[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 20, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17580]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: July 20, 1994]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Revisions to Standards for Walk-Sequenced Bulk Third-Class Mail
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
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SUMMARY: This proposed rule will amend the standards for walk-sequence
rate mail to require an identifying marking on each piece.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 19, 1994.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to Manager,
Advertising Mail, USPS Headquarters, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW.,
Washington, DC 20260-2412. Copies of all written comments will be
available for inspection and photocopying between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, in Room 5540 at the above address.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph D. Moeller, (202) 268-2660.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service uses the In-Office Cost
System (IOCS) and the Carrier Cost System (CCS) as tools to develop
cost information for each class and subclass of mail, and for special
services. This information is used to develop proposals for new postal
rates and to assist in management evaluation of new rate structures.
The IOCS uses work sampling to provide data for attributing labor cost
to each class, subclass, and special service. The CCS is used to
collect data regarding the volume of each type of mail on sampled
delivery routes. These data are used to assign delivery costs to the
pertinent categories of mail.
In order for the IOCS and CCS to be used to examine the costs of
distinct groupings of mail, each piece in the grouping must have a
distinctive marking. When an individual sample is conducted,
information regarding markings on the mailpiece is recorded. To better
quantify the value of mailer walk-sequencing, the Postal Service would
like to track the cost of third-class pieces claiming the 125-piece and
saturation walk-sequence rates using IOCS and CCS. Currently this is
not possible because walk-sequenced mail can be identified as such
simply by including a facing slip with the phrase ``WALK-SEQUENCE
CARRIER ROUTE MAIL'' on the top of each package. The proposed change
would require that each individual piece contain a ``WS'' marking
either on the carrier route identification line or as part of the
carrier route presort endorsement. Although facing slips would still be
allowed, they would no longer fulfill the requirement for identifying
the mail as walk-sequenced.
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 DMM, incorporated by reference
in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR Part 111.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
Postal Service.
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, 3001-
3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.
2. Amend Domestic Mail Manual M304, Walk-Sequence [Carrier Route
Mail Preparation], by adding a new subsection 1.3 and revising
subsection 3.2 to read as follows:
M304 Walk-Sequence
1.0 Basic Standards
* * * * *
1.3 Marking
In addition to the markings required by M303, each piece claimed at
a walk-sequence rate must be marked ``WS'' immediately preceding either
the carrier route information on the carrier route information line
(e.g., **WS CARRIER ROUTE 017) or the carrier route presort marking
shown in M303 (e.g., WS CAR-RT SORT). Pieces not claimed at a walk-
sequence rate must not bear the ``WS'' marking.
* * * * *
3.0 Preparation
* * * * *
3.2 Labeling
In addition to the labeling required in M303, a facing slip with a
phrase identifying the mail, such as ``WALK-SEQUENCED CARRIER ROUTE
MAIL,'' may be placed on the top of each package. A facing slip does
not satisfy the marking required on each piece by 1.3.
* * * * *
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. 94-17580 Filed 7-19-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-M
