WASHINGTON – U. S. Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara A. Mikulski  (both D-MD) today wrote the Postmaster General strongly opposing the closure of the Cumberland area mail processing and distribution center and moving operations out of state to Johnstown, PA.

In their letter to the Postmaster General, the Senators stressed that moving the mail processing center 70 miles away to Johnstown would affect mail service and increase transportation costs.  The Senators also stated that they would oppose any relaxation of delivery standards that would result from moving the processing center to Pennsylvania. 

The text of the letter is below:

February 23, 2012

Dear Postmaster General Donahoe,

We write to express our significant concern and strong opposition to today’s announcement that the Cumberland area mail processing and distribution center is scheduled for closure with the transfer of mail processing to the Johnstown, Pennsylvania center.    

The Cumberland area mail processing and distribution center is the only remaining mail processing center in Western Maryland after the closure of the Frederick area mail processing center, and its ongoing operation is critically important to area residents, small businesses, and a significant rural and elderly population that rely on the mail service.    These residents and small businesses rely heavily on the mail delivery for life saving medications, daily newspapers, and important business documents.  Rural residents, particularly seniors, will suffer undue hardship.

The Johnstown mail processing center is approximately 70 miles from Cumberland and the transfer will result in diminished mail service and increased transportation costs, based on your own study.  This is simply unacceptable. Relaxing delivery standards by moving processing from Cumberland to Johnstown is simply not practical or sustainable.

While we are mindful of the fiscal challenges facing the Postal Service, this public service and current mail delivery standards for the residents and businesses in Western Maryland must take top priority and be maintained.   We ask you to reconsider this decision.

We request your direct reply to our concerns by March 1, 2012.

Sincerely,

U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski

U.S. Senator Ben Cardin