The Postal Service recently published an advanced notice requesting comments on how the Postal Service should proceed to prevent overweight items from entering into the postal network. After
considering the comments received, the Postal Service is now moving forward to propose amendment of the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual, (DMM[supreg]) to prevent overweight items from entering the postal network.

On October 3, 2017, the Postal Service published an advanced notice requesting comments on how the Postal Service should proceed to prevent overweight items from entering into the postal network (82 FR 46010). The Postal Service received 18 responses and those suggestions have been incorporated into this proposed rule, as appropriate. The Postal Service now proposes to amend the DMM to add a penalty for attempting to enter nonmailable, overweight items into the mailstream. Implementation of this proposed rulemaking will require action by Postal Service management.

The Postal Service defines overweight items as anything over the Postal Service 70 pound maximum limit or the applicable maximum weight allowed for hazardous materials (see DMM 201.7.3). These overweight items are considered nonmailable and present a safety risk to employees.

Existing DMM section 601.1.3 provides that it is the mailer’s responsibility to refrain from depositing nonmailable matter in the mail. A mailer’s responsibilities include complying with applicable
postal laws and regulations governing mailability. As such, the Postal Service reserves the right to refuse nonmailable items.

Overweight items should never be entered into the postal network.

However, the Postal Service is noticing an increase in overweight items, such as items that are initially delivered using a private carrier, but are attempted to be returned using the Postal Service. It is unsafe to return the overweight item to the sender through the postal network. Occasionally, the item is abandoned which creates another safety issue when trying to dispose of the overweight item.
As a result, the Postal Service is proposing to assess a penalty of $100.00 per item over the 70 pound maximum weight limit or the applicable maximum weight allowed for hazardous materials discovered in the postal network. Once the overweight item is identified, it would be secured and either the sender or receiver would be contacted to pick-up the item within 14 calendar days and notified of the assessed penalty.

The penalty would be payable through any authorized retail payment method and must be paid prior to the release of the item. The Postal Service also proposes that the penalty and any amounts paid as purported postage and fees would not be refundable. Any overweight item not paid for and picked-up within the 14 calendar day timeframe would be considered abandoned and disposed of at the Postal Service’s discretion.

source: Federal Register