Change in Intelligent Mail Barcode Requirements for Letter-Size and Flat-Size Business Reply Mail, Courtesy Reply Mail

We recently revised the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM®) to postpone the Intelligent Mail® barcode (IMb) requirement for Qualified Business Reply Mail® (QBRM) and permit reply mail (PRM) pieces until May 2011. Current DMM standards, which we are not proposing to change, require an IMb on all BRM letters and on all PRM pieces as of May 2011.

This advance announcement is intended to provide customers with reasonable time to use up existing stock. We will be publishing a Federal Register proposed rule to require BRM flats (in addition to letters as stated above) to use an Intelligent Mail Barcode as of May 2011.  In addition, in the Federal Register proposed rule, Courtesy Reply Mail™ that does include a barcode must bear an Intelligent Mail barcode effective May 2011.

Published Federal Register Notices & Approaching DMM Revisions

The following four Federal Register notices have been published and are now posted on the Postal Explorer® website at pe.usps.com. All of these revisions will be incorporated into the July 6^th update of the online DMM®, and the July 17 Postal Bulletin. We encourage you to check them out:

Business Reply Mail® Online Application Option — eliminates the option to apply for a Business Reply Mail permit online. The application for applying online for Qualified Business Reply Mail is also being eliminated.

Restricting the Mailing of Replica or Inert Explosive Devices — adds new standards for items that are replicas or inert explosive devices must be sent by Registered Mail™ service only.

Plant-Verified Drop Shipment (PVDS) – Nonpostal Documentation — clarifies that postal employees may, upon request, sign a bill-of-lading for a mailer’s transportation provider as a courtesy to the customer. However, PS Form 8125 is the sole source of evidence for USPS purposes of the transfer of the custody of pieces entered at the time of induction. [This article will be in the July 1 Postal Bulletin].

Treatment of Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco as Nonmailable Matter — implements the specific provisions of the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking (PACT) Act, which restricts the mailability of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco sent through the U.S. Postal Service®. [Effective date is June 29, 2010].

DMM Advisory

Two New Federal Register Proposed Rules On Postal Explorer

We have posted two new Federal Register proposed rules on the Postal Explorer® website at pe.usps.com. Just click on Federal Register Notices in the left frame.

Express Mail Next Day Delivery Postage Refund Amendment

This Express Mail® notice proposes to remove the overnight guarantee postage payment during the timeframe of December 22 through December 25 of each year. This is consistent with industry standards. Comments are encouraged on or before June 1, 2010.

Treatment of Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco as Nonmailable Matter

This proposed rule notice pertains to the mailing of tobacco cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, and follows the specific requirements of the Prevent All Tobacco Cigarettes Trafficking (PACT) Act, which restricts the mailability of these products. Comments must be received on or before May 17, 2010.

DMM Advisory – May Update

Postal Explorer (pe.usps.com) is your source for up-to-date mailing standards. The Domestic Mail Manual is fully searchable on Postal Explorer and features fly-out menus, cross-reference links, and an extensive subject index. Today we updated our mailing standards to capture the following changes:

Scheduled Pickup on Demand
We revised 507.6.0 to standardize the process for scheduled Pickup on Demand service by providing a new service agreement form. Additionally, we authorized PC Postage as an approved method to pay for Pickup on Demand.

Change-of-Address Orders for Department of State Addresses – Update
We revised 507.2.0 and 703.3.0 to authorize Internet Change of Address (ICOA) orders for Department of State personnel when individuals move to, from, or between overseas destinations.

APO, FPO, and DPO Mailpieces Bearing a Customs Declaration—Clarification and Update

We revised 703.2.0 to clarify the correct customs declaration form (PS Form 2976, or PS Form 2976-A) for items addressed to APO, FPO, and DPO locations.

Our next scheduled DMM update is June 7.

Postal Service Launches Green Newsroom

(from www.usps.com)

WASHINGTON — On the eve of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, the U.S. Postal Service unveiled its green newsroom, a one-stop shop for all its environmental information. Replete with photos of its energy-saving vehicles and facilities, green products and services, and a time-lapse video of the construction of New York’s largest green roof, the Postal Service’s green newsroom is its newest, most informative site to visit on Earth Day.

“At the Postal Service’s green newsroom, every day is Earth Day,” said Sam Pulcrano, vice president, Sustainability. “Our history of environmental efforts goes back more than 100 years and Earth Day is a perfect opportunity to tell Americans about the Postal Service’s planet-friendly initiatives.”

According to Pulcrano, the USPS green newsroom is a robust source of sustainability news and answers key green questions including:

• How big is the Postal Service’s carbon footprint?
• How is the Postal Service decreasing its carbon emissions?
• How many hundreds of millions of dollars in energy costs has the Postal Service saved since 2007?
• How many hundreds of thousands of tons of waste did the Postal Service recycle in 2008? (Hint – enough to fill America’s tallest building.)
• How are expired or unwanted pharmaceuticals safely discarded with the Postal Service’s help without harming the environment?

Visitors to the green newsroom can learn about the Postal Service’s first test of electric vehicles in 1899, when it found that mail could be delivered in less than half the time taken by horse-drawn wagons. They also can find out how many billions of miles were traveled last year to deliver America’s mail, and how many millions of gallons of alternative fuel were purchased by the Postal Service in 2009.

Viewers of the site can expand their green knowledge and Earth Day conversation with interesting facts including: how many tens of thousands of alternative fuel-capable vehicles are in the Postal Service’s fleet; where the Postal Service uses mules to deliver mail; and which mail delivery vehicle has zero emissions, and costs only 2 cents per mile to operate.

“We hope America visits the new green newsroom, and usps.com/green, to learn more about the Postal Service’s commitment to the environment,” Pulcrano said.

The Postal Service has won more than 75 environmental awards, including 40 White House Closing the Circle,

10 Environmental Protection Agency WasteWise Partner of the Year, Climate Action Champion, Direct Marketing Association Green Echo, and the Postal Technology International Environmental Achievement of the Year, 2009.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.