ASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) is pressing the U.S. Postal Service for answers about possible changes in mail delivery in the Upper Peninsula. In a letter, Peters expressed concern about planned changes to its processing and delivery network that could affect timely delivery. He said past responses from the postal service have been insufficient and he demanded full transparency about potential changes that could disrupt regular delivery service.

At issue is the Postal Service facility review of its Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center facility in Kingsford. The review has drawn criticism from citizens and state and local lawmakers.

A public meeting has been set for 6 p.m. Monday, April 1 at Pine Mountain Ski and Golf Resort, where the U.S. Postal Service will share the initial results of a facility review of its Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center facility in Kingsford. A previously scheduled meeting was canceled

USPS will discuss potential future uses of the facility and allow members of the community to provide feedback and perspectives on the study’s findings.

A summary can be found on the USPS website: https://about.usps.com/what/strategic-plans/mpfr/welcome.htm. Citizens can submit written comments at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mpfr-iron-mountain-mi through April 16.

The review of the Kingsford facility is part of a $40 billion nationwide plan to upgrade and improve its postal processing, transportation, and delivery networks, according to the Postal Service.

Peters called on USPS to pause these network changes until it can prove the changes will not negatively impact mail service, including rural service, election mail delivery, and delivery of other critical mail.

“USPS continues to move forward with facility changes, despite unanswered questions about the impacts on communities and despite USPS s initial promises that it would study the impacts of early changes before moving forward with its plan,” wrote Senator Peters. “The nature of USPS’s network changes has now raised significant concerns including the potential for degraded rural service due to fewer facilities, delayed delivery of election mail that would be processed at out-of-state facilities, and critical health information such as laboratory tests not being processed same-day due to decreased transportation trips.”

In February, Peters pressed the USPS to provide further details regarding proposed changes to mail operations at its Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center. Following his investigation into changes that severely slowed down mail delivery in 2020, Peters authored and led passage of a historic, bipartisan law to set the Postal Service on a more sustainable financial footing and support the goal of providing long-term reliable service across the country. The law made the first major reforms to the Postal Service in more than 15 years, including requiring six-day delivery.

Peters’ letter to the Postal Service is as follows.

Dear Postmaster General DeJoy:

I write to express my significant concerns about the U.S. Postal Service s lack of transparency regarding planned changes to its processing and delivery network, and its insufficient responses to my December 5, 2023 letter about these changes. The Postal Service must be transparent about these network changes and their impacts on local service and communities.

My December 5 letter requested detailed information about the full scope and timelines for the network changes, how USPS has assessed the projected service impacts, and additional information about impacts to employees and communities. USPS has not provided sufficient answers about the impacts of its network plans. In particular, USPS has failed to provide: any detailed assessments regarding the projected service impacts of these changes (for individual facilities and for the plan as a whole); any indication it will systematically study the impacts of initial changes before moving forward with its plan; timelines for the facility changes it intends to implement, including in 2024; and detailed information on additional impacts including costs, employee attrition, and other effects. I am disappointed by the quality and quantity of the information provided, given that USPS plans affect communities across the nation.

USPS continues to move forward with facility changes, despite unanswered questions about the impacts on communities and despite USPS s initial promises that it would study the impacts of early changes before moving forward with its plan. On February 15, I sent a letter highlighting concerns after USPS announced a potential facility change in Michigan. The nature of USPS s network changes has now raised significant concerns including the potential for degraded rural service due to fewer facilities, delayed delivery of election mail that would be processed at out-of-state facilities, and critical health information such as laboratory tests not being processed same-day due to decreased transportation trips. These changes and lack of transparency have also caused concerns for other Members of Congress, who have asked for similar information and received insufficient responses.

I am increasingly concerned about the pace and impacts of these changes, and reiterate my request for fully responsive answers to my questions. I also call on USPS to pause all network changes until it can clearly demonstrate that such changes will not degrade local mail

service. This will be a top oversight priority for this Committee. I look forward to discussing these issues directly with you soon in addition to your full written response, which we request by April 1.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter.