Front Cover - USPS

Front Cover

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Contents

COVER STORY

Stay Alert -- School is Back in Session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

POLICIES, PROCEDURES, AND FORMS UPDATES

Publications Publication 52 Revision: New Mailing Standards for

Lithium Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Publication 431 Revision: Changes to Post Office Box

Service and Caller Service Fee Groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

ORGANIZATION INFORMATION

Address Management Post Office Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Freely Associated States Notice of Change to Freely Associated States

Restrictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Information Security Beware of Text Scams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72

Stamp Services Pictorial Postmarks Announcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Digital Color or

Traditional Postmarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

PULL-OUT INFORMATION

Fraud Invalid USPS Corporate Account Numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Missing, Lost, or Stolen U.S. Money Order Forms . . . . . . . . 37 Missing, Lost, or Stolen Canadian Money Order Forms . . . . 43 Verifying U.S. Postal Service Money Orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Counterfeit Canadian Money Order Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Toll-Free Number Available to Verify Canadian Money

Orders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Other Information Overseas Military/Diplomatic Mail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Thrift Savings Plan Fact Sheet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Freely Associated States Restrictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

POSTAL BULLETIN INDEX

2017 Semi-Annual Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PB 22472 (7-20-17)

Find the latest in mail and delivery information and services offered by U.S. PostalTM in the Postal Bulletin at .

Cover Story

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Cover Story

Stay Alert -- School is Back in Session

August is the beginning of the new school year for many children. This means an increase in the number of pedestrians crossing streets and sidewalks as children walk to and from school or wait for school buses. Drivers need to take extra precautions to avoid accidents and keep our kids safe by staying alert and driving defensively.

Children are unpredictable. They take risks, ignore hazards, and fail to look both ways when crossing the street, or while walking or riding their bikes. Here are some precautions to adopt while driving through residential areas and near schools:

Slow down and obey the speed limits.

Adjust your mirrors so that you can see around your vehicle.

Avoid backing up your vehicle.

Avoid distracted driving.

A school zone sign with a flashing yellow light indicates you must reduce your speed to the limit posted on the sign. When you see a school zone sign, do not pass or change lanes and obey the posted speed limit throughout the school zone. Always stay alert and use increased caution.

Like school zones, drivers must also be alert and slow down when near a school bus. A bus with flashing red lights or a stop sign extended means children are getting on or off the bus. Vehicles from both directions must stop at least 10 feet away to allow enough space for children to safely enter and exit the bus. Drivers must remain stopped until:

The red lights stop flashing, The stop sign has been drawn back, The driver waves you on, or The bus begins to move. Failure to stop for a school bus with the stop indicators engaged can result in heavy fines. In many states, school buses are also required to stop at railroad crossings. You are breaking the law if you pass a school bus stopped at a railroad crossing. The U.S. Postal Service? makes every effort to promote safe neighborhoods. Whether you are on the clock or off, be alert and aware of your surroundings to keep our kids safe.

-- Safety and OSHA Compliance Programs, Employee Resource Management, 8-17-17

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Policies, Procedures, and Forms Updates

Policies, Procedures, and Forms Updates

Publications

Publication 52 Revision: New Mailing Standards for Lithium Batteries

Effective August 17, 2017, the Postal ServiceTM is revising Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, in various sections to provide new mailing standards for mailpieces containing lithium batteries.

The Postal Service announced these revisions via a Federal Register notice titled "Revision to Mailing Standards for Lithium Batteries," which was published on July 26, 2017 (82 FR 34712?34715). With these revisions, the Postal Service aligns its mailing standards with recent changes made by other federal regulatory agencies with regard to the transportation of lithium batteries.

Relative to lithium batteries, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) published addendum number 3 to its Technical Instructions on January 15, 2016, and addendum number 4 on February 23, 2016. In these addenda, ICAO announced new regulations for lithium batteries in air transportation. Effective April 1, 2016, the ICAO revisions detailed a number of new provisions including:

The prohibition of lithium-ion (and lithium polymer) batteries, shipped separately from the equipment they are intended to operate (categorized as identification number UN3480), on passenger aircraft.

The restriction of UN3480 batteries and cells shipped via cargo aircraft to a maximum state of charge (SOC) of no more than 30 percent.

The limitation of section II, UN3480 batteries and cells to a single package, when sent as a part of a consignment or overpack via cargo aircraft.

The required use of an approved Cargo Aircraft Only (CAO) label on all packages of UN3480 batteries and cells transported via cargo aircraft.

On March 30, 2017, the Department of Transportation's (DOT's) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) published its final rule titled "Hazardous Materials: Harmonization with International Standards RRR," HM-215N (82 FR 15796?15897), which generally adopted a proposed rule published on September 7, 2016. In its final rule, PHMSA stated that its revisions were necessary to harmonize the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) with recent changes made to the following:

The International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.

