International Priority Airmail Service; Proposed Changes

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20

International Priority Airmail Service; Proposed Changes

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Postal Service proposes to change the postage rates and

conditions of service for International Priority Airmail service (IPA).

In addition to adjusting rates, the Postal Service is changing country

rate groups to be the same as International Surface Air Lift service

(ISAL) and increasing the minimum weight from 10 to 11 pounds of mail.

Also, acceptance of IPA will be extended to all post offices accepting

bulk mail.

DATES: Comments on the proposed changes must be received on or before

December 28, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to the Manager,

International Pricing, Costing, and Classification, 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: Walter J. Grandjean, (202) 314-7256 or

Dan Singer, (202) 314-3422.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: International Priority Airmail service (IPA)

is a volume airmail letter service. Mailers have the opportunity to

benefit from work sharing with the Postal Service and gain improved

speed of delivery for presorted mail, which the Postal Service does not

have to sort.

The Postal Service recently adopted program changes to

International Surface Air Lift Service (ISAL) on February 28, 1998, (63

FR 3642-3650) and is now proposing changes to IPA which will align it

with ISAL in rate structure and preparation requirements. This will

make it easier for mailers to participate in either service.

Minimum Weight

The Postal Service is increasing the minimum weight for direct

country and mixed direct country package sacks from 10 to 11 pounds.

This reflects the desired minimum sack which the Postal Service

normally dispatches to other countries and matches the sack weights

recently adopted in ISAL. This will cause the minimum weight for a

mailing to be increased to 11 pounds. In addition, a package of mail

will be defined as 10 or more pieces or 1 pound of mail to coincide

with the definition used in ISAL. ``Bundles'' will be referred to as

``packages'' in the future.

Acceptance Cities

Since the inception of IPA, the Postal Service has limited the

number of cities where IPA mailings could be deposited. This was

intended to reduce the cost of maintaining an extensive transportation

network, but many customers not located near an acceptance point could

not use IPA. The Postal Service proposes a Full Service rate that will

be available from all post offices where bulk mail is accepted and will

make IPA accessible to all customers. Additionally, a drop shipment

option is added.

Volume Discounts

The Postal Service proposes discounts for IPA based on the amount

of postage spent by a mailer in the preceding postal fiscal year for

both IPA and ISAL. For example, a mailer spending $2 million or more

for IPA and ISAL during postal fiscal year 1996 (September 16, 1995-

September 13, 1996) will receive a 5 percent discount on IPA mailings

made during the next fiscal year, 1997 (September 14, 1996-September

12, 1997). Mailers spending over $5 million receive a 10 percent

discount and a 15 percent discount for over $10 million. These

discounts apply to full service and drop ship rates. The discount is

calculated on the mailing statement.

Drop Ship Rates

The Postal Service is introducing drop ship rates for mailers

willing to transport their mail to certain locations. The Postal

Service avoids certain processing, handling, and transportation costs

and these savings are being passed on to the mailer. Drop ship sites

are located in the following locations: Jamaica, NY; Miami, FL;

Franklin Park, IL; and San Francisco, CA.

Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the

Administrative Procedure Act, S U.S.C. 553(b), (c) regarding proposed

rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410 (a), the Postal Service invites comments on

the following proposed revisions of Chapter 280 of the International

Mail Manual, incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal

Regulations. See 30 CFR 20.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

Foreign relations, Incorporation by reference, International postal

services.

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 incorporate program

changes to Subchapter 280 International Priority Airmail Service as

follows:

280 INTERNATIONAL PRIORITY AIRMAIL SERVICE

281 Description

281.1 General

International Priority Airmail (IPA) service is as fast as or

faster than regular international airmail service. It is available to

bulk mailers of all LC and AO items that are prepared by the sender in

accordance with the requirements of this subchapter. Separate rates are

provided for presorted mail and nonpresorted mail with drop shipment

and volume discounts.

281.2 Qualifying Mail

Any item of the LC or AO classification, as defined in 141.2,

qualifies. Letters, letter packages, postal cards, aerogrammes, regular

printed matter, books and sheet music, publishers' periodicals, matter

for the blind, and small packets, which are prepared in compliance with

the applicable mailing conditions in this subchapter, may be sent in

this service. Items do not have to be of the same size and weight to

qualify.

