Proposed Rule2022-26072
Electronic Indicators for the Mailing of Hazardous Materials
Primary source
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Published
November 30, 2022
Issuing agencies
Postal Service
Abstract
The Postal Service proposes to provide unique electronic service codes and to standardize extra service options for shipments of hazardous materials (HAZMAT). If adopted, this proposal would amend Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail (Pub 52) by requiring the use of unique service type codes and extra service codes within the electronic data submission and tracking barcodes for shipments containing HAZMAT provided to the USPS by the mailers in their Shipping Services File (SSF). This proposal would standardize the acceptance and handling of shipments containing HAZMAT by collecting electronic data to create manifests for the Postal Service's air carrier suppliers and ensuring these items are handled appropriately with regards to the category of HAMZAT contained within the package. The Postal Service also proposes to amend the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) that would alter the refund eligibility of Priority Mail Express containing hazardous materials.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 229 (Wednesday, November 30, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 30, 2022)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 73510-73516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-26072]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 111
Electronic Indicators for the Mailing of Hazardous Materials
AGENCY: Postal Service<SUP>TM</SUP>.
ACTION: Proposed rule for special standards; invitation to comment.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service proposes to provide unique electronic
service codes and to standardize extra service options for shipments of
hazardous materials (HAZMAT). If adopted, this proposal would amend
Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail (Pub 52) by
requiring the use of unique service type codes and extra service codes
within the electronic data submission and tracking barcodes for
shipments containing HAZMAT provided to the USPS by the mailers in
their Shipping Services File (SSF). This proposal would standardize the
acceptance and handling of shipments containing HAZMAT by collecting
electronic data to create manifests for the Postal Service's air
carrier suppliers and ensuring these items are handled appropriately
with regards to the category of HAMZAT contained within the package.
The Postal Service also proposes to amend the Mailing Standards of the
United States Postal Service Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) that would
alter the refund eligibility of Priority Mail Express containing
hazardous materials.
DATES: Submit comments on or before December 30, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the Director, Product
Classification, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446,
Washington, DC 20260-5015. If sending comments by email, include the
name and address of the commenter and send to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#346477725150514655586651535d4740514674414744471a535b42"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d9899a9fbcbdbcabb8b58bbcbeb0aaadbcab99acaaa9aaf7beb6af">[email protected]</span></a>, with a subject line of ``Electronic
Indicators''. Faxed comments will not be accepted.
All submitted comments and attachments are part of the public
record and subject to disclosure. Do not enclose any material in your
comments that you consider to be confidential or inappropriate for
public disclosure.
You may inspect and photocopy all written comments, by appointment
only, at USPS[supreg] Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 11th
Floor North, Washington, DC 20260. These records are available for
review Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., by calling 202-268-
2906.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Cox at (202) 268-2108,
Juliaann Hess at (202) 268-7663, or Dale Kennedy (202) 268-6592.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service proposes to amend
Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail (``Pub
52''), with the provisions set forth herein. While not codified in
title 39, Code of Federal Regulations (``CFR''), Publication 52 is a
regulation of the Postal Service, and changes to it may be published in
the Federal Register. 39 CFR 211.2(a)(2). Moreover, Publication 52 is
incorporated by reference into Mailing Standards of the United States
Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (``DMM'') section 601.8.1, which
is incorporated by reference, in turn, into the Code of Federal
Regulations. 39 CFR 111.1, 111.3. Publication 52 is publicly available,
in a read-only format, via the Postal Explorer[supreg] website at
<a href="https://pe.usps.com">https://pe.usps.com</a>. In addition, links to Postal Explorer are provided
on the landing page of <a href="http://USPS.com">USPS.com</a>, the Postal Service's primary customer-
facing website, and on Postal Pro, an online informational source
available to postal customers. If the proposal is adopted, the Postal
Service will amend Pub 52 and the DMM with the requirements below:
1. Require PC Postage, eVS, ePostage, and USPS Ship mailers to
transmit a Shipping Services File (SSF), or Shipping Partner Event File
(SPEF) to the Postal Service before, or concurrent with, the tendering
of hazardous materials shipments, and require mailers using USPS
generated labels (including but not limited to USPS API, WebTools,
Click-n-Ship, or Merchant Returns Application) to indicate the shipment
includes hazardous materials at the time of requesting a label.
