WASHINGTON – Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-Hurley) Monday called on Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to institute a moratorium on US Postal Service discontinuance studies, which are looking into the possible closure of over 3,600 post offices and other retail facilities.

Another 110 House members joined in the call to the Postal Service in a letter based on a Postal Regulatory Commission report that points to deep flaws with the data used by the USPS to determine which postal facilities should be considered for closure.

Hinchey said the data the Postal Service used to select the doomed post offices was “incomplete, inaccurate and inappropriately targeted rural post offices.”

The Postal Service is also considering consolidating mail distribution facilities and among those targeted are the centers at Stewart Airport and in Monsey.

Among those signing the letter were fellow Democrats Eliot Engel and Nita Lowey.