Postal Service Manual, a looseleaf publication published and maintained by the U.S. Postal Service, Washington, DC, 20260.

§ 111.2

Availability of Chapter I of the Postal Service Manual.

(a) Copies of Chapter I of the Postal Service Manual are available for reference and inspection upon request at the National Headquarters and regional offices of the U.S. Postal Service and at all United States Post Offices and classified stations and branches during normal business hours. Regional offices located in New York, Philadelphia, Memphis, Chicago, and San Francisco.

are

(b) A copy of Chapter I of the Postal Service Manual, together with each amendment of it, is on file with the Director, Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Service, General Services Administration, at 1100 "L" Street, NW., Room 8401, Washington, D.C., 20408.

(c) Copies of the entire Postal Service Manual may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D.C., 20402 for $33.00. This price includes entitlement to receive, for an indefinite period, changes in the Postal Service Manual which may be published from time to time. A companion publication entitled Instructions for Mailers excerpts all portions of Chapter I which are directed to the mailing public. This publication is sold to the public on a subscription basis for $5.00 by the Superintendent of Documents.

§ 111.3 Amendments to Chapter I of Postal Service Manual.

Notices of changes made in Chapter I of the Postal Service Manual will periodically be published in the FEDERAL REGISTER. The text of such changes will be filed with the Director, Office of the Federal Register. Subscribers to the Postal Service Manual will automatically receive the amendments from the Government Printing Office.

§ 111.4 Approval of the Director of the Federal Register.

(a) Incorporation by reference of Chapter I of the Postal Service Manual was approved by the Director of the Federal Register under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR Part 51.

(b) This approval was granted on June 7, 1974 for the period of one year at the conclusion of which it will expire

without further action unless renewed and extended by the Director upon application by the U.S. Postal Service.

§ 111.5 Contents of Chapter I of Postal Service Manual.

Chapter I of the Postal Service Manual contains the following parts:

(a) Subchapter 110-General Information on Postal Service.

(1) Part 111-What this chapter covers.
(2) Part 112-Domestic mail service.
(3) Part 113-Service in post offices.
(4) Part 114-Complaints.

(5) Part 115-Mail treated in confidence.. (b) Subchapter 120-Preparation for mailing.

(1) Part 121-Packaging.

(2) Part 122-Addresses.

(3) Part 123-Nonmailable matter.

(4) Part 124-Matter mailable under special rules.

(5) Part 125-Second-class bulk mailings. (6) Part 126-Mail addressed to military post offices overseas.

(7) Part 127-Mail sent via Department of State to U.S. foreign service personnel abroad.

(c) Subchapter 130-Mail classification and rates.

(1) Part 131-First class.

(2) Part 132-Second class.

(3) Part 133-Controlled circulation publications.

(4) Part 134—Third class.

(5) Part 135-Fourth class.

(6) Part 136-Air and priority mail.

(7) Part 137-Official mail.

(8) Part 138-For the blind and other handicapped persons.

(9) Part 139-Mixed classes.
(d) Subchapter 140-Postage.
(1) Part 141-Envelopes, postal cards,

aerogrammes.

lished when we cannot give adequate service through the post office, station or branch now serving the area; through a new station or branch; or by an extension of city, rural or star route delivery. Post offices are not established solely for community identity.

(2) Stations. Classified, contract, and rural personnel and nonpersonnel stations are established where needed within the service limits of an independent post office. Units established within the corporate limits of the city, town or village where the main post office is located are designated as stations.

(3) Branches. Classified, contract, and rural personnel and nonpersonnel branches are established within the service limits of an independent post office. Units established outside of the corporate limits of the city, town or village where the main post office is located are designated as branches. Classified and contract branches cannot be established at locations more than 20 miles outside the corporate limits of the city, town, or village where the main post office is located and must serve a population of not less than 1,500 persons. The 20-mile limitation and 1,500 population requirement do not apply to airports, military installations, rural personnel, and/or nonpersonnel branches. Where the parent post office is located in an unincorporated city, town or community, all postal units administratively attached to that post office are designated as branches. § 113.2 Hours of business.