2. Require the use of unique Service Type Codes (STCs) for
hazardous materials packages shipped domestically. At a minimum,
mailers must use one of six unique STCs, each of which would correspond
to the hazardous materials contained within a domestic shipment via
Priority Mail[supreg], First-Class Package Service[supreg], Parcel
Select[supreg], Parcel Select Lightweight[supreg], and USPS Retail
Ground[supreg], or, if purchasing extra services, use one of sixteen
STCs to show the product and extra service used.
3. Require the use of unique STCs for hazardous materials for
returns (packages using any of the USPS Return
[[Page 73511]]
products). At a minimum, mailers must use one of eight STCs, each of
which will correspond with the hazardous materials return shipments via
Priority Mail Return Service, First-Class Package Return
Service[supreg], Parcel Return Service, and USPS Ground Return Service,
or, if purchasing extra services, use one of six STCs to reflect the
product and extra service used.
4. Specify that Insurance and Adult Signature will be the only
domestic Extra Services available on a package containing hazardous
materials. The Postal Service proposes to provide a unique STC for each
product without an Extra Service (which would include basic USPS
``tracking provided'' as a built-in feature of these products), with
purchases of insurance less than or equal to $500, with purchases of
insurance over $500, with Signature Requested for Priority Mail
Express, and with the required use of Adult Signature over 21 for
Priority Mail Express and Priority Mail shipments of tobacco/Electronic
Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) products.
5. Specify five unique STCs for Priority Mail Express[supreg]
shipments to identify packages where the mailer is requesting a
signature waiver, requiring a signature, Adult Signature over 21 (when
shipping tobacco/ENDS products via PME and PM), purchasing insurance
less than or equal to $500, or purchasing insurance over $500.
6. Specify three unique STCs to explicitly identify Division 6.2,
Infectious Substances, returned through the Postal Service network
using any USPS Return Service product.
7. Provide unique Extra Service Codes (ESC) to identify categories
of hazardous materials with specific relevance to segregation,
handling, and identification in the Postal Service network.
8. Encourage adoption of the Postal Service's recommendation to add
two (2) supplemental GS1-DataMatrix (2D) IMpbs to shipping labels to
improve package visibility; one in the address block to the left of the
Delivery Address and one in the lower right corner of the shipping
label.
9. Provide for the optional use of hazardous materials electronic
indicators from the date of publication of the final rule until January
21, 2023, and, if the final rule is adopted, to require their use by
April 30, 2023.
Overview
Due to the rapid expansion of eCommerce, the United States Postal
Service[supreg] (Postal Service[supreg]) has encountered a significant
increase in the number of hazardous material shipments being entered
into the mailstream. Materials such as lithium batteries, flammable
liquids, flammable gases, non-flammable compressed gases, and corrosive
cleaning solutions that were typically purchased through brick-and-
mortar establishments are now routinely being purchased online and
shipped to their destination. This increase in hazardous material
volume has brought with it a proportional increase in instances of
improper labelling and packaging, use of ineligible shipping services,
and an increase in safety related incidents in Postal Service
facilities. These incidents have increased risks to Postal Service
employees, customers, and business suppliers, especially risks related
to personal safety/property damage, and resulted in millions of dollars
in losses.
The Postal Service relies heavily on commercial cargo and passenger
aircraft to transport mail in circumstances where the use of ground
transportation is insufficient to meet its service standards or is
otherwise operationally or financially impracticable. With regard to
the transportation of hazardous materials, commercial air carriers
observe requirements promulgated by the Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
In accordance with FAA regulations, commercial air carriers are
required to develop and maintain a Safety Management System (SMS). In
applying the safety risk management concept of their respective SMS,
air carriers conduct a systemic analysis to identify hazards and then
develop and maintain processes to analyze the safety risks associated
with the hazards identified. This process requires air carriers to
acquire data with respect to their operations, products, and services,
to monitor the safety performance of their operations, and to conduct
and update their risk assessments. Previously, the Postal Service
tendered mail, including packages containing both non-hazardous and
marked hazardous materials, to its contracted air carriers in sacks.