281.3 Minimum Quantity Requirements

281.31 Worldwide Nonpresort Mail

The mailer must have a minimum of 11 pounds of LC/AO mail in the

total mailing. The minimum does not apply to each country destination.

281.32 Presort Mail

The mailer must have a minimum of 11 pounds of presorted LC/AO mail

to a single rate group to qualify for the presort rate for that rate

group.

Note: Mail that cannot be made up in direct country packages

(284.521) or in direct country sacks (284.61) does not qualify for

the presort rates and is subject to the worldwide nonpresort rates.

281.4 Dutiable Items

Dutiable items may be sent in LC letter packages or AO small

packets in accordance with the applicable rules in this subchapter for

those classes of mail. Parcel post (CP) items, either ordinary or

insured, may not be mailed as International Priority Airmail.

[[Page 65154]]

281.5 Deposit

281.51 Full Service

Mailings must be deposited and accepted at a business mail entry

unit of the post office where the mailer holds an advance deposit

account or postage meter license.

281.52 Drop Shipment

To qualify for the drop shipment rates, the mailer must tender the

mail to one of the locations in 281.53. The mailer must pay postage at

the drop shipment location either through an advance deposit account or

postage meter license at the serving post office.

As an alternative, mailers who are participating in a PVDS program

(see DMM P750) may have the mail verified, accepted and paid for at the

mailer's plant or at the origin post office serving the mailer's plant

if authorized under DMM P750.2.2. Plant-verified drop shipment mail

must be transported by the mailer to the drop shipment location and the

mail accompanied by a clearance document Form 8125.

281.53 Drop Shipment Locations

Drop shipment rates are available from the following offices:

New York

Regular and plant-verified drop shipment:

AMC JFK BUILDING 250

JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

JAMAICA NY 11430-9998

California

Regular drop shipment:

SAN FRANCISCO P&DC

1300 EVANS AVE

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94188

Plant-verified drop shipment:

AMC SAN FRANCISCO

BLDG 660 RD 6

SAN FRANCISCO CA 94158-9998

Florida

Regular drop shipment:

MIAMI P&DC

2200 NORTHWEST 72 AVE

MIAMI FL 33152

Plant-verified drop shipment:

AMC MIAMI

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

MIAMI FL 33159-9998

Illinois

Regular and plant-verified drop shipment:

CHICAGO O'HARE DROPSHIP ISAL SERVICE CENTER

INTERNATIONAL PROCESSING CENTER ANNEX

3333 N MOUNT PROSPECT RD

FRANKLIN PARK IL 60131

281.6 Special Services Not Available

Items sent in this service may not be registered.

282 Postage

282.1 Rates

282.11 General

There are two rate options for International Priority Airmail

service: a presort rate option that has four rate groups and a

worldwide nonpresort rate. For both options there are full service

rates for mail deposited at offices other than the four drop shipment

offices listed in 281.5, and drop ship rates for mail deposited at one

of the four 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

Piece ------------------

Rate group rate Full

service Dropship

------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------

282.12 Volume Discount

Mailers who spend $2 million or more on IPA and ISAL in the

preceding postal fiscal year may receive discounts off the rates shown

in Exhibit 282.11 as follows:

a. $2 million to $5 million: 5% discount

b. over $5 million to $10 million: 10% discount

c. over $10 million: 15% discount

Mailers entitled to these discounts must place the full per piece

rate on each piece of mail if payment is by postage meter or mailer-

precanceled stamps. The discount is calculated on the statement of

mailing.

282.13 Qualifying for Volume Discounts

To qualify for volume discounts, mailers must apply in writing to

the Manager, Mail Order, International Business Unit, 475 L'Enfant

Plaza, SW, Room 370-IBU, Washington, DC 20260-6500. The Manager

evaluates all requests and informs the mailer and the post office(s) of

mailing whether discounts are approved and the level of discount.

Mailers must supply the following information:

a. Postal fiscal year for the qualifying mail.

b. Permit number(s) and post office(s) where the permits are held.

c. Total revenue for the postal fiscal year.

d. Post office(s) where the discount is to be claimed.

The combined IPA and ISAL revenue is counted toward the discounts.

The Postal Service will count as revenue to qualify for the volume

discounts only postage paid by the permit holder. If a permit holder

has more than one account, or accounts in several cities, then these

revenues may be combined to qualify for discounts. Agents who prepare

mail for the owner of the mail and mail paid by the owner's permit may

not be included in the revenue to qualify for the discounts, except for

the initial year (Postal Fiscal Year 1997, September 14, 1996, through

September 12, 1997). Customers may be required to substantiate their

request by providing copies of all postage statements for the

appropriate postal fiscal year. All decisions of the Manager, Mail

Order are final.

