Proposed Rule2024-17156
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 9, 2024
Issuing agencies
Postal Regulatory Commission
Abstract
The Commission is acknowledging a recent Postal Service response to Order No. 7049 regarding proposed changes to analytical principles relating to periodic reports (Proposal Eight). This document informs the public of the filing, invites public comment on the Postal Service response, and takes other administrative steps.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 154 (Friday, August 9, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 65302-65303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-17156]
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POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
39 CFR Part 3050
[Docket No. RM2024-2; Order No. 7321]
Periodic Reporting
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.
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SUMMARY: The Commission is acknowledging a recent Postal Service
response to Order No. 7049 regarding proposed changes to analytical
principles relating to periodic reports (Proposal Eight). This document
informs the public of the filing, invites public comment on the Postal
Service response, and takes other administrative steps.
DATES: Comments are due: August 27, 2024.
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. Background
III. Notice of Filing and Related Proceeding
IV. Ordering Paragraphs
I. Introduction
On July 1, 2024, the Postal Service filed a response to Order No.
7049 \1\ regarding proposed changes to analytical principles relating
to periodic reports (Proposal Eight).\2\ The Commission reopens this
docket for the limited purpose of considering the issues raised by the
Response and invites public comments on the Response.
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\1\ Order Approving Analytical Principles Used in Periodic
Reporting (Proposal Eight) with Two Modifications, April 18, 2024
(Order No. 7049).
\2\ Response of the United States Postal Service to Order No.
7049 Regarding Rural Carrier Costing, July 1, 2024 (Response). The
Postal Service also filed a notice of filing of non-public materials
relating to the Response. Notice of Filing of USPS-RM2024-2-NP5 and
Application for Nonpublic Treatment, July 1, 2024.
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II. Background
In Order No. 7049, the Commission approved the changes in
analytical principles proposed by the Postal Service in Proposal Eight
with two modifications: (1) the aggregated coverage model specification
for box time was approved rather than the Three-Group Coverage Model;
and (2) the errors identified in the Postal Service's costing files
were corrected as discussed in the order. Order No. 7049 at 37. The
Commission also ordered the Postal Service to conduct additional
research to justify the groupings presented in the Three-Group Coverage
Model or other specification of its choosing for estimating the volume
variability of box time, as well as to report the findings of such
research by July 1, 2024. Id. In addition, the Commission ordered the
Postal Service to provide by July 1, 2024 a detailed description of how
it plans to assess the potential partial volume variabilities of
sequences 026, 049, 051, 052, 037, 038, 083, 053, and 063. Id.
On July 1, 2024, the Postal Service filed the Response addressing
the two research topics ordered by the Commission in Order No. 7049.
Regarding the first research topic, the Postal Service now proposes a
Two-Group Coverage Model for estimating the volume variability of box
time, grouping products based on whether they have homogeneous high or
low coverage-causing characteristics on box time. See Response at 3-14.
Based on the Postal Service's research, it proposes that the high
coverage impact group consists of delivery point sequence (DPS)
letters, carrier route flats, walk-sequence saturation (WSS) letters,
WSS flats, boxholder letters, and boxholder flats. Id. at 14. The
Postal Service also proposes that the low coverage impact group
consists of random letters, random flats, mailbox parcels, door
parcels, locker parcels, and accountables. Id. The Postal Service then
calculates a variability of 33.66 percent for the high coverage impact
group and a variability of 5.63 percent for the low coverage impact
group. Id. at 17. It then proposes 39.28 percent as the volume
variability for box time. Id. at 33, Table 15. The Postal Service
states the Two-Group Coverage Model is preferrable over the aggregated
coverage
[[Page 65303]]
model approved in Order No. 7049 for estimating the volume variability
of box time because it ``adds precision to the estimating by ferreting
out the different effects by using groupings of mail products that have
similar coverage-causing characteristics.'' Id. at 17.
Regarding the second research topic, the Postal Service proposes
the following volume variabilities for the nine sequences ordered by
the Commission in Order No. 7049 for it to research:
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Proposed volume
Sequence variability (%)
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026.................................................. 29.48
037.................................................. 84.32
038.................................................. 84.66
049.................................................. 29.48
051.................................................. 84.32
052.................................................. 84.66
053.................................................. 84.66
063.................................................. 5.96
083.................................................. 46.05
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Source: Response at 33, Table 15; see generally, id. at 18-32.
Chairman's Information Request No. 4 (CHIR No. 4) is issued today,
July 30, 2024, concerning the Postal Service's Response and the Postal
Service's response to CHIR No. 4 is due August 13, 2024.\3\
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\3\ Chairman's Information Request No. 4, July 30, 2024.
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III. Notice of Filing and Related Proceeding
The Commission hereby informs the public of the Postal Service's
Response and of the reopening of Docket No. RM2024-2 for the limited
purpose of considering issues raised by the Response. More information
on the Response and additional filings in this proceeding may be
accessed via the Commission's website at <a href="http://www.prc.gov">http://www.prc.gov</a>. Any
material filed in this proceeding that is subject to an application for
non-public treatment (filed under seal) may be accessed via the
Commission's website only by account holders granted access by an order
or in accordance with 39 CFR 3011.300(a). The Commission's rules on
non-public materials (including access to material filed under seal)
appear in 39 CFR part 3011.
Interested persons may submit comments on the Response no later
than August 27, 2024. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Nikki Brendemuehl
continues to serve 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:
1. The Commission reopens Docket No. RM2024-2 for the limited
purpose of considering issues raised by the Response of the United
States Postal Service to Order No. 7049 Regarding Rural Carrier
Costing, filed July 1, 2024.
2. Comments by interested persons in this proceeding are due no
later than August 27, 2024.
3. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, the Commission appoints Nikki
Brendemuehl to continue 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.
Jennie L. Jbara,
Primary Certifying Official.
[FR Doc. 2024-17156 Filed 8-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-P
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