51668 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 162 / Monday, August 23, 2010 / Rules and Regulations AIRAC Date State City Airport FDC No. FDC Date Subject 23–Sep–10 ... MA .... Boston ............................. Gen Edward Lawrence Logan Intl ...... 0/8350 7/15/10 ILS Or LOC Rwy 33L, Amdt 3. [FR Doc. 2010–20395 Filed 8–20–10; 8:45 am] determine the best practices for will place qualifying mailpieces from all BILLING CODE 4910–13–P optimizing FSS implementation and price categories into a separate operation, encourages mailers to prepare combined pool for each individual 5- bundles of flat-size mail to facilitate the digit FSS-scheme combination. Mailers POSTAL SERVICE efficient loading of this mail into the will then prepare bundles of uniform FSS machines. Efficient induction of size from the pieces in the pool. 39 CFR Part 111 mailpieces into FSS requires bundles of Bundles must be identified as a 5-digit flats to be of equal height, in order to scheme presort with an optional Optional Mail Preparation Standards facilitate their placement into the endorsement line (OEL) under 708.7.0. for Flat-Size Mailpieces in FSS Zones standard containers that feed into the OELs used under this option may be FSS induction mechanism. Preparing applied to the top piece of each bundle, AGENCY: TM Postal Service . bundles which can be placed easily into unless otherwise required to be placed ACTION: Final rule. these containers improves efficiency in on each piece by other standards. All loading containers and ensures stability pieces for each combined mailpiece SUMMARY: The Postal ServiceTM is and ease of transport of mailer-prepared pool must be prepared in bundles of revising the Mailing Standards of the containers. similar height (3 inches minimum to 6.5 United States Postal Service, Domestic The Postal Service developed these inches maximum), secured according to Mail Manual (DMM®) to provide optional preparation standards working current bundling standards. Except for optional mail preparation standards for with members of the mailing industry, one overflow bundle that may be under flat-size Standard Mail, Periodicals, and representing a wide spectrum of flat the minimum height, all bundles within Bound Printed Matter mailpieces mail owners and preparers. The group each mailpiece pool must be of uniform prepared for delivery within ZIP® Codes determined that the preparation of size. Though we will allow overflow served by Flats Sequencing System bundles and pallets specifically for FSS bundles, we encourage ‘‘leveling’’ (FSS) processing. processing could lead to greater (adjusting bundle heights within a DATES: Effective January 2, 2011. efficiencies and cost savings for both the ® presort destination to avoid overflow FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: USPS and mailing industry. Industry bundles) of the bundles within each Susan Hawes at 202–268–8980 or Kevin members agreed that the production of mailpiece pool. The counter-stacking Gunther at 202–268–7208. uniform bundle heights could reduce (rotating groups of mailpieces within a the costs associated with preparing SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal bundle 180 degrees from the preceding Service is revising the DMM to provide bundles, and that more stable pallet and succeeding group) of mailpieces optional standards for bundle and pallet construction would improve mailer within bundles is not being addressed transport of the mail to drop shipment preparation of flat-size Standard Mail, as a part of these optional standards, locations. In addition, preparing FSS Periodicals and Bound Printed Matter and mailers may continue this practice scheme pallets allows for the creation of mailpieces prepared for delivery within in accordance with current standards. In larger pallets, permitting the mail to the ZIP Codes served by Flats the future, the Postal Service may move directly to the FSS mail prep area. require that mailpieces not be counter- Sequencing System (FSS) processing. The Postal Service is also providing stacked within bundles when being FSS is a critical element in the Postal advance notice that FSS-based mail prepared for FSS processing, but no Service’s strategic operations plan and preparation requirements will become decision on this potential requirement will allow the Postal Service to improve mandatory in the future; however we has been made. delivery efficiency and control costs. are currently not proposing a timeline In the 1990s the Postal Service, in an for their implementation. Bundles must be placed on pallets to effort to control costs and limit postage With this revision, mailers will have form layers of consistent thickness; and prices, adopted technological changes the option to prepare separate mailings bundles of nonuniform thickness must designed to reduce the time carriers of Standard Mail®, Periodicals, and be counter-stacked on pallets in spent in the office preparing mail for Bound Printed Matter barcoded flats, accordance with current standards. delivery. The most notable of these including some barcoded Pallets must be prepared and labeled as changes was the implementation of nonmachinable Periodicals flats capable described in DMM 705.8.0, with a pallet Delivery Point Sequencing (DPS). of being processed by FSS, into one or placard bearing an Intelligent Mail Today, the Postal Service is now placing more of the following pallet-level container barcode as described in nearly 92 percent of all letter-size separations: 708.6.6.0. mailpieces into delivery sequence. 