[Federal Register: July 22, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 140)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 39238-39239] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr22jy98-12] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- POSTAL SERVICE 39 CFR Part 111 Ancillary Service Endorsement to Allow Forwarding of First-Class Mail Destined for an Address With a Temporary Change-of-Address on File AGENCY: Postal Service. ACTION: Final rule; request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This final rule provides an additional option for ancillary service endorsements to allow the forwarding of First-Class Mail destined for an address with a temporary change-of-address on file. This change will improve customer satisfaction by forwarding the piece to the temporary address instead of returning it to the mailer with the reason for nondelivery. DATES: This final rule is effective on August 1, 1998. Comments must be received on or before August 21, 1998. ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Manager, Address Management, National Customer Support Center, 6060 Primacy PKWY STE 201, Memphis, TN 38188-0001. Copies of all written comments will be available at the above address for inspection and photocopying between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Audrey Conley, (901) 681-4474. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) F010.5.1, [[Page 39239]] mailers may opt to receive a notice of new address or reason for nondelivery by placing the endorsement ``Return Service Requested'' on all First-Class Mail. Consistent with DMM F010.5.1, undeliverable as addressed (UAA) pieces bearing this endorsement are returned to the mailer. Under present standards, the ``Return Service Requested'' endorsement does not provide forwarding service. Since the implementation of the ``Return Service Requested'' option on July 1, 1997, the Postal Service has received requests from some mailers who use the ``Return Service Requested'' endorsement to have the service provide forwarding of temporary address changes. These mailers would prefer that UAA pieces destined for customers who have submitted temporary change-of-address notices to the Postal Service be forwarded to the customer rather than returned to the mailer. This change will improve customer satisfaction for these mailers by forwarding the piece to the temporary address instead of returning it to the mailer with the reason for nondelivery. Under current Postal regulations and the Privacy Act, temporary change-of-address information is not provided to mailers, therefore, this change also benefits the Postal Service by eliminating the need to return pieces bearing address correction information which would be of no use or value to the sender. To accommodate those First-Class mailers who currently use the ``Return Service Requested'' endorsement, and who want pieces forwarded to the temporary address, the Postal Service has agreed to implement a new endorsement, ``Temp--Return Service Requested'', which would allow mailpieces to be forwarded to a temporary address when a temporary change-of-address notice is on file. This endorsement will only provide forwarding for temporary change-of-address, and does not apply to permanent change-of-address. Since this option is available only to First-Class Mailers, it is reasonable to conclude that all mailers who elect this option will be aware of the nature of the service provided and the consequences in the event a piece bearing the endorsement is undeliverable as addressed. This change is accordingly effective August 1, 1998. The Postal Service is soliciting comments on this final rule. 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 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 Postal service. For the reasons discussed above, the Postal Service hereby adopts the following amendments to the Domestic Mail Manual, which is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations (see 39 CFR part 111): 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, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001. 2. Revise the following sections of the Domestic Mail Manual as set forth below: F Forwarding and Related Services F010 Basic Information * * * * * 5.0 Class Treatment for Ancillary Services 5.1 Priority Mail and First-Class Mail [Revise the table in 5.1 as follows to add the new endorsement:] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * * * * * ``Temp--Return Service Requested''..... Piece returned with new address or reason for nondelivery attached; no charge. If temporary change-of-address, piece forwarded; no charge; no separate notice of new temporary change-of-address provided. * * * * * ------------------------------------------------------------------------ An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR 111.3 will be published to reflect these changes. Stanley F. Mires, Chief Counsel, Legislative. [FR Doc. 98-19464 Filed 7-17-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7710-12-P