(a) Business Days, First-, Second-, and Third-Class Offices. (1) Provide window service, including registry service, 82 continuous hours, unless otherwise authorized by the Regional Postmaster General, during the business portion of the day. Consolidate money order service with other window service; except that an exclusive money order window may be provided when more than 350 orders a day are issued, provided the transactions are spread over the entire day and are not concentrated during a brief rush period. Limit exclusive money order windows to 8 hours service a day, usually from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. When these services are consolidated with others, transact money order business during the hours the joint window is open.

(2) Extend window service whenever it is specifically determined to be in accordance with the needs of the community. If additional expense is involved,

prior approval must be obtained from the Regional Postmaster General. Auxiliary money order windows may be opened during rush hours where this service is consolidated with other window services.

(3) If there is a total or partial suspension of general business on Saturday afternoon, or on some other workday, reduce window, collection, delivery, and other services accordingly. However, an employee shall be on duty when the rural carriers return.

(4) Obtain approval of the Regional Postmaster General before inaugurating night service at post offices, stations, or branches when this service involves expense for clerk hire, fuel, or light. Some post office lobbies are open at night to permit customers to deposit mail and obtain mail from lockboxes.

(5) If special instructions on hours of window service are desired, send request to Regional Postmaster General.

(6) The agreement for conduct of a contract station or branch provides that the contractor will transact specified postal business during the hours his establishment is open for business or during such hours as the postmaster may designate. However, for the convenience of the public, the contractor may, on his own initiative, sell postal money orders and stamps at other than the hours designated by the postmaster.

(b) National holidays. Post offices are kept open on holidays for such time as necessary to meet reasonable requirements of the public. Receive, collect, and dispatch mail in accordance with holiday schedules. Distribute incoming mail to post office boxes at the main office and, generally, to post office boxes at stations and branches. Only special-delivery matter shall be delivered. The following holidays are observed:

(1) New Year's Day.

(2) Washington's Birthday.

(3) Memorial Day.

(4) Independence Day.

(5) Labor Day.

(6) Columbus Day.

(7) Veterans' Day.

(8) Thanksgiving Day.

(9) Christmas.

(10) Other days set aside by the President as holidays.

(c) Local holidays. (1) Post offices shall not be closed on local or State holidays. Mail shall be received and dispatched as usual. Make city, village, and rural deliveries in regular manner. Window services may be reduced.

(2) Do not release regular employees from duty on State or local holidays if substitute replacements are necessary or if their absence would result in the use of substitute time or overtime on that or any later date.

(3) Do not grant other time off for service performed on local or State holidays.

(4) Keep record of service curtailment.

(d) Sundays--(1) First- and secondclass offices. First- and second-class offices shall not be opened on Sunday to deliver mail to general public. Sunday duty schedules shall cover only employees needed to collect and prepare mail for dispatch, to deliver special-delivery mail, and to perform incoming mail distribution considered necessary to lock boxes, and to avoid congestion and delays in delivery on Monday.

(2) Third- and fourth-class offices. Third- and fourth-class offices need not be opened on Sundays unless mail arrives after Saturday closing hour and before 6 p.m. Sunday. If mail arrives during these hours and public convenience requires its delivery on Sunday, the office may be opened to the public once for not more than 1 hour. Sale of postage stamps, registration of mail, and delivery of registered mail on Sundays is left to postmaster's option. Money orders need not be issued or paid. Deliver special delivery mail which arrives during these hours.

(e) Lobby. The post office lobby, including separate box lobbies, may remain open at the postmaster's discretion when no one is on duty if screen work extends to ceiling and if all doors, windows, and wickets connecting lobby with workroom are securely locked and police protection is adequate.

§ 113.3 General delivery.

(a) Use. General delivery is primarily for use at offices without carrier delivery to serve transients and for other customers who prefer not to use lockbox service. Mail endorsed "Transient," "To Be Called For," "General Delivery," or with other suitable words will be placed in the general delivery case to be delivered to the addressee on his application and proper identification.

(b) Where carrier deliveries are provided. General delivery service is provided at offices with carrier delivery service, for transients and customers who are not permanently located. Persons in

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 114 issued under 39 U.S.C. 401.

SOURCE: 37 F.R. 18535, Sept. 13, 1972, unless otherwise noted.