1. A 5-digit FSS-scheme ZIP Code Mailpieces that meet the current Similar to DPS processing for letters, combination (including one or more eligibility standards for basic and high FSS automates the sequencing of flat- 5-digit ZIP Codes); density carrier route prices will size mailpieces into delivery order, 2. FSS facility sort (all 5-digit FSS- continue to be eligible for these prices eliminating labor-intensive manual scheme ZIP Code combinations when prepared in accordance with the sortation by carriers. processed within the same facility); or FSS optional preparation standards. One essential change to the methods 3. A sectional center facility (SCF) Saturation price Standard Mail and that mailers use to prepare flat-size mail with FSS capability, when combined on Periodicals carrier route flats are not involves the modification of bundling pallets with flat-size mailpieces not eligible for preparation under this standards when mailing to delivery intended for FSS processing. option. The sequencing of mailpieces areas with FSS-processing capability. Mailers choosing to prepare flats for within carrier route bundles is not The Postal Service, as it begins to delivery to FSS zones, using this option, required or recommended when VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:54 Aug 20, 2010 Jkt 220001 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\23AUR1.SGM 23AUR1 sroberts on DSKD5P82C1PROD with RULES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 162 / Monday, August 23, 2010 / Rules and Regulations 51669 preparing FSS bundles. All other 6.1.2 Basic Eligibility Standards 6.0 Additional Eligibility Standards mailpieces will be eligible for the for Barcoded Bound Printed Matter applicable 5-digit automation or non- All pieces in an Enhanced Carrier Flats Route or Nonprofit Enhanced Carrier automation price. 6.1 Basic Eligibility Standards for To improve FSS processing, the Postal Route Standard Mail mailing must: Barcoded Bound Printed Matter Service recommends that mailpieces be * * * * * [Revise 6.1 to add reference to optional randomized within each bundle (i.e. [Revise item c of 6.1.2 to add reference bundling standards by inserting a new, within bundles, randomly arrange to optional bundling standards as pieces regardless of price category) third sentence as follows:] follows:] comprising each 5-digit FSS scheme as * * * Pieces may also be optionally defined in labeling list L006. c. Be sorted to carrier routes, marked, prepared under 705.14.0, Combining The 5-digit Outside-County bundle and documented under 345.6.0, Bundles of Flats on Pallets Within FSS charge will be assessed on bundles of Preparing Enhanced Carrier Route Flats, Zones. *** Outside-County Periodicals prepared in or 705.8.0, Preparing Pallets; or for * * * * * accordance with these standards, even barcoded flats, prepared under 705.14.0, though mailpieces being claimed at the Combining Bundles of Flats on Pallets 700 Special Standards carrier route piece price may be Within FSS Zones. * * * * * properly placed within these bundles. * * * * * FSS 5-digit scheme pallets will be 705 Advanced Preparation and assessed the Outside-County container 7.0 Additional Eligibility Standards Special Postage Payment Systems charge applicable to the 3-digit level for Automation Standard Mail Flats * * * * * pallet, and FSS facility sort level pallets 7.1 Basic Eligibility Standards for [Renumber current 705.14 through will be charged a container price Automation Standard Mail 705.22 as the new 705.15 through applicable to the SCF pallet. 705.23 and add a new 705.14 as The Postal Service adopts the All pieces in a Regular Standard Mail follows:] following changes to Mailing Standards or Nonprofit Standard Mail automation of the United States Postal Service, mailing must: 14.0 Combining Bundles of Flats on Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), Pallets Within FSS Zones * * * * * incorporated by reference in the Code of 14.1 General Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1. [Revise item f of 7.1 to add reference to optional bundling standards as follows:] Flat-size automation and carrier route List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111 mailpieces, including barcoded Administrative practice and f. Be marked, sorted and documented nonmachinable Periodicals pieces, may procedure, Postal Service. as specified in 345.7.0, and 705.8.0 be optionally consolidated and prepared ■ Accordingly, 39 CFR Part 111 is through 705.13.0; or prepared under on pallets for delivery within individual amended as follows: 705.14.0, Combining Bundles of Flats on 5-digit Flats Sequencing Systems (FSS) Pallets Within FSS Zones. scheme ZIP Code combinations; PART 111—[AMENDED] * * * * * multiple 5-digit FSS scheme ZIP Code combinations within the same facility; ■ 1.