News Search

Warren post office undergoes discontinuance study

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Stacey Fenton
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Representatives from the United States Postal Service held a town hall meeting concerning the potential closure of the base post office here in the base theater Jan. 25.

Warren members and interested Cheyenne residents had the opportunity to learn about the discontinuance study that is being conducted on the base post office. Members of the Wyoming district of the USPS explained the process of the study as well as possible outcomes, and what concerned residents can do to try to keep the office open.

The town hall was the second step in the discontinuance study process; the first was congressional notification and notification to the community. USPS representatives said this notification was made in the form of a questionnaire sent out to Cheyenne residents.

"The community should know that base leadership has been aware of this issue for quite some time and they are doing what they can to keep the F. E. Warren branch open," said Robert Hughes, 90th Communications Squadron chief of knowledge operations. "I highly encourage residents who received the questionnaire from the USPS to fill it out and continue to express their thoughts and concerns."

Hughes said questionnaires are available at the base post office for those who did not receive one.

During the next step, a written proposal of change will be posted at the Cheyenne post office and Warren's post office for 60 days. Comment forms will be available with the proposal at these locations. The proposal will not be posted until after May 15.

After 60 days, the proposal will be sent to postal headquarters, along with a recommendation from the district postal service. Once a final decision is made, an appeal can be filed during the 30-day final determination posting; this may extend the process another 120 days.

Marcela Rivera, post office review coordinator for the Colorado/Wyoming district, also explained the two main criteria for an office to become part of a discontinuance study: the decrease of work volume, and the proximity to other offices.

Rivera said one option if the Warren branch does close is to establish a village post office on base. This means a business with a storefront could be used to sell items such as Forever stamps and flat-rate packaging, as well as house post office boxes. The village post office could not accept international mail, and could only accept accountable mail items with postage paid online.

"The USPS will take all factors, including customer input, into consideration before making any final determinations," said Rivera.