The International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO's) Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air.

The United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods -- Model Regulations.

The PHMSA final rule also included a number of new regulations for the transport of lithium batteries.

On February 22, 2017, the Postal Service responded by publishing a notice with an invitation to comment (82 FR 11372), "Revision to Mailing Standards for the Transport of Lithium Batteries." In this notice, the Postal Service announced its intent to revise Publication 52 to align with the following:

The ICAO Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (ICAO Technical Instructions).

The PHMSA proposed rule of September 7, 2016.

The Postal Service received four comments in response to its February 22 notice of intent -- two from airline pilot associations, one from a hazardous materials trade association, and one from the Congressional Delegation from the state of Alaska. In response to these commenter's concerns, the Postal Service adopted additional restrictions applicable to some mailings of lithium batteries and introduced a provision to permit limited mailings of UN3480 batteries via Postal Service air transportation within the state of Alaska. As a result, the Postal Service will:

Generally prohibit UN3480 lithium-ion and lithium polymer batteries in Postal Service air-eligible products.

Revise its quantity limitations for UN3480 lithium-ion and lithium polymer batteries in surface transportation to align with those for lithium metal batteries -- changing from the previous 8 cells or 2 batteries to an aggregate mailpiece limit of 5 pounds.

Accept and evaluate requests for exceptions to mail UN3480 batteries used to support critical medical devices via domestic air-eligible products. The batteries must be within current Postal Service capacity and quantity limitations, necessary for the emergency support of critical medical devices, and have no other reasonable alternative for delivery within an acceptable period. The Postal Service defers revision to Publication 52 relating to these authorizations until it has determined the level of interest and the need for these exceptions. Before granting any authorizations, the Postal Service plans to consult with PHMSA to ensure alignment with their approval

Policies, Procedures, and Forms Updates

processes for commercial carriers. Interested mailers may direct requests to the manager, Product Classification (see Publication 52, part 214, for the complete address). Permit UN3480 batteries meeting the current USPS? capacity limitations and quantity restrictions to be mailed via air-eligible products, if these mailings are both mailed and delivered within the state of Alaska.

Eliminate the current text marking option for mailpieces required to bear, or optionally permitted to bear, lithium battery markings under Publication 52, sections 349.221a(6) and 349.222a(6), and limit markings to DOT-approved lithium battery marks.

Require a separate "prohibited on passenger aircraft" text marking, in addition to a DOT-approved lithium battery mark, for mailpieces containing UN3480 and UN3090 batteries. This marking is only appropriate for, and restricted to, surface transportation.

Permit the optional use of previously authorized lithium battery marks during PHMSA's transitional period for these marks until December 31, 2018.

Eliminate the requirement for accompanying documentation with mailings of lithium batteries.

Add the new DOT class 9 hazard warning label for lithium batteries to Publication 52, Exhibit 325.1, DOT Hazardous Materials Warning Labels: PROHIBITED IN THE MAIL.

Require the outer packaging of mailpieces containing small lithium batteries to be rigid and of adequate size so the lithium battery mark can be affixed on the address side without the mark being folded.

Require lithium battery marks to be placed on the address side of all mailpieces bearing these marks.

Permit the use of padded and poly bags as outer packaging for mailpieces containing button cell batteries properly installed in the equipment they are intended to operate, provided the batteries are afforded adequate protection by the equipment, and the batteries meet the USPS classification criteria for a button cell battery in section 349.11d of Publication 52.

Define a lithium battery consignment as one or more mailpieces containing lithium batteries that is entered into USPS networks by one mailer or mail service provider within a single mailing or retail transaction, or included in the same manifest or shipping services file, and intended for delivery to a single consignee at a single destination address.

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Require DOT-approved lithium battery markings on all mailpieces containing lithium cells or batteries contained in equipment when there are more than two mailpieces in a single consignment in domestic mail.

Limit a single consignment to two mailpieces containing lithium batteries for international and APO/ FPO/DPO mail.

The Postal Service will allow a transitional period until January 1, 2018, for the mailing standards described in this notice. During the transitional period, we urge mailers to comply with the new mailing standards, but compliance will not be mandatory until January 1, 2018.

Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail

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Hazardous Materials

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General

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325 DOT Hazardous Materials Warning Labels

325.1 Nonmailable Warning Labels

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Exhibit 325.1 DOT Hazardous Materials Warning Labels: PROHIBITED IN THE MAIL

[Add a new Lithium Battery Class 9 label to the list of DOT warning labels prohibited in the mail as shown:]

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