In today's Federal Register, the U.S. Postal Service has published a notice of availability of environmental assessment documents on the whole matter of Postal Service reorganization and cutbacks --- the elimination of over 200 regional mail sorting facilities and other changes.
The notice does not show a link where the documents can be downloaded on the internet, so you have to call the contact listed in the notice to get the documents.
The Postal Service is making a finding of no significant impact on the decision.
It would seem to me that shutting down all of these regional mail sorting facilities will mean that the amount of energy used to transport mail will increase....by trading trucking operations for employee jobs.
This notice and the documents should be reviewed by the national environmental groups that are working with labor unions on the labor-environment coalitions.
Environmental Assessments; Availability, etc.:
Mail Processing Network Rationalization Initiative, 7214
http://www.gpo.gov/...
http://www.gpo.gov/...
I am including the text of the message below....
The notice does not contain a request for comments or identify the documents as draft or proposed....no comment deadline is shown. I have a call into the guy to find out if they are seeking comments and, if so, what the deadline is.
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 28 (Friday, February 10, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 7214]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-3082]
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POSTAL SERVICE
Notice of Availability: Programmatic Environmental Assessment for
Mail Processing Network Rationalization Initiative (Formerly Known as
the ``Network Optimization'' Initiative), Nationwide
AGENCY: Postal Service.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a Programmatic Environmental
Assessment.
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SUMMARY: To comply with the requirements of the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA), the Postal Service has prepared and is making
available a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) for the Mail
Processing Network Rationalization Initiative (the ``Proposed
Action''), which is national in scope. This PEA evaluated the
environmental impacts of the Proposed Action versus taking No Action.
Based on the results of the PEA, the Postal Service has issued a
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) indicating that the Proposed
Action will not have a significant impact on the environment.
DATES: The PEA and FONSI are available as of February 6, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Interested parties may direct questions or requests for
additional information, including requests for copies of the PEA and
FONSI documents, to: Mr. Thomas G. Day, Chief Sustainability Officer,
U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW., Room 2737, Washington, DC
20260; (202) 268-7488.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service is undertaking a Mail
Processing Network Rationalization Initiative to create a more
streamlined processing and distribution network using fewer facilities
to handle an existing and projected decline in mail volumes. The
proposal under consideration includes possible closure or consolidation
of mail processing for approximately 250 processing facilities,
reducing mail processing equipment by as much as 50 percent,
dramatically decreasing the nationwide transportation network,
adjusting the mail processing workforce size by as many as 35,000
positions, and revising service standards for mail services, including
the elimination of the expectation of overnight service for significant
portions of First-Class Mail and Periodicals.
Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Postal Service's implementing procedures at 39
CFR part 775, and the President's Council on Environmental Quality
Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), the Postal Service has prepared a
Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) to evaluate the
environmental impacts of the Proposed Action versus the No Action
Alternative. Based on the results of the PEA, the Postal Service has
issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) indicating that the
Proposed Action will not have a significant impact on the environment.
The No Action Alternative was analyzed as an alternative to the
Proposed Action. Based upon the No Action Alternative, the Postal
Service would not implement the Mail Processing Network Rationalization
Initiative. Postal Service mail processing operations would continue
essentially as is, at current capacity. No consolidation or closure of
mail processing facilities, modification of current service standards
for First-Class Mail and Periodicals, scaling back of the nationwide
transportation network, or workforce adjustments would occur. Under the
No Action Alternative the Postal Service would maintain current
operating methods and protocols and would continue to operate at a
budget deficit due to insufficient income to maintain current operating
expenses.
Stanley F. Mires,
Attorney, Legal Policy & Legislative Advice.
[FR Doc. 2012-3082 Filed 2-9-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P
12:32 PM PT: I just talked with the Postal Service attorney. There is no public comment period at this time because this is a final agency decision after a public comment period was held previously. He is going to send me the documents and I'll try to post a link to the PEA and FONSI when I get them.