Hoeven, Cramer, Armstrong statement after USPS interim audit released

Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer and Congressman Kelly Armstrong issued the following statement after the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Inspector General (IG) released its interim audit of facilities in Bismarck, Mandan and Minot. The audit, which is available online, found delayed mail and other operational deficiencies at each facility and recommended that district management:

• Properly allocate resources at the manual letter and flat operations units and verify the mail is sorted in time to meet dispatch daily at the Bismarck Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC);

• Verify supervisors at the Bismarck P&DC are trained on proper mail flow procedures in processing operations and verify these procedures are followed;

• Identify and implement additional strategies to fill the supervisor of distribution operations vacancy;

• Train employees at the Bismarck P&DC on the correct trip classification and verify these procedures are followed; and

• Verify all drivers are using wheel chocks at the Bismarck P&DC.

Earlier this year, the delegation pressed the IG to include North Dakota communities in its postal audit of the Minnesota-North Dakota District. The delegation has also secured a commitment from the IG to audit postal facilities in Dickinson, Grand Forks and Fargo, which will be included in the full district audit report to be released in May. The delegation offices were briefed on the results of the interim audit and provided additional feedback as the IG’s full audit proceeds.

“The USPS’s audit makes it clear that improvements are needed at postal facilities in Bismarck, Mandan and Minot,” said the delegation. “We will continue working to ensure USPS follows through on the recommended improvements and provides timely mail service in our state, and we look forward to seeing the results of the full audit for the Minn.-N.D. District, which will include results and recommendations for Dickinson, Grand Forks and Fargo.”

The North Dakota delegation requested the USPS IG audit include additional North Dakota facilities, highlighting specific issues, including:

• Mail and newspaper delays;

• Broken and unavailable cluster box units (CBUs); and

• Ongoing concerns and questions regarding USPS’ proposal to relocate some mail processing in the Bismarck and Grand Forks region.

Additionally, after the delegation outlined concerns with USPS plans to relocate mail processing in the state, the USPS IG informed the delegation that it is conducting a review of the USPS’ nationwide effort to relocate mail processing at certain facilities. The North Dakota delegation has heard concerns from constituents regarding the Mail Processing Facility Reviews (MFPRs) being undertaken in Bismarck and Grand Forks. This IG report is expected to evaluate the MFPR process and include findings and recommendations on how to improve the process.