Due to the ``sacking'' of marked hazardous materials from the Postal
Service, air carriers were often unaware of the specific marked
hazardous materials they were accepting and transporting. Without this
information, air carriers were unable to accurately define and address
the risks associated with the mail. To address these issues, and
several others related to hazardous materials shipments, the Postal
Service promulgated an interim final rule specifying that mailers must
separate hazardous materials from other mail when tendering to the
Postal Service. 87 FR 34197. In a separate final rule being published
today, the Postal Service promulgated as a final rule the changes to
Pub 52, with some alterations from the interim final rule. The current
proposal complements the effective implementation of both the interim
final rule and the more recent final rule, but also is part of a
broader effort to increase safety and security when hazardous materials
are transported through the mail.
Proposal
To enhance its ability to make knowledgeable decisions regarding
the handling and disposition of hazardous materials shipments in its
networks and better leverage the use of operational processes to
properly segregate and tender these items, the Postal Service proposes
to require mailers to identify and categorize their hazardous materials
shipments through the use of specified electronic indicators.
The Postal Service expects to use these indicators to capture
details about the categories, volume, and weight of the hazardous
materials contained in packages tendered to its contracted
transportation providers, which would ensure that both the Postal
Service and its contracted transportation providers have the required
information to be able to handle these packages in a safe and
operationally efficient manner. These HAZMAT-specific indicators will
be required regardless of whether the mailpieces are entered at origin
or in connection with destination entry.
The Postal Service has enhanced its operational capability to
provide piece-level tracking and visibility through the use of the
Intelligent Mail Package Barcodes (IMpb[supreg]). These barcodes can be
scanned by automated processing equipment and Intelligent Mail scanning
devices. Today, mailers are required to encode certain information into
the barcode structure of the IMpb through the use of STCs and to encode
additional information into a USPS-Approved SSF/SPEF through the use of
Extra Service Codes (ESCs). As part of current procedures under Postal
Service Publication 199, mailers tendering commercial packages to the
Postal Service are required to accurately encode their IMpb barcodes
for each package and supply the Postal Service with a complete SSF/SPEF
when entering their packages into the Postal Service's network.
The Postal Service is committed to improving package visibility by
increasing the volume and quality of scan data that is collected within
its processing environment. Extreme curvature, fold-overs, and creased
[[Page 73512]]
shipping labels on soft packs and irregularly shaped parcels often
distort the current/traditional one-dimensional GS1-128 IMpb barcode to
an extent that the barcode becomes unreadable resulting in no-reads.
This reduces overall package visibility to the customer and may require
that the piece be re-run or manually sorted. In an effort to improve
processing efficiency and improve package visibility, the Postal
Service will recommend adding two (2) supplemental GS1-DataMatrix (2D)
IMpbs to shipping labels: one in the address block to the left of the
Delivery Address and the other in the lower right corner of the
shipping label. The Postal Service may require this practice in the
future. For more information on the GS1-DataMatrix (2D) IMpbs, mailers
can view GS1 (2D) information and find barcode specifications at:
<a href="https://www.gs1.org/docs/barcodes/GS1_DataMatrix_Guideline.pdf">https://www.gs1.org/docs/barcodes/GS1_DataMatrix_Guideline.pdf</a> and
<a href="https://postalpro.usps.com/shipping/impb/2d-impb-guide">https://postalpro.usps.com/shipping/impb/2d-impb-guide</a>.
As a related matter, the Postal Service proposes to amend the
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service Domestic Mail
Manual (DMM) that would alter the refund eligibility of Priority Mail
Express containing hazardous materials. Given that shipments containing
HAZMAT may have to be processed differently than if they did not
contain HAZMAT. As a result, the Postal Service proposes that refunds
for domestic Priority Mail Express would not be available for shipments
containing live animals or hazardous materials and the item is
delivered or delivery was attempted within 3 days of the date of
mailing.
