
0
2. Amend Sec. 501.15 by revising paragraph (g) to read as follows:
Sec. 501.15 Computerized Meter Resetting System.
* * * * *
(g) The RC must reimburse the Postal Service for returned payments
promptly, comply with NACHA rules, and maintain customer ACH debit
agreements.
(1) Financial responsibility for returned payments. The RC is
required to reimburse the Postal Service upon request for any returned
payments. The RC must, upon first becoming aware of a returned payment,
immediately lock the customer's CMRS account to prevent a meter reset
until the RC receives confirmation of payment for the returned payment.
If a fee, penalty or fine is assessed against the Postal Service for
returned payments from an RC's customer, the Postal Service may request
reimbursement for such fee, penalty or fine from the RC. The RC is
required to remit the amount of the returned payment to the Postal
Service plus the reimbursement request, to the extent applicable,
within ten (10) banking days. Invoices will be created monthly for
returns and/or applicable penalties or fines incurred for the previous
month. The ten (10) banking days will start once the invoice is mailed.
The RC has discretion to decide whether to charge its customer for any
such reimbursement costs (of fees, penalties, or fines) the RC pays to
the Postal Service in connection with the customer's returned payment.
(2) Responsibility to comply with NACHA rules. The RC is required
to comply with the latest NACHA rules published by the North American
Clearing House Association. Each RC must provide a written statement
signed by an executive officer of the company attesting to that
compliance at least annually. If the RC cannot provide that written
statement attesting to compliance due to identified areas of non-
compliance, the RC must provide to the USPS within 30 days a written
plan describing its prioritized approach, including milestone dates,
toward achieving compliance within a mutually agreed period. USPS will
provide specific written guidance separately if requested. Failure to
comply may result in revocation of access to applicable USPS ACH
programs.
(3) Responsibility to maintain customer ACH agreements. The RC must
obtain and store an agreement with each and every customer utilizing
ACH debit as a payment method. The customer agreement must authorize
the RC to debit the designated bank account identified to pay for
postage through the USPS account of its choice. The agreement must have
at least the following elements: Company Name (if applicable), Name and
Title and Address of the person entering into the agreement, Contact
Information (Phone Number, Fax Number and eMail Address as applicable),
Date and Signature (or appropriate electronic signature evidence) of
Agreement, Customer's Bank Name and Address, Bank Routing Number,
Account Number and Account Type (Checking or Savings, Business or
Personal) being agreed to transact upon, an Attestation that the person
submitting the form is authorized to act on behalf of the account, and
Termination Date and Signature (or appropriate electronic signature
evidence) of the Agreement (if applicable). The agreement must be
stored for at least two years after termination of the agreement, must
be easily reproducible, and must be provided electronically to the
Postal Service within three business days of electronic written request
by the Postal Service in a format that can be easily and readily used
for all NACHA and ACH related purposes including, without limitation,
audit and defense of claims. USPS will provide specific written
guidance separately if requested. Failure to comply may result in
revocation of access to applicable Postal Service ACH programs.
* * * * *
0
3. Amend Sec. 501.16 by revising paragraph (d) to read as follows:
Sec. 501.16 PC postage payment methodology.
* * * * *
(d) The provider must reimburse the Postal Service for returned
payments promptly, comply with NACHA rules, and maintain customer ACH
agreements.
(1) Financial responsibility for returned payments. The provider
must reimburse the Postal Service upon request for any returned
payments. The provider must, upon first becoming aware of a returned
payment, immediately lock the customer account to prevent resetting the
account until the provider receives confirmation of payment for the
returned payment. If a fee, penalty or fine is assessed against the
Postal Service for returned payments from a provider's customer, the
Postal Service may request reimbursement for such fee, penalty or fine
from the provider. The provider is required to remit the amount of the
returned payment plus the amount of the reimbursement request, to the
extent applicable, to the Postal Service within ten (10) banking days.
Invoices will be created monthly for returns and/or applicable
penalties or fines incurred for the previous month. The ten (10)
banking days will start once the invoice is mailed. The provider has
discretion to decide whether to charge its customer for any such
reimbursement costs (of
[[Page 80655]]
fees, penalties or fines) the provider pays to the Postal Service in
connection with the customer's returned payment.
(2) Responsibility to comply with NACHA rules. The provider is
required to comply with the latest NACHA rules published by the North
American Clearing House Association. Each provider must provide a
written statement signed by an executive officer of the company
attesting to that compliance at least annually. If the provider cannot
provide that written statement attesting to compliance due to
identified areas of non-compliance, the PC provider must provide to the
Postal Service within 30 days a written plan describing its prioritized
approach, including milestone dates, toward achieving compliance within
a mutually agreed period. The Postal Service will provide specific
written guidance separately if requested. Failure to comply may result
in revocation of access to applicable Postal Service ACH programs.
(3) Responsibility to maintain customer ACH agreements. The
provider must obtain and store an agreement with each and every
customer utilizing ACH debit as a payment method. The customer
agreement must authorize the provider to debit the designated bank
account identified to pay for postage through the Postal Service
account of its choice. The agreement must have at least the following
elements: Company Name (if applicable), Name and Title and Address of
the person entering into the agreement, Contact Information (Phone
Number, Fax Number and eMail Address as applicable), Date and Signature
(or appropriate electronic signature evidence) of Agreement, Customer's
Bank Name and Address, Bank Routing Number, Account Number and Account
Type (Checking or Savings, Business or Personal) being agreed to
transact upon, an Attestation that the person submitting the form is
authorized to act on behalf of the account, and Termination Date and
Signature (or appropriate electronic signature evidence) of the
Agreement (if applicable). The agreement must be stored for at least
two years after termination of the agreement, must be easily
reproducible, and must be provided electronically to the Postal Service
within three business days of electronic written request by the Postal
Service in a format that can be easily and readily used for all NACHA
and ACH related purposes including, without limitation, audit and
defense of claims. The Postal Service will provide specific written
guidance separately if requested. Failure to comply may result in
revocation of access to applicable Postal Service ACH programs.
(4) Credit cards. Unless otherwise established in a written
agreement between the Postal Service and the provider, the provider is
fully responsible for its own credit card compliance.
* * * * *
Sarah Sullivan,
Attorney, Ethics & Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-25628 Filed 11-17-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
