International Mail Manual: International priority airmail service; postage rates and service conditions changes,

[Federal Register: August 10, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 153)]

[Rules and Regulations]

[Page 43292-43295]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr10au99-12]

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20

International Priority Airmail Service

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Interim rule and request for comment.

SUMMARY: On November 25, 1998, the Postal Service published in the Federal Register (63 FR 65153) a proposed rule to change rates and conditions of service for International Priority Airmail (IPA). The Postal Service adopted the proposed rule by notice in the Federal Register (64 FR 10219) on March 3, 1999, with an effective date of April 4, 1999. The Postal Service is now introducing rates for mail to Canada.

DATES: Effective Date: 12:01 a.m., August 10, 1999. Comments on the interim rule must be received on or before September 9, 1999.

[[Page 43293]]

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to the Manager, Financial Services, Room 370-IBU, International Business Unit, U.S. Postal Service, Washington, DC 20260-6500. Copies of all written comments will be available for public inspection between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, in the International Business Unit, 10th Floor, 901 D Street SW, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Singer, (202) 268-3422.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: International Priority Airmail (IPA) is a volume airmail letter service that gives mailers the opportunity to benefit from work-sharing with the Postal Service and to gain improved speed of delivery for presorted mail. On November 25, 1998, by notice in the Federal Register (63 FR 65153), the Postal Service sought comment on proposed changes in IPA service. These changes include increasing the minimum sack weight from 10 pounds to 11 pounds; providing country-wide acceptance; instituting volume discounts; providing drop ship rates; and reducing the rates for IPA service.

In response to the request for comment, the Postal Service received one comment. The commenter fully supported the changes proposed by the Postal Service but suggested that the Postal Service include Canada in rate group 2.

IPA service is currently not available to Canada; however, the Postal Service does provide a similar service to Canada--Bulk Letter Service to Canada. The Postal Service was not able to include service to Canada because the costs associated with sending mail to Canada differed from those associated with sending mail to all other countries in rate group 2 and the differences would have resulted in non- compensatory rates. The proposed rule was adopted by notice in the Federal Register (64 FR 10219) on March 3, 1999, with an effective date of April 4, 1999.

Due to a change in the cost of sending mail to Canada, the Postal Service is now able to offer IPA service for mail destined for delivery in Canada. However, because the cost for this mail is dissimilar to current rate groups, a separate rate group is established for Canada.

IPA service to Canada will be more flexible than Bulk Letter Service to Canada, which will be eliminated at the end of the current postal fiscal year. This will enable current users of Bulk Letter Service to Canada to transition to IPA at their convenience until September 10, 1999.

Although the Postal Service is exempted by 39 U.S.C. 410(a) from the advance notice requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act regarding rulemaking (5 U.S.C. 553), interested parties are invited to submit written data, views, or comments regarding this interim rule to the address above.

The Postal Service is adopting the following interim amendments to the International Mail Manual, which is incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 20.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

Foreign relations, International postal service.

PART 20--[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for 39 CFR Part 20 continues to read as follows:

   Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 401, 404, 407, 408.

2. The International Mail Manual is amended to delete Subchapter 225, Bulk Letter Service (Canada only), effective September 11, 1999, and to immediately incorporate program changes to Subchapter 280, International Priority Airmail Service, as follows:

   International Mail Manual (IMM)

   * * * * *

   2 Conditions for Mailing

   * * * * *

   220 Letters and Letter Packages

   * * * * *

   225 Bulk Letter Service (Canada Only)

   [This subchapter is deleted effective September 11, 1999.] * * * * *

   280 International Priority Airmail Service

   281 Description

   * * * * *

   281.3 Minimum Quantity Requirements

   * * * * *

   281.32 Presort Mail

   The mailer must have a minimum of 11 pounds of presorted LC/AO mail to a single rate group, including Canada, to qualify for the presort rate for that rate group.

   Note: Mail that cannot be made up in direct country packages (284.521), in direct country sacks (284.61), or in trays (284.651) does not qualify for the presort rates and is subject to the worldwide nonpresort rates. * * * * *

   282 Postage

   282.1 Rates

   282.11 General

   There are two rate options for International Priority Airmail service: a presort rate option that has five rate groups, and a worldwide nonpresort rate. For both options, there are full service rates for mail deposited at offices other than the drop shipment offices listed in 281.5, and drop ship rates for mail deposited at one of the drop shipment offices. The per-piece rates and per-pound rates are shown in Exhibit 282.11. The per-piece rate of $0.10 or $0.25 applies to each piece regardless of its weight. The per-pound rate applies to the net weight (gross weight minus tare weight of sack) of the mail for the specific rate group. Fractions of a pound are rounded to the next whole pound for postage calculation.

   Exhibit 282.11 [International priority airmail rates]

   Pound rate Rate group

   Piece rate ------------------------------- Full service Drop ship

   Canada..........................................................

   $0.25

   $3.40

   $2.40 1...............................................................

   0.25

   5.00

   4.00 2...............................................................

   0.10

   5.25

   4.25 3...............................................................

   0.10

   6.50

   5.50 4...............................................................

