[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 33 (Friday, February 19, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 7426]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3225]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
39 CFR Part 3050
[Docket No. RM2010-8; Order No. 406]
Periodic Reporting
AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking; availability of
rulemaking petition.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Commission is noticing a Postal Service petition proposing
a change in transportation cost system sampling. The proposal involves
distributing rail costs using inter-BMC highway distribution factors.
This notice briefly describes the Postal Service's rationale for
proposing this change and addresses procedural steps associated with
the petition.
DATES: Comments are due: February 24, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically via the Commission's Filing
Online system at http://www.prc.gov. Commenters who cannot submit their
views electronically should contact the person identified in FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT by telephone for advice on alternatives to
electronic filing.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel,
202-789-6820 or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Procedural Matters
III. Ordering Paragraphs
I. Background
On February 9, 2010, the Postal Service filed a petition to
initiate an informal rulemaking proceeding to consider a change in the
analytical methods approved for use in periodic reporting.\1\ The
Postal Service labels its proposal ``Proposal One'' because it intends
that it relate to the FY 2010 rather than the FY 2009 compliance
reporting cycle. Proposal One seeks authorization from the Commission
to immediately eliminate the rail portion of the Transportation Cost
System (TRACS) sampling, and proposes instead to distribute rail costs
using the Inter-BC highway distribution factors.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Petition of the United States Postal Service Requesting
Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider a Proposed Change in Analytic
Principles (Proposal One), February 9, 2010 (Petition).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Postal Service states that as part of a realignment of its
transportation and distribution systems, it is shifting much of its
transportation needs from rail to truck. Because rail costs are rapidly
dwindling, it proposes to eliminate TRACS rail sampling, and to use the
TRACS inter-BMC distribtion in place of the Rail distribution key in
Cost Segment 14. Table 1 of the supporting material accompanying the
Petition (Proposal One) shows that Freight Rail and Rail Plant Load
costs are expected to decline by 75 percent from FY 2009 to FY 2010,
when they will amount to less than $15 million. Id., Proposal One, at
1. Table 2 shows that substituting the inter-BMC distribution key for
the Rail distribution key in FY 2009 would have had a small impact on
the share of Segment 14 costs borne by each market dominant product.
Id. at 2. The Postal Service comments that the impact will be de
minimis in FY 2010 when Rail costs will make up a much smaller share of
Segment 14 costs. The Postal Service states its desire to make the
change before Quarter 3 of FY 2010 makes more efficient use of its data
collection resources. Id.
II. Procedural Matters
The Commission sets February 24, 2010 as the due date for public
comments. The Commission will determine the need for reply comments
after reviewing the initial comments received.
Kenneth Moeller is designated as the Public Representative to
represent the interests of the general public in this proceeding.
III. Ordering Paragraphs
It is ordered:
1. The Petition of the United States Postal Service Requesting
Initiation of a Proceeding to Consider a Proposed Change in Analytic
Principles (Proposal One), filed February 9, 2010, is granted.
2. The Commission establishes Docket No. RM2010-8 to consider the
matters raised by the Postal Service's Petition.
3. Interested persons may submit comments on Proposal One no later
than February 24, 2010.
4. Pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 505, Kenneth Moeller is appointed to serve
as the Public Representative representing the interests of the general
public.
5. The Secretary shall arrange for publication of this notice in
the Federal Register.
By the Commission.
Shoshana M. Grove,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-3225 Filed 2-18-E8; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-FW-S