The U.S. Postal Service announced Thursday that it will transfer some mail-processing jobs out of its Harrisburg Pike plant to Dauphin County or other areas of the country, a move expected to save the beleaguered agency more than $2 million a year.

"Given the drastic 20 percent decline in mail volume the Postal Service has experienced since 2007, we must take action to reduce the size of our mail processing network," Kevin McAdams, the Postal Service's district manager for Central Pennsylvania, said in a statement.

"Consolidating operations and placing our people where we need them is necessary if the Postal Service is to remain viable to provide mail service to the nation."

The agency did not say exactly how many jobs would be moved out of the Lancaster post office, but a report made public in the spring recommended a "net decrease" of 31 positions. Some 200 people work at the facility.

Postal Service spokesman Ray Daiutolo Sr. said the number of jobs being moved out of the Harrisburg Pike plant is likely to be about 30.

"Some people may be reassigned to the Harrisburg facility. Some people may have offers for other jobs, in a post office, for example," Daiutolo said.

No workers are being laid off.

The consolidation, which was not unexpected, could be in place by January.

The Postal Service announced in February that an initial study supported consolidation of some "redundant operations" at its Lancaster Processing & Distribution Center.

"I understand our employees' concern over this move," McAdams said, "but the consolidation makes sense given the fiscal realities."

The American Postal Workers Union Local 95 has opposed the consolidation, saying it would disrupt the lives of its workers and lead to delivery delays.

The Postal Service is undertaking the consolidation at a critical time. It reported an $8.5 billion loss for fiscal year 2010 and is expected to lose another $8 billion this fiscal year.

Postal officials have maintained that the consolidation would have no effect on retail operations at the Harrisburg Pike plant or mail delivery in the Lancaster area.

"This move will not cause any changes in local mail delivery," McAdams said in the statement. "Letters mailed to local addresses will be delivered the next day, the same as before. I am confident the transition will be smooth and transparent to our customers and they will continue to receive the same excellent service they always have."

tmurse@lnpnews.com