Restriction of Extra Services
The Postal Service proposes to restrict the Extra Service options
available for shipments of regulated hazardous materials, including
restrictions on Adult Signature over 21 (used when regulations require
restricted delivery to adults aged 21 years and older for tobacco and
ENDS shipments), insurance over and under $500 for most mail classes or
products, and insurance over and under $500 in addition to waiver of
signature for Priority Mail Express. The Postal Service is proposing
these additional restrictions to reduce the complexity for mailers
complying with the requirements in this Federal Register Notice. The
Postal Service expects the demand for the variety of Extra Services
covered under this proposed restriction to be low enough for shippers
of hazardous materials to generally be of minor concern.
PC Postage, eVS, USPS Ship, and ePostage Users or Users of USPS-
Generated Labels (USPS APIs, WebTools, Click-n-Ship, MRA)
The generation of the flight-specific air carrier manifests and the
other operational enhancements proposed in this Federal Register Notice
would be possible only when the information is included in a mailer's
SSF/SPEF and is made available to all Postal Service systems in a
timely fashion. It is for this reason that the Postal Service is
proposing to require impacted mailers to transmit an approved SSF/SPEF
before, or concurrent with, the physical tendering of regulated
hazardous materials shipments to the Postal Service regardless of the
postage payment method used. In addition to the other postage payment
methods, this requirement would extend to mailers using electronic
payment systems (PC Postage, eVS, ePostage, or USPS Ship).
Additionally, any mailer using a USPS generated label (including but
not limited to USPS API, WebTools, Click-n-Ship, or Merchant Returns
Application) would indicate before label generation that the shipment
includes hazardous materials.
Legacy Postal Meters and Hard Copy Mailers
To ensure electronic information for all hazardous materials
shipments is available and provided to the Postal Service concurrent
with the induction of each shipment into the Postal Service's network,
the Postal Service proposes to restrict shipments of hazardous
materials from mailers using postage meters not capable of
electronically transmitting transactional data to the Postal Service,
mailers submitting paper postage statements, and any other mailers who
may still be using legacy package barcodes. The Postal Service urges
these mailers to transition to newer systems or to bring their
hazardous materials to a Postal Service retail unit for induction.
Service Type Codes and Extra Service Codes for Hazardous Materials
The Postal Service proposes to specify six unique required STCs and
an optional sixteen STCs to correspond with each product and extra
service used to identify the hazardous materials contained in domestic
originating shipments via Priority Mail Service, First-Class Package
Service[supreg], Parcel Select, Parcel Select Lightweight, and USPS
Retail Ground Service. The optional STCs would provide a unique STC for
each product without an Extra Service, requests for insurance less than
or equal to $500, requests for insurance over $500, Signature Requested
for Priority Mail Express, and Adult Signature over 21 for Priority
Mail Express and Priority Mail. The Postal Service also proposes to
specify eight unique required STCs and an optional six STCs to reflect
the product and extra service used, each to correspond to hazardous
materials return shipments via Priority Mail Return Service, First-
Class Package Return Service[supreg], Parcel Return Service, and USPS
Ground Return Service. The eight required STCs specify unique STCs for
each product, and specify unique STCs to explicitly identify Division
6.2, Infectious Substances, while the optional STCs would correspond to
the Extra Service options described above for domestic shipments
returned through the Postal Service network using each of these return
services. The Postal Service proposes unique STCs to identify Division
6.2, Infectious Substances, because hazardous materials in this
category are the most commonly shipped hazardous materials through the
Postal Service network via a return service. Additional visibility into
these shipments would be beneficial to the Postal Service reducing
incidents related to the mailing of hazardous materials.
The Postal Service proposes to provide unique ESCs to identify
specified categories of hazardous materials with specific relevance to
segregation, handling, and identification in Postal Service networks.