   0.10

   7.50

   6.50 Worldwide.......................................................

   0.25

   7.00

   6.00

   [[Page 43294]]

   * * * * *

   282.15 Presort Rates

   To qualify for the presort Canada or Group 1, 2, 3, or 4 rates (see Exhibit 282.11), a mailing must consist of a minimum of 11 pounds to a specific rate group. This minimum applies to each rate group and not to the entire mailing (see 281.32). Within a rate group, all mail addressed to an individual country must be sorted into direct country packages of 10 or more pieces (or 1 pound or more of mail) (284.521) and/or sacked in direct country sacks of 11 pounds or more (284.61).

   Note: There are separate preparation requirements for mail to Canada. See 284.65.

   Mail that cannot be made up into direct country packages or direct country sacks must be sent at the worldwide nonpresort rates.

   282.16 Separation by Rate Group

   The mailer must specify the rate group on the back of Tag 115, International Priority Airmail, with Canada, 1, 2, 3, 4, or WW (Worldwide), and must physically separate the sacks by rate group at the time of mailing. * * * * *

   284 Preparation Requirements for Individual Items

   * * * * *

   Exhibit 284.522 [Add Canada to exhibit as follows:]

   3-Letter exchange Rate group

   Country

   office code

   Exchange Office

   Canada............................. Canada................ Exhibit 284.65, Canadian Labeling Information.

   * * * * *

   284.6 Sacking Requirements

   * * * * *

   284.612 Direct Country Sack Tags

   Direct country sacks must be labeled with Tag 178. The tag is white and specially coded to route the mail to a specific country and airport of destination. The blocks on the tag for date, weight, and dispatch information must be completed by the Postal Service and may not be completed by the mailer. The mailer must complete the ``To'' block showing the destination country. Tag 115, International Priority Airmail, must also be affixed to the direct country sacks. Tag 115 is a ``Day-Glo'' pink tag that identifies the mail to ensure it receives priority handling. The mailer must designate on the back of Tag 115 the applicable rate group, using Canada, 1, 2, 3, 4, or WW (Worldwide). * * * * *

   284.65 Preparation Requirements for Canada

   To qualify for the presort rates for Canada, a mailer must have at least 11 pounds of mail for Canada. This includes letter-size, flat- size, and package-size items even though such items are prepared in separate equipment. If the mailing contains less than 11 pounds of mail for Canada, or if the mailer chooses to do so, mail for Canada is included in the worldwide nonpresort rate mail with that for other countries. Worldwide nonpresort mail for Canada is prepared in accordance with 284.63. The preparation requirements of presorted mail to Canada follow.

   284.651 Letter-Size Mail and Flat-Size Mail

   Letter-size items are prepared in letter trays, either half-size or full-size, depending on volume. Flat-size items are prepared in flat trays. All items must be faced in the same direction, and all trays must be full enough to keep the mail from mixing during transportation. Do not prepare the content of the tray in packages. The mailer must label each tray to show the destination in Canada and the dispatching U.S. international exchange office in the following format:

   Line 1: Canadian destination, U.S. exchange office code

   Line 2: Contents

   Line 3: Mailer, mailer location

   Example:

   Toronto ON FWD 11430

   IPA

   ABC Company, New York, NY

   In addition, the mailer must complete PS Tag 115, International Priority Airmail. Write ``Canada'' on the reverse and tape the tag to the tray sleeve. All trays must be banded.

   284.652 Packages

   Items that cannot be prepared in trays because of their size or shape must be placed loose in blue airmail sacks. Use PS Tag 115, International Priority Airmail, and label to either Toronto or Vancouver, as appropriate. Attached a completed PS Tag 178. See 284.612.

   Exhibit 284.65 [Canadian labeling information]

   U.S. Origin ZIP Code

   Exchange office

   Exchange

   Canadian destination office code

   270-282, 286-326, 344, 350-397, 399.. ATL.....................

   30320 Toronto ON FWD. 130-149.............................. BUF.....................

   14240 Toronto ON FWD. 700-708, 710-738, 740-799, 885....... DFW.....................

   75300 Toronto ON FWD. 430-459, 480-497..................... DTW.....................

   48242 Toronto ON FWD. 967-969.............................. HNL.....................

   96820 Vancouver BC FWD. 200-249, 254, 268, 283-285, 400-418, IAD.....................

   20101 Toronto ON FWD. 420-427, 476-477. 004-005, 010-098, 100-129, 150-199, JFK.....................

   11430 Toronto ON FWD. 250-267. 850, 852-853, 855-857, 859-860, 863- LAX.....................

   90009 Vancouver BC FWD. 865, 889-891, 896, 900-908, 910-928, 930-936. 006-009, 327-334, 340, 347, 349...... MIA.....................

   33159 Toronto ON FWD. 460-475, 478-479, 498-516, 520-528, ORD.....................

   60666 Toronto ON FWD. 530-567, 570-578, 600-631, 633-641, 644-658, 660-662, 664-681, 683-693, 739, 800-816, 822-831, 840-847, 870- 884, 893, 898. 590-599, 821, 832-838, 970-986, 988- SEA.....................

   98158 Vancouver BC FWD. 999.

   [[Page 43295]]

   894-895, 897, 937-966................ SFO.....................

   94128 Vancouver BC FWD. 335-339, 341-342, 346-347............ TPA.....................

   33630 Toronto ON FWD.

   * * * * * Stanley F. Mires, Chief Counsel, Legislative.

   [FR Doc. 99-20555Filed8-5-99; 4:40 pm]

   BILLING CODE 7710-12-P