Four local post offices are among the 200 in Pennsylvania and 3,700 nationwide that may be closed or consolidated in the near future.
The list released Tuesday includes post offices in Locust Gap, Aristes, Locustdale and Rebuck.
Ray Diautolo, regional spokesperson, said placement on the list is not an automatic shutdown.
"Over the last several years, many people have conducted business with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) through other channels, either online or through their smart phones, leaving visiting the brick-and-mortar post office behind," Diautolo said. "Today's announcement just continues that trend, going forward with those studies."
USPS is considering replacing the dedicated offices with "village post offices," operated by local businesses, such as pharmacies, grocery stores and other retailers.
Closing and consolidating is something the USPS has been doing in other areas of its operation recently to stem billion-dollar losses in revenue.
"We have been working to streamline and save money for our mail processing facilities and carrier routes, adjusting to our customer's mailing habits and how they access our services. This is just the next step," Diautolo said.
Karen Green, of Locust Gap, lives three doors away from the Locust Gap Post Office, and was saddened to hear about her town being part of the study.
"I can recall almost every postmaster here," Green said. "The post office has been here for about as long as I can remember. If it closes, it's really going to create a burden for the older folks to get their mail."
None of the four local offices have a business nearby that fits the profile of the village post officethe USPS, and each serves fewer than 200 families.
"Factors like that will be considered in the study as well," Diautolo said. "They are going to look at what impact closing the post office would have on the community, as well as what the economic savings will be, alternate access locations and how they can be accessed by the patrons."
The spokesman said that it won't be a quick study either.
"This study will be very complex, thorough and will take several months to complete," he said. "If any offices will close, nothing will be done until at least December."