The Postal Service plans to specify approximately 23 ESCs, each to
identify a category of hazardous materials that is associated with
specific restrictions, packaging, and markings requirements, and for
some ESCs, restrictions in air transportation. Included among the
proposed categories to be assigned with a specific ESC, and intended
for air transportation are:
<bullet> Air Eligible Consumer Commodity/Limited Quantity
<bullet> Air-eligible Ethanol
<bullet> Excepted Quantity
<bullet> Division 5.1, Oxidizer
<bullet> Division 5.2, Organic Peroxide
<bullet> Division 6.1, Toxic Material (Packaging Instruction 6B)
<bullet> Class 8, Corrosive
<bullet> Class 8, Nonspillable battery
<bullet> Class 9, Dry Ice
<bullet> Class 9, Magnetized Material
<bullet> Class 9, Lithium Battery (marked)
<bullet> Class 9, Lithium Battery (unmarked)
The Postal Service has also specified one proposed ESC to indicate
a shipment with hazardous materials to be used when requesting a USPS
[[Page 73513]]
generated label from USPS APIs or WebTools. Additionally, the Postal
Service has specified proposed ESCs to correspond with categories of
hazardous materials shipments intended for ground transportation, which
will be available in Appendix G of Pub 52.
The Postal Service expects to have these STCs and ESCs available
for optional use by mailers before the end of the 2022 calendar year.
If the final rule is adopted, the Postal Service intends to require STC
adoption by April 30, 2023. The use of ESCs in domestic mail and GS1
DotMatrix (2D) barcodes would remain optional for mailers for the
foreseeable future. The use of the appropriate STC and ESC is
contingent upon the mailability of the hazardous material. Mailers must
adhere to the packaging instructions in Pub 52 for specific hazardous
materials being shipped in order to assess mailability prior to
finalizing the shipment.
International Shipments
Tracking numbers for international packages include the use of an
IMpb and would not have unique STCs for hazardous materials. However,
international mailpieces containing hazardous materials/Dangerous Goods
(DG) ((DG) is an international term used to identify hazardous
materials) would be required to utilize the appropriate ESC for the
category of hazardous materials/DG in the SSF/SPEF used by the mailer
and transmitted to the Postal Service. The Postal Service proposes to
require mailers to include the hazardous materials/DG ESC applicable to
the category of material being shipped. In accordance with Mailing
Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail
Manual (IMM[supreg]) part 135, only three categories of hazardous
materials/DG are permitted in international mail. Hazardous materials/
DG permitted in international mail are restricted to specified subsets
of the following DG classes:
<bullet> Division 6.2, Infectious Substances (permitted only by
authorization from Product Classification, USPS[supreg] Headquarters)
<bullet> Class 7, Radioactive Materials
<bullet> Class 9, Lithium Batteries installed in equipment (unmarked)
The Postal Service would provide access to the ESCs applicable to
these hazardous materials categories for use with international mail.
Systems Enhancements
To provide greater visibility into the quantities, weights, and
categories of hazardous materials being tendered to the Postal
Service's contracted air carriers, the Postal Service plans to use the
data from the STCs and ESCs to improve its identification of hazardous
materials/DG shipments, ensure proper assignment of these shipments to
the proper mode of transportation, acquire better data on what
hazardous materials/DG are transiting its system, and provide increased
safety to customer, employees, contractors, and shippers.
These electronic indicators would also provide Postal Service
operations personnel with the ability to identify packages containing
hazardous materials/DG and the categories under which they fall. This
additional information would allow the Postal Service to separate or
handle such hazardous materials/DG packages as necessary to meet
operational requirements and allow Postal Service operations to affix,
when necessary, the applicable markings to a postal receptacle
containing hazardous materials/DG.
Enforcement
If this proposal is adopted, the United States Postal Inspection
Service[supreg] (USPIS[supreg]) expects universal compliance by mailers
following a reasonable period of time to communicate the new
requirements to mailers and postage payment providers, and for them to
make the necessary changes to their systems. Following the
implementation period, USPIS[supreg] intends to enforce these new
requirements using its civil penalty authority under 39 U.S.C. 3018
and/or 39 CFR 233.12(f).
