Letter to Patrick R. Donahoe, Postmaster General of the United States - Postal Service

Letter

We are very concerned about the United States Postal Service's (USPS) announcement to study 150 post offices, branches, and stations for closure in the State of West Virginia.

The potential closures would affect roughly one in five postal facilities in our State, and follow an aggressive schedule of Area Mail Processing studies to consolidate distribution and processing operations. These additional potential closures threaten to further disrupt postal services in our State, inconveniencing and burdening businesses and residents alike.

In the Postal Service's statutory charter, the Congress was explicit in prohibiting the closure of a postal facility solely for fiscal reasons. The law recognizes that some postal facilities in profitable markets would subsidize postal services in less profitable markets. The Congress required the Postal Service to "provide a maximum degree of effective and regular postal services to rural areas and towns where post offices are not self-sustaining," declaring that "no small post office shall be closed solely for operating at a deficit."

The law also sought to ensure that there would be "postal facilities of such character and in such locations, that postal patrons throughout the Nation will, consistent with reasonable economies of postal operations, have ready access to essential postal services."

And, yet, the financial condition of the Postal Service is the primary catalyst for these closure studies, targeting smaller, rural post offices where foot traffic and revenues are, not surprisingly, less than their more profitable counterparts.

Forcing rural communities in our State to make do with less is contrary to the spirit of the law and to the practical reality that rural areas depend more heavily on the Postal Service because they often lack alternative means like the Internet for conducting postal businesses. In many cases, their local post office is the only convenient and realistic option for safely retrieving and sending mail -- whether a monthly benefit check, vital prescription medication, or a routine business transaction. Mail theft is also a problem in rural areas, requiring residents to have mail boxes at the local post office. It's inconvenient, to say the least, to have to drive to the next town, 20 miles into the hills, just to pick up your daily mail.

In addition, these postal facilities act as community centers and gathering spots and can be the heart of communities. We find it deeply ironic that when public meetings are held about closing postal facilities in some West Virginia communities, there is such a big turnout that the only place available to host such meetings is the local post office.

We urge you to make every effort to raise public awareness about the opportunities for public comment on affected post offices, and to listen closely to concerns. The Postal Service is required to consider the impact on the community, on mail delivery services, and on postal workers as well as the financial condition of a post office in considering a discontinuance study. We ask that you provide a timeline that explains when the closure process may begin and end in West Virginia, as well as whether the process will occur all at once or in phases.

In addition, for the purposes of these studies, we would appreciate your explaining how the Postal Service defines "maximum degree of effective and regular postal service," as well as "prompt, reliable, and efficient services to all areas" under the law. As of right now, our belief is that the potential closure of 150 postal facilities is grossly inconsistent with the straight forward mandates to ensure effective and regular postal services in rural areas.

Thank you in advance for thoughtful and timely response.