[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 45 (Tuesday, March 9, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11402-11403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-5784]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Packaging Material Standards for Flat-Size Periodicals and
Standard Mail
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: To ensure that packages maintain their integrity during
transportation and processing, the Postal Service plans to prohibit use
of string and rubber bands to secure packages of flat-size Periodicals
and Standard Mail when prepared on pallets. Mailers are also hereby
notified that, in the future, the Postal Service plans to prohibit use
of string and rubber bands to secure packages of flat-size Periodicals
and Standard Mail prepared in sacks.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before April 8, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Mail
Preparation and Standards, USPS Headquarters, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW,
Room 6800, Washington, DC 20260-2405. Copies of all written comments
will be available for inspection and photocopying at USPS Headquarters
Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 11th Floor N, Washington, DC between 9
a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynn M. Martin, (202) 268-6351.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Many packages of Periodicals and Standard
Mail, tendered to the Postal Service either on pallets or in sacks, do
not maintain their integrity during transportation to postal plants and
during postal processing. The Postal Service must redirect the
resulting loose packages or broken packages (individual pieces) to
manual operations for additional processing. If packages lose their
integrity while being processed on small parcel and bundle sorters
(SPBSs), this can cause machine slowdowns and stoppages, and can also
result in these packages being manually processed by postal employees.
Experience shows that packages that are secured together using
string or rubber bands are the most likely to loose their integrity. A
study performed on behalf of the Postal Service Engineering and
Development Center confirmed that packages prepared with string or
rubber bands are the most likely to break, and that the tendency for
these packages to break increases as the thickness of the package
increases. This study also showed that for packages prepared with
plastic strapping, the greater the thickness of the package, the more
likely it is for the package to remain intact.
The Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) working group on
Pallet, Container and Package Integrity independently confirmed that
packages prepared with string and rubber bands are the most likely to
break, resulting in increased costs for the Postal Service, and
increased time to process the pieces in those packages. Accordingly,
this MTAC work group supports the Postal Service's proposal to prohibit
the use of string and rubber bands to secure packages for flat-size
Standard and Periodicals Mail that is presented to the Postal Service
on pallets. The Postal Service also believes that mailers should not
use string or rubber bands to prepare packages of flat-size mail that
are placed in sacks. In order to ease the burden imposed on mailers who
currently use rubber bands and string to secure flat-
[[Page 11403]]
size packages in sacks, the Postal Service is not proposing to prohibit
use of string and rubber bands on packages of flat-size mail placed in
sacks at this time. Mailers are advised, however, that such a
prohibition will be proposed in the future and should begin to plan
accordingly.
A clarification that wire or metal strapping is not permissible
banding material for flat-size mail prepared in sacks has also been
included in these proposed revisions to packaging standards.
The Postal Service is proposing to implement this revision to the
mail preparation standards on July 1, 1999.
Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)) regarding proposed
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invites comments on
the following proposed revisions of the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM),
incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39
CFR part 111.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
Administrative practice and procedure.
PART 111--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414,
3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.
2. Revise the following sections of the Domestic Mail Manual as set
forth below:
M Mail Preparation and Sortation
M000 General Preparation Standards
* * * * *
M020 Packages and Bundles
1.0 BASIC STANDARDS
* * * * *
1.4 Palletization
[Amend 1.4 to read as follows:]
Packages and bundles on pallets must be able to withstand normal
transit and handling without breakage or injury to USPS employees.
Heavy-gauge shrinkwrap over plastic banding, shrinkwrap alone, or
banding material alone is acceptable if the package or bundle can stay
together during normal processing. Except for packages and bundles of
individually polywrapped pieces, packages and bundles on BMC pallets
must be shrinkwrapped. Packages and bundles of individually polywrapped
pieces on BMC pallets may be secured with banding material only. All
packages and bundles on BMC pallets must be machinable on BMC parcel
sorters. Machinability is determined by the USPS. If banding material
is used to secure packages, it must be applied at least once around the
length and once around the girth. String, string-like material closed
with a tie, rubber bands, wire, and metal strapping are prohibited
banding materials.
* * * * *
2.0 ADDITIONAL STANDARDS--FIRST-CLASS MAIL, PERIODICALS, AND STANDARD
MAIL (A)
* * * * *
2.2 Flat-Size Pieces
[Amend 2.2 to read as follows:]
Flat-size pieces are subject to these packaging standards:
a. Flat-size pieces must always be secured into packages, unless
excepted by standard. Wire and metal strapping must not be used as
banding materials.
b. For Periodicals and Standard Mail prepared on pallets, string,
string-like material closed with a tie, and rubber bands must not be
used as banding material. For both palletized and sacked mail, it is
recommended that plastic strapping or shrink-wrap, or both, be used to
secure packages.
c. Though not subject to a specific thickness limit, packages of
flat-size pieces must be secure and stable. Packages are subject to
specific weight limits if palletized.
* * * * *
An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 to reflect these changes
will be published if the proposal is adopted.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 99-5784 Filed 3-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