282.14 Availability

IPA service is available to all foreign countries, as listed in

Exhibit 284.522. The exhibit shows the rate group assigned to each

country.

282.15 Presort Rates

To qualify for the presort 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). 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 the number 1, 2, 3, 4 or WW

(Worldwide), and must physically separate the sacks by rate group at

the time of mailing.

[[Page 65155]]

282.17 Computation of Postage

Postage is computed on PS Form 3652, Postage Statement--

International Priority Airmail. Postage at the worldwide nonpresort

rate is calculated by multiplying the number of pieces in the mailing

by the applicable per-piece rate, multiplying the net weight (in whole

pounds) of the entire mailing by the applicable per-pound rate, and

then adding the two totals together. Postage at the presorted rates is

calculated by multiplying the number of pieces in the mailing destined

for countries in a specific rate group by the appropriate per-piece

rate, multiplying the net weight (in whole pounds) of those pieces by

the corresponding per-pound rate, and then adding the two totals

together. Volume discounts are calculated on the postage statement.

282.2 Postage Payment Methods

282.21 General

282.211 Postage Meter or Permit Imprint

Postage must be paid by postage meter, permit imprint, or mailer

precanceled stamps (see DMM P023.3.0) or a combination. Postage charges

are computed on PS Form 3652.

282.212 Piece Rate Portion

The applicable per-piece postage must be affixed to each piece by

meter unless postage is paid by permit imprint (see 282.23).

282.213 Pound Rate Portion

Postage for the pound rate portion must be paid either by meter

stamp(s) attached to the postage statement or from the mailer's

authorized permit imprint advance deposit account.

282.22 Postage Meter

282.221 Postage Endorsement

When postage is paid by meter or mailer precanceled stamps, each

piece must be legibly endorsed with the words ``INTERNATIONAL PRIORITY

AIRMAIL.''

282.222 Specifications for Endorsement

The endorsement required in 282.221 must appear on the address side

of each piece and must be applied by a printing press, hand stamp, or

other similar printing device. It must be printed above the name of the

addressee and to the left or below the postage, or it may be printed

adjacent to the meter stamp in either the postal inscription slug area

or ad plate area. If the postal endorsement appears in the ad plate

area, no other information may be printed in the ad plate. The

endorsement may not be typewritten or hand drawn. The endorsement is

not considered adequate if it is included as part of a decorative

design or advertisement.

282.223 Unmarked Pieces

Unmarked pieces lacking the postage endorsement required by 282.221

are subject to the applicable LC/AO airmail single piece rates.

282.224 Drop Shipment of Metered Mail

Mailers who want to enter metered IPA mail at a post office other

than where the meter is licensed must obtain a drop shipment

authorization. To obtain an authorization, the mailer must submit a

written request to the postmaster at the office where the mail will be

entered. (see DMM D072).

282.23 Permit Imprint

Mailers may use a permit imprint for mailings that contain

identical weight pieces. Any of the permit imprints shown in Exhibit

152.3 are acceptable. The postage charges are computed on PS Form 3652

and deducted from the advance deposit account. Permit imprints must not

denote Priority Mail, bulk mail, nonprofit, or other domestic or

special rate mail. Mailers may use permit imprint with nonidentical

weight pieces only if authorized to use postage mailing systems under

DMM P710, P720, or P730.

283 Weight and Size Limits

See 223 and 233 for the weight and size limits for LC items sent in

this service. See 243, 253, and 263 for the weight and size limits for

AO items sent in this service.

284 Preparation Requirements for Individual Items

284.1 Addressing

See 122.

284.2 Marking

284.21 Airmail

The sender should mark ``PAR AVION'' or ``AIR MAIL'' on the address

side of each piece. Use of bordered airmail envelopes is optional and

may be used for items sent in this service if the envelope contains the

``AIR MAIL'' endorsement.

284.22 Class of Mail

284.221 Printed Matter

Printed matter is endorsed as required by weight:

a. Items weighing more than 4 pounds must be marked to specify the

type of printed matter: ``PRINTED MATTER,'' ``PRINTED MATTER--BOOKS,''

``PRINTED