AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - Members of Maine's congressional delegation say the U.S. Postal Service has agreed to designate seven island post offices as part-time, meaning they'll remain open at least six hours a day.

Democratic Reps. Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree said Tuesday that the Postal Service is implementing a program to reduce hours at small post offices, and had proposed cutting back hours at island post offices in Maine to as few as two hours a day.

Rural post offices designated part-time are supposed to be at least 25 miles from the nearest post office, but Michaud and Pingree said that 25-mile criteria shouldn't apply to islands that are only accessible by ferry.

The Postal Service agreed and will allow the island post offices to stay open longer.

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