Senator Peters Presses Postal Service for Further Details into Proposed Changes at Iron Mountain Processing Center

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, is calling on the United States Postal Service (USPS) to provide further details regarding proposed changes to mail operations at its Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center. In a letter, Peters shared his concerns about a recent “Mail Processing Facility Review” which outlines potential changes at the Iron Mountain facility that could move a portion of its operations to a facility in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Peters requested that the Postal Service provide full transparency into the possible impacts of these changes and ensure they will not harm Upper Peninsula mail service. Following postponement of a public meeting to discuss these changes, the letter also urges USPS to promptly schedule a new meeting time and be receptive to community feedback.

“In its ‘Review’ of the Iron Mountain facility, USPS has proposed changes including ‘transferring some mail processing operations’ to a facility in Green Bay, while maintaining ‘destinating’ (inbound) operations in Kingsford and investing in facility upgrades,” wrote Senator Peters. “However, I am concerned about the potential impacts of this proposal and request more information. It is critical to ensure that any USPS changes will not adversely impact service or harm local employees. On-time mail delivery is essential for rural communities in Michigan, who rely on mail for financial documents, correspondence, prescriptions, the needs of local businesses and governments, and more.”

The Postal Service has indicated that its review of the Iron Mountain facility is part of a broader USPS plan to make changes to its nationwide processing and delivery network. Last year, Peters sent a letter to USPS requesting further information about the scope of these plans and their impacts as part of his ongoing oversight efforts to help protect reliable mail service.

Peters has previously championed efforts to protect the Postal Service and its nearly 250-year tradition of delivery service to all Americans. 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 delivery at least six days a week and requiring USPS to publish local on-time delivery rates.

Full text of the letter is copied below and available here. 

Dear Postmaster General DeJoy:

I write to request details about the “Mail Processing Facility Review” at the Iron Mountain Processing and Distribution Center in Kingsford, Michigan. On February 1, 2024, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced the initial results of this “Review” to inform potential changes at the Iron Mountain facility. I am concerned about the potential impact of these changes and ask that USPS provide full transparency and ensure no negative impacts on local mail service.

USPS has situated the Iron Mountain facility “Review” within broader national plans for changes to its processing and delivery network, which include transferring some operations at regional facilities to nearby facilities, with the stated goal of improving efficiency and service. On December 5, 2023, I requested information about these national plans, including the scope of the plans and how USPS has studied their impacts. In line with USPS’s mission of reliably serving every community, it must ensure transparency and substantiate that any changes will not adversely impact service. USPS must respond in full to that request. 

In its “Review” of the Iron Mountain facility, USPS has proposed changes including “transferring some mail processing operations” to a facility in Green Bay, while maintaining “destinating” (inbound) operations in Kingsford and investing in facility upgrades. I acknowledge that USPS plans to keep the facility open and has promised there will be “no career employee layoffs as part of this initiative.”

However, I am concerned about the potential impacts of this proposal and request more information. It is critical to ensure that any USPS changes will not adversely impact service or harm local employees. On-time mail delivery is essential for rural communities in Michigan, who rely on mail for financial documents, correspondence, prescriptions, the needs of local businesses and governments, and more. I request a briefing as soon as possible, no later than February 27, to understand further details about this proposal, including how USPS has studied potential impacts on mail service, how this would affect local postal employees, and how USPS will assess this proposal based on community feedback moving forward. I also urge USPS to promptly and accessibly schedule its public meeting on this proposal and remain open to community input.

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