Redlands Mail Processing Plant is Spared

A five-month study by the US Postal Service has determined that closing the San Bernardino Processing and Distribution Center in Redlands would not be beneficial to the agency.

As result, postal service officials announced they would not close the center.

However, services at eight other California facilities will be relocated, postal officials said in a written statement.

Specific dates have not been set for the changes and there were no planned changes to retail, business mail entry, or vehicle maintenance operations at those locations, officials said.

The recession, email, and an obligation to prefund retiree health benefits have cut deeply into the agency’s revenue leaving it facing insolvency. As a result, several locations were placed on the chopping block.

In December 2011, the Postal Service agreed to impose a moratorium on closing or consolidating post offices and mail processing facilities before May 15, to give Congress and the administration the opportunity to enact an alternative plan, officials said in their statement.

To date, legislative proposals to address the financial crisis remain pending, postal service officials said. More details will follow in a later story.