The Postal Service is revising the Priority Mail Express refund
policy in DMM subsection 604.9.5.5 to not allow a refund if the
shipment contains hazardous materials and was delivered or delivery was
attempted within 3 days of the date of mailing.
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 public
comment on the following proposed revisions 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.
We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to
reflect these changes.
The Postal Service also proposes to adopt the following changes to
Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail,
incorporated by reference into the DMM, section 601.8.1, which is
further incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations.
39 CFR 111.1, 111.3. Publication 52 is also a regulation of the Postal
Service, changes to which may be published in the Federal Register. 39
CFR 211.2(a).
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111
Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.
Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is proposed to be amended as follows:
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); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-
1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219,
3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, and 5001.
0
2. Revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service,
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) as follows:
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail
Manual (DMM)
* * * * *
600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services
* * * * *
604 Postage Payment Methods and Refunds
* * * * *
9.0 Exchanges and Refunds
* * * * *
9.5 Priority Mail Express Postage and Fees Refunds
* * * * *
9.5.5 Refunds Not Given
Postage will not be refunded if the guaranteed service was not
provided due to any of the following circumstances:
* * * * *
[Revise the text of item g to read as follows:]
g. The shipment contained live animals or hazardous materials and
was delivered or delivery was attempted within 3 days of the date of
mailing.
* * * * *
0
3. Revise Publication 52 as follows:
Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted and Perishable Mail
* * * * *
3 Hazardous Materials
* * * * *
[[Page 73514]]
32 General
* * * * *
323 Mailer Responsibility
[Add new sections 323.1, 323.2, 323.3 and 323.4 to read as
follows:]
323.1 Electronic Service Type and Extra Service Codes
Mailers tendering packages containing hazardous materials to the
Postal Service must use a unique Service Type Code (STC) for domestic
outbound and return packages that correspond to the appropriate product
being shipped (i.e., Priority Mail[supreg], First-Class Package
Service[supreg], Parcel Select[supreg], Parcel Select
Lightweight[supreg], and USPS Retail Ground[supreg]). The STC is
required regardless of whether the mailpieces are entered at origin or
for destination entry. If purchasing an eligible extra service, mailers
must use the STC indicating the product and extra service in
conjunction with the appropriate Extra Service Code (ESC). Extra
services permitted with hazardous materials mailings are:
a. Adult Signature
b. Insurance less than or equal to $500
c. Insurance over $500
d. Signature Requested for Priority Mail Express
e. Adult Signature over 21 for Priority Mail Express (tobacco/
Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) products)
f. Adult Signature over 21 for Priority Mail (ENDS products)
A list of HAZMAT STCs and ESCs can be found in Appendix G and Pub
199.
323.2 Additional GS1 DotMatrix (2D) IMpb
In addition to including the appropriate STC in the one-dimensional
GS1-128 IMpb barcode on the address label, the Postal Service
recommends adding two (2) supplemental GS1-DataMatrix (2D) IMpbs to
shipping labels. One in the address block to the left of the Delivery
Address and one in the lower right corner of the shipping label.
Note: while currently this is a recommended practice, the
Postal Service may undertake to make this requirement mandatory in
the future. For more information on the GS1-DataMatrix (2D) IMpbs,
mailers can view GS1 (2D) information and find barcode
specifications at: <a href="https://www.gs1.org/docs/barcodes/GS1_DataMatrix_Guideline.pdf">https://www.gs1.org/docs/barcodes/GS1_DataMatrix_Guideline.pdf</a> and <a href="https://postalpro.usps.com/shipping/impb/2d-impb-guide">https://postalpro.usps.com/shipping/impb/2d-impb-guide</a>.
323.3 Shipping Service File
Mailers shipping hazardous materials domestically utilizing PC
Postage, eVS, USPS Ship, and/or ePostage platforms must incorporate the
applicable Service Type Code (STC) and/or Extra Service Code (ESC)
found in Appendix G and Pub 199 and transmit a Shipping Services File
(SSF), Version 1.7 or higher, or Shipping Partner Event File (SPEF),
using Version 5.0 or higher, to the Postal Service before, or
concurrent with the tendering of any hazardous materials shipments.
