Proposed Rule2021-17191
Periodic Reporting
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 13, 2021
Issuing agencies
Postal Regulatory Commission
Abstract
The Commission is acknowledging a recent filing requesting the Commission initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider changes to analytical principles relating to periodic reports (Proposal Five). This document informs the public of the filing, invites public comment, and takes other administrative steps.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 154 (Friday, August 13, 2021)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 154 (Friday, August 13, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44676-44677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17191]
[[Page 44676]]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
39 CFR Part 3050
[Docket No. RM2021-8; Order No. 5951]
Periodic Reporting
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Commission is acknowledging a recent filing requesting the
Commission initiate a rulemaking proceeding to consider changes to
analytical principles relating to periodic reports (Proposal Five).
This document informs the public of the filing, invites public comment,
and takes other administrative steps.
DATES: Comments are due: September 15, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing
Online system at <a href="http://www.prc.gov">http://www.prc.gov</a>. Those who cannot submit comments
electronically should contact the person identified in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION CONTACT section by telephone for advice on filing
alternatives.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David A. Trissell, General Counsel, at
202-789-6820.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Proposal Five
III. Notice and Comment
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
I. Introduction
On August 4, 2021, the Postal Service filed a petition pursuant to
39 CFR 3050.11, requesting that the Commission initiate a rulemaking
proceeding to consider changes to analytical principles relating to
periodic reports.\1\ The Petition identifies the proposed analytical
changes filed in this docket as Proposal Five.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Petition of the United States Postal Service for the
Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider Proposed Changes in
Analytical Principles (Proposal Five), August 4, 2021 (Petition).
The Postal Service filed two non-public Attachments under seal with
Proposal Five as part of Library Reference USPS-RM2021-8/NP1. The
information is of the type provided under seal within Docket No.
ACR2020, Library Reference USPS-FY20-NP2 and -NP5 in the Postal
Service's FY2020 Annual Compliance Report. The Postal Service
therefore incorporates by reference the Application for Non-Public
Treatment of Materials contained in Attachment Two to the United
States Postal Service Fiscal Year 2020 Annual Compliance Report,
filed on December 29, 2020. Library Reference USPS-RM2021-8/NP1,
August 4, 2021; Notice of Filing of USPS-RM2021-8/NP1 and
Application for Nonpublic Treatment, August 4, 2021.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
II. Proposal Five
Proposal. The Postal Service proposes to treat International
surface transportation to Canada separately from the treatment of
International air transportation. Petition, Proposal Five at 1. The
Postal Service explains that the proposal uses additional Foreign
Postal Settlement System (FPS) data to develop a distribution key to
more accurately distribute outbound International surface
transportation expenses to Canada (Account 53281). Id. After isolating
International surface transportation to Canada for separate treatment,
the proposal continues to use the International Air Transportation file
to distribute outbound International air transportation expenses
(Accounts 53201 and 53212), with a refinement to remap surface parcels
to regular parcels in the distribution. Id. Account 53281 expenses
would be isolated from the other expenses and additional FPS data would
be used to distribute account 53281 expenses to international mail
categories transported to Canada by surface. Id.
Rationale. Following information requests during the recent Annual
Compliance Report process, the Postal Service reviewed its
international transportation costs. Id. at 2. The Postal Service
indicates that removing account 53281 from the current treatment that
sums accounts 53201, 53212, and 53281 results in the distribution of
only air expenses. The Postal Service concludes that with new surface
and air treatments for accounts 53201, 53212, and 53281, and account
53286 continuing to receive its separate treatment as part of the FedEx
agreement, there is no longer a need for diversion factors. Id.
The Postal Service notes that the International Cost and Revenue
Analysis (ICRA) has traditionally described the method for calculating
outbound international transportation expenses. Id. The Postal Service
states that the proposal mostly maintains the methodology described in
the Air Transportation Cost Computations, but would remove account
53281 from the benchmarking of International air transportation
expenses for all countries. Id. at 3.
The Postal Service states that the primary subject of this proposal
is the International highway costs section. Id. Currently, the
proportions of total outbound kilograms to Canada are used to develop
diversion ratios for mail types transported by surface. Id. at 4. The
proposal would use U.S. and Canada information service center origin
destination pairs by ICRA outbound mail class to replace the diversion
percentages. Id.
The Postal Services notes that additional FPS data is used to
distribute expenses for outbound surface transportation to Canada. It
concludes that ``refining the treatment of air transportation costs
would improve ICRA reporting by providing a finer level of mail
category detail that: (1) Eliminates treating the sum of air and
surface costs together, (2) eliminates the need to develop air to
surface diversion factors to isolate or divert Canada surface
transportation expenses, and (3) provides the basis for the
distribution of surface costs using surface data and the distribution
of air costs using air data.'' Id. at 4-5.
Impact. The Postal Service claims that the two non-public
attachments accompanying the proposal show its ``modest impact,'' and
indicates that both are filed under seal as part of Library Reference
USPS-RM2021-8/NP1. Id. at 5. It concludes that the net impact on total
Market Dominant and total Competitive products costs is zero. Id.
Additional pages display the detailed impacts on Market Dominant
products and Competitive products. The Postal Service concludes that,
overall, the proposal would shift roughly $158,000 of attributable
costs from Market Dominant to Competitive products. Id.
The Postal Service also indicates that the change in Total Volume
Variable and Product Specific Cost in Attachment 2 reflect the
International Negotiated Service Agreement (NSA) differences in
Attachment 1. It concludes these show that all NSAs that were
compensatory in FY 2020 would have remained so under this proposal. Id.
Mechanics. The Postal Service details several of the adjustments
that would be made to various files by the proposal. Id. at 6.
III. Notice and Comment
The Commission establishes Docket No. RM2021-8 for consideration of
matters raised by the Petition. More information on the Petition may be
accessed via the Commission's website at <a href="http://www.prc.gov">http://www.prc.gov</a>. Interested
persons may submit comments on the Petition and Proposal Five no later
than September 15, 2021. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Jennaca D. Upperman
is designated as an officer of the Commission (Public Representative)
to represent the interests of the general public in this proceeding.
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
It is ordered:
[[Page 44677]]
1. The Commission establishes Docket No. RM2021-8 for consideration
of the matters raised by the Petition of the United States Postal
Service for the Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider Proposed Changes
in Analytical Principles (Proposal Five), filed August 4, 2021.
2. Comments by interested persons in this proceeding are due no
later than September 15, 2021.
3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints Jennaca D.
Upperman to serve as an officer of the Commission (Public
Representative) to represent the interests of the general public in
this docket.
4. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this order in the
Federal Register.
By the Commission.
Erica A. Barker,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-17191 Filed 8-12-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P
</pre></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on August 13, 2021.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.