(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) sent a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe regarding the agency’s failure to adequately inform lawmakers and the public about the proposed closure of the Sparks-Sun Valley Post Office. Heller’s letter asks the Postmaster General to explain the impact that the potential closure would have on the surrounding community as well as possible alternatives to closing the office.
Full text of letter:
September 19, 2013
Patrick R. Donahoe
Postmaster General
United States Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20260
Dear Postmaster Donahoe:
I write to you today regarding the proposed closure of the Sparks-Sun Valley Station in Sun Valley, Nevada. First, I want to express my disappointment in the lack of notification provided to Nevada’s Congressional offices, elected officials, and the citizens of Sun Valley regarding this proposed closure. While notification of consideration was provided in 2011, my office received no additional notification from the USPS regarding its plan to move forward to the next phase of discontinuing the office and its subsequent notification to the community on July 30, 2013.
As a United States Senator representing the Great State of Nevada, I expect that any information that affects my constituents—such as the potential closure of a postal office—to be provided, and in a timely manner. My office has still not received information from your agency regarding the criteria USPS used to select the Sparks-Sun Valley Station as a site for potential consolidation. I respectfully request that you provide these criteria and explain the impact that closure would have on this particular community’s current mail service. In addition, please describe if any alternatives or mitigating actions have been considered to reduce the impact that closure would have on Sun Valley—such as opening a Village Post Office or reducing hours of the facility.
Nevadans in Sun Valley and across the state rely on access to their local post office and timely mail delivery. Any consideration for closure must fairly take into account the negative impacts on consumers and businesses. In an effort to ensure that my constituents and I have a complete picture of the reasons for considering closure and the USPS’ plans to mitigate the negative impacts of such a closure, I request that you respond to this letter by September 29, 2013.
Sincerely,
DEAN HELLER
U.S. Senator
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