§ 114.1 Postal service.

Complaints by individual customers about any aspect of products, services, or information may be made at any post office or regional office. Although the foregoing is recommended as an initial step, any customer may choose to direct a complaint to the Consumer Advocate, U.S. Postal Service, Washington, D.C. 20260. When the complaint concerns apparent mishandling of mail, furnish the related envelope or wrapper, if possible.

Sec.

PART 115-MAIL TREATED IN
CONFIDENCE

§ 115.1 Mail treated in confidence.

First-class mail is given absolute secrecy while in our custody. No persons in the Postal Service, except employees of dead-mail offices, may open first-class mail without a legal warrant, even though it may contain criminal or otherwise unmailable matter or may furnish evidence of the commission of a crime. (39 U.S.C. 401, 3623 (d)) [35 FR 19401, Dec. 23, 1970]

PART 121-PACKAGING

(1) An easy load. Items of moderate density, which completely fill the container, or items packaged in interior containers which completely fill the outer mailing container. Easy loads are not readily damaged by puncture or shock and do not shift or otherwise move within the package or present a hazard to other parcels.

(2) An average load. Moderately concentrated items, which are packed directly into a shipping container or which may be subjected to an intermediate stage of packing, and which provide partial support to all surfaces of the container. Average loads may be prepackaged by wrapping or by positioning in partitions or paperboard boxes or by other means which provide some support to the faces of the package.

(3) A difficult load. Items which require a high degree of protection to prevent puncture, shock or distortion either

to themselves or the package. Fragile items, delicate instruments, high density, small bulk items, etc., which do not support the mailing container are not acceptable in paperboard or fiberboard boxes or bags or wraps of any type.

(b) Other definitions. The "Glossary of Packaging Terms" also defines terms frequently used in the packaging field. This joint Government-industry developed document may be obtained from the Packaging Institute Inc., 342 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017. Federal Government agencies may obtain it as the current revision of Federal Standard 75 from established distribution points. $121.3

Packaging for mailing.

(a) Preservation. It is the responsibility of the mailer to provide protection against deterioration or degradation of the contents. Preshipment testing is practiced by the airline carriers and by many company managers to determine the effectiveness of their packaging as well as the durability and the quality of their product. The mailer should be aware of the characteristics of the item he is mailing, the transit time, and the mail handling and transportation environment. Postmasters and customer services representatives will keep customers advised on service and transit times for parcel post.

(b) Containers acceptable for mailing (1) Boxes. (i) Paperboard boxes, similar to suite boxes, are acceptable for easy and average loads up to 10 pounds.

(ii) Metal-stayed paperboard boxes are acceptable for easy and average loads up to 20 pounds.

(iii) Solid and corrugated fiberboard boxes are acceptable for easy and average loads up to the following weight limits:

(A) 175 pound test board up to 20 pounds.

(B) 200 pound test board up to 45 pounds.

(C) 275 pound test board up to 70 pounds.

(iv) Wood, metal or plastic boxes are acceptable for all types of loads depending on the adequacy of their construction, their ability to withstand the forces of shock and pressure, and their potential as a source of damage to other items. Boxes with difficult loads to out of town destinations will be reinforced with

banding about every six inches in each of the two directions around the package. (v) The size of the box must be adequate to contain the item(s) and provide enough extra space for cushioning material. If the box is too large and the load is not properly blocked and cushioned, the contents will shift in transit. If it is too small, the cushioning will not be effective and container failure is liable to occur.

(vi) Good, rigid used boxes with all flaps intact are acceptable. If a box of the desired size cannot be found, a larger one may be cut down as shown in Illustration 1. Bend the four sides over the articles which have been cushioned in the box and close and band as in illustration 7. Illustration 2 shows a method of making an acceptable container by using two boxes of the same general dimensions from which the flaps have been removed.

(2) Outside wraps for boxes. Paperboard and fiberboard boxes may be wrapped as shown in Illustration 3. Closure and reinforcement may be accomplished by the use of tape, twine, or cord. See paragraph (d) of this section. Although wrapping paper equivalent to a regular large grocery bag, 60 pounds basis weight, may be used as an outside cover