[Federal Register: December 21, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 244)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 75734]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21de05-11]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
New Preparation Requirements for Bundles of Mail on Pallets
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This final rule changes preparation requirements for bundles
of Periodicals, Standard Mail, and Package Services flat-size mail or
irregular parcels on pallets. The rule gives the conditions under which
mailers must prepare an area distribution center, bulk mail center/
auxiliary service facility, or sectional center facility pallet with
250 or more pounds of bundles.
DATES: Effective Date: May 11, 2006.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julia Carroll, 202-268-2108.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 30, 2005, the Postal
ServiceTM published for comment in the Federal Register (70
FR 57237) a proposal to change preparation requirements for bundles of
mail on pallets.
Bundles of flat-size mailpieces or irregular parcels on pallets are
easier and less costly for us to handle than bundles in sacks. In
addition, bundles on pallets maintain their integrity to a greater
degree than bundles in sacks. Our new standards will help increase the
volume of mail on pallets by revising the requirements for pallet
preparation.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic
Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) 705.8.5.2 requires mailers who prepare
bundles of flat-size mail or bundles of irregular parcels on pallets to
prepare a pallet to a required sortation level if a mailing contains
500 or more pounds of bundles.
Under this final rule, after preparing all other pallets at the
500-pound required minimum, if there are 250 or more pounds of bundles
labeled to destinations within the ZIP Code range for an area
distribution center (ADC), a mailer who prepares bundles of Periodicals
flat-size mail or irregular parcels on pallets must prepare the ADC
pallet. If there are 250 or more pounds of bundles labeled to
destinations within the ZIP Code range for a bulk mail center/auxiliary
service facility (BMC/ASF), a mailer who prepares bundles of Standard
Mail and Package Services flat-size mail or irregular parcels on
pallets must prepare the BMC/ASF pallet. If a mailing does not contain
any ADC or BMC/ASF pallets and there are 250 or more pounds for an SCF,
the mailer must prepare the SCF pallet.
In addition to these changes, we are removing text in 705.8.5.2
about labeling pallets and optional bundle reallocation, because we
cover these topics in detail elsewhere in the DMM.
Comments Received
We requested comments on the proposal by October 31, 2005. We
received two comments, one from a publisher and one from a mailing
association. Both supported the proposal.
For the reasons discussed above, the Postal Service adopts the
following amendments to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal
Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by reference in the
Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1.
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.
PART 111--[AMENDED]
0
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, 414, 416,
3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.
0
2. Revise the following sections of Mailing Standards of the United
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), as follows:
700 Special Standards
* * * * *
705 Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems
* * * * *
8.0 Preparation for Pallets
* * * * *
8.5 General Preparation
* * * * *
8.5.2 Required Preparation
[Revise 8.5.2 to require ADC, BMC/ASF, or SCF pallets at 250 pounds
of bundles, as follows:]
The following standards apply to Periodicals, Standard Mail, and
Package Services, except Parcel Post mailed at BMC Presort, OBMC
Presort, DSCF, and DDU rates.
a. Mailers must prepare a pallet to the required sortation level(s)
for the class of mail when a mailing contains 500 or more pounds of
bundles, sacks, or parcels or 72 linear feet or six layers of letter
trays for the destination.
b. For bundles of flat-size mailpieces or bundles of irregular
parcels on pallets, after preparing all possible pallets under 8.5.2a,
when 250 or more pounds of bundles remain for an ADC (Periodicals) or
for a BMC/ASF (Standard Mail and Package Services), mailers must
prepare the ADC or BMC/ASF pallet, as applicable for the class of mail.
Exception: If there are no ADC or BMC/ASF pallets in a mailing and 250
or more pounds remain for an SCF, mailers must prepare the SCF pallet.
c. If bundles remain that cannot be prepared on an ADC, BMC/ASF, or
SCF pallet, mailers must place those bundles in sacks (8.9.1).
* * * * *
Neva R. Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 05-24209 Filed 12-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P