323.4 Legacy Postage and Hard Copy Postage Statements
Mailers using legacy postage meters or hard copy postage forms must
present hazardous materials mailings to a Postal Service retail unit
for acceptance.
323.5 USPS Generated Shipping Labels
Mailers using a label generated by the USPS (including but not
limited to USPS APIs, WebTools, Click-n-Ship, or Merchant Returns
Application) must indicate whether the shipment contains hazardous
materials at the time of label generation.
* * * * *
327 Transportation Requirements
327.1 General
[Revise the last sentence in bullet b. to read as follows:]
b. * * *A mailpiece containing mailable hazardous materials with
postage paid at Marketing Mail, USPS Retail Ground, Parcel Select, or
Package Service prices must not, under any circumstances, be
transported on air transportation. This excludes those ZIP Codes that
are only serviced by air transportation. See Appendix F for ZIP Codes
serviced by air transportation only.
* * * * *
6 International Mail
62 Hazardous Materials: International Mail
621 General Requirements
* * * * *
[Add new section 621.5 to read as follows:]
621.5 Extra Service Codes and Shipping Service Files
Mailers shipping dangerous goods internationally, including to APO/
FPO/DPO destinations utilizing PC Postage, eVS, USPS Ship, and ePostage
platforms, must incorporate the applicable Extra Service Code (ESC)
found in Appendix G and Pub 199 and transmit a Shipping Services File
(SSF), Version 1.7 or higher, or Shipping Partner Event File (SPEF),
using Version 5.0 or higher, to the Postal Service before, or
concurrent with, the tendering of any dangerous goods shipments.
* * * * *
[Add new Appendix G to read as follows:]
Appendix G
Hazardous Materials Service Type Codes (STCs) and Extra Service Codes
(ESCs)
This appendix contains a complete list of the required and optional
STCs and ESCs when shipping hazardous materials and/or dangerous goods.
If an optional STC is selected, then a corresponding ESC must be used.
See 323 and 621.5.
STCs Domestic Outbound (Required)
The following STCs are required when shipping domestic hazardous
materials, unless an STC from the ``Optional'' table is used in
combination with the applicable ESC. ESCs are not required and are
optional when using an STC from the following list.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
760.......................... Priority Mail Express Signature Waived--
Hazardous Materials.
116.......................... Priority Mail USPS Tracking--Hazardous
Materials.
184.......................... First-Class Package Service USPS
Tracking--Hazardous Materials.
395.......................... Parcel Select USPS Tracking--Hazardous
Materials.
785.......................... Parcel Select Lightweight USPS Tracking--
Hazardous Materials.
362.......................... USPS Retail Ground USPS Tracking--
Hazardous Materials.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 73515]]
STCs Domestic Outbound (Optional)
The following STCs are optional and are allowed to be used when
shipping domestic hazardous materials if the use of the applicable
Extra Service is needed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
678.......................... PRS Insurance > $500--Hazardous
Materials.
761.......................... Priority Mail Express Signature
Requested--Hazardous Materials.
762.......................... Priority Mail Express Add Insurance <=
$500--Hazardous Materials.
763.......................... Priority Mail Express Insurance > $500
Restricted Delivery--Hazardous
Materials.
764.......................... Priority Mail Express Adult Signature
Over 21--Hazardous Materials.
120.......................... Priority Mail Insurance <= $500--
Hazardous Materials.
323.......................... Priority Mail Insurance > $500--Hazardous
Materials.
075.......................... Priority Mail Adult Signature Over 21--
Hazardous Materials.
185.......................... First-Class Package Service Insurance <=
$500--Hazardous Materials.
186.......................... First-Class Package Service Insurance >
$500--Hazardous Materials.
483.......................... Parcel Select Insurance <= $500--
Hazardous Materials.
628.......................... Parcel Select Insurance > $500--Hazardous
Materials.
786.......................... Parcel Select Lightweight Insurance <=
$500--Hazardous Materials.
