Postal Service 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Postal Service is developing new mailing standards for folded self-mailers, booklets, and folded booklets mailed at automation and machinable letter prices. This notice provides advance information about the mail preparation changes to help mailers plan for future mailings.

The Postal Service is removing the Rules of Practice in Proceedings Relative to Disciplinary Action for Violations of Restrictions on Post-Employment Activity.

On February 12, 2008, the Postal Service published in the Federal Register (73 FR 8076) a notice that, in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), it intended to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed construction and operation of a mail processing facility in Aliso Viejo, Orange County, California. The notice invited the public to participate in the project scoping process, to review and comment on the draft EIS, and to attend public meetings. The Postal Service requested written scoping comments by March 9, 2008. The Postal Service is extending the comment period to March 13, 2008.

Effective September 14, 2008, the Postal Service is proposing to require mailers to place presort bundles on pallets with the addresses facing up.

This final rule revises the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) to provide the eligibility standards for the Outside-County Limited Circulation rate that has been approved by the Governors of the United States Postal Service. Eligible issues of publications entitled to use this rate will receive a 5% discount on qualifying Outside-County copies. As set forth in the new standards, publications in each of the qualification categories may be eligible for the rate; issues of these publications will qualify if eligible copies are mailed at In-County rates and the total number of Outside-County copies mailed for that issue is less than 5,000.

This final rule revises Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) to make Premium Forwarding Service (PFS) a permanent mail classification. There are no major changes in the permanent PFS classification compared with the experimental service offering.

To comply with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Postal Service intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed construction and operation of a mail processing facility in Aliso Viejo, Orange County, California. The public is invited to participate in the project scoping process, to review and comment on the draft EIS, and to attend public meetings.

This final rule revises the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]), to add the new Priority Mail[supreg] Large Flat-Rate Box that has been approved by the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service. The new Priority Mail large flat-rate box is approximately 50 percent larger than the regular flat-rate boxes currently available. The prices for shipping a Priority Mail large flat-rate box to an APO/ FPO ZIP Code\TM\ destination address, or to a domestic ZIP Code address are as follows: $10.95 to APO/FPO destination addresses. $12.95 to domestic addresses. The new flat-rate box is identified by the words ``Large Flat-Rate Box'' printed on the packaging. Items to an APO/FPO address may be shipped in the Priority Mail large flat-rate box or in a special version of the box identified with the additional logo: ``Americasupportsyou.mil.'' The Priority Mail large flat-rate box also may be used for mailing to international destinations at large flat-rate box prices specific to international items. Domestic or international large flat-rate box prices will apply to the special version of the APO/FPO flat-rate box if used for non-APO/ FPO addresses.

This final rule revises the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM[supreg]), to add a new Priority Mail[supreg] Large Flat-Rate Box that has been approved by the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service for domestic and international Priority Mail shipments. The new Priority Mail large flat-rate box is approximately 50 percent larger than the regular flat-rate boxes currently available. Two prices will apply to the large flat-rate box when mailed to international destinations: $29.95 for Priority Mail InternationalTM service to Canada and Mexico. $49.95 for Priority Mail International service to all other countries. The larger flat-rate box is identified by the words ``Large Flat- Rate Box'' printed on the packaging.

This notice sets forth the changes to the Domestic Mail Classification Schedule to be implemented as a result of the Decision of the Governors of the United States Postal Service on the Opinion and Recommended Decision of the Postal Regulatory Commission Approving Negotiated Service Agreement with Bank of America Corporation, Docket No. MC2007-1.

In January 2009, mailers will be required to meet one of two options using Intelligent Mail[supreg] barcodes to access automation prices for letters and flats. Automation prices will no longer be available for the use of the POSTNET barcode. This Federal Register notice provides advance information to help mailers understand the mail preparation requirements that the Postal Service will propose when using Intelligent Mail[supreg] barcodes and offers insight into the additional information that will be available to mailers who comply with these requirements.