787.......................... Parcel Select Lightweight Insurance >
500--Hazardous Materials.
363.......................... USPS Retail Ground Insurance <= $500--
Hazardous Materials.
365.......................... USPS Retail Ground Insurance > $500--
Hazardous Materials.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
STCs Domestic Returns (Required)
The following STCs for domestic hazardous materials returns
packages are required, unless an STC from the ``Optional'' list is used
in conjunction with the applicable ESC. ESCs are not required and are
optional when using an STC from the following list.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
676.......................... PRS--Hazardous Materials.
187.......................... First-Class Package Return Service--
Hazardous Materials.
385.......................... Ground Return Service--Hazardous
Materials.
037.......................... Priority Mail Return Service--Hazardous
Materials.
217.......................... First-Class Package Return Service--
Division 6.2 Hazardous Materials.
218.......................... Ground Return Service--Division 6.2
Hazardous Materials.
219.......................... Priority Mail Return Service--Division
6.2 Hazardous Materials.
859.......................... PRS: HAZMAT--Division 6.2 Hazardous
Materials.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
STCs Domestic Returns (Optional)
The following STCs are optional for domestic hazardous materials
returns packages if the use of the applicable Extra Service is needed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
190.......................... First-Class Package Return Service
Insurance <= $500--Hazardous Materials.
191.......................... First-Class Package Return Service
Insurance > $500--Hazardous Materials.
388.......................... Ground Return Service Insurance <= $500--
Hazardous Materials.
399.......................... Ground Return Service Insurance > $500--
Hazardous Materials.
515.......................... Priority Mail Return Service Insurance <=
$500--Hazardous Materials.
517.......................... Priority Mail Return Service Insurance >
$500--Hazardous Materials.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESCs Domestic (Optional)
The following is a list of ESCs that may be used in conjunction
with a required STC if the mailer chooses.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
810.......................... Air Eligible Ethanol Package.
811.......................... Class 1--Toy Propellant/Safety Fuse
Package.
812.......................... Hazardous Materials Class 3--Package.
813.......................... Class 7--Radioactive Materials Package.
814.......................... Class 8--Corrosive Materials Package.
815.......................... Class 8--Nonspillable Wet Battery
Package.
816.......................... Class 9--Lithium Battery Marked--Ground
Only Package.
817.......................... Class 9--Lithium Battery--Returns
Package.
818.......................... Class 9--Lithium batteries, marked
package.
819.......................... Class 9--Dry Ice Package.
820.......................... Class 9--Lithium batteries, unmarked
package.
821.......................... Class 9--Magnetized Materials Package.
822.......................... Division 4.1--Mailable flammable solids
and Safety Matches Package.
823.......................... Division 5.1--Oxidizers Package.
824.......................... Division 5.2--Organic Peroxides Package.
825.......................... Division 6.1--Toxic Materials Package
(with an LD50 of 50 mg/kg or less).
826.......................... Division 6.2 Hazardous Materials.
[[Page 73516]]
827.......................... Excepted Quantity Provision Package.
828.......................... Ground Only Hazardous Materials.
829.......................... ID8000 Consumer Commodity Package.
830.......................... Lighters Package.
831.......................... LTD QTY Ground Package.
832.......................... Small Quantity Provision Package.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESCs Domestic & APO/FPO/DPO (Requesting Label From USPS APIs or
WebTools) (Required)
The following is an ESC that must be provided if requesting a USPS
created label from USPS APIs or WebTools for a shipment containing
hazardous materials.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
857.............................. Hazardous Materials.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESCs International (Required)
The following is a list of ESCs required for use in the mailers
Shipping Service File, when tendering dangerous goods internationally
with the Postal Service.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
813.............................. Class 7--Radioactive Materials
Package.
820.............................. Class 9--Lithium batteries, unmarked
package.
826.............................. Division 6.2 Hazardous Materials.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* * * * *
Sarah Sullivan,
Attorney, Ethics & Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2022-26072 Filed 11-25-22; 11:15 am]
BILLING CODE P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 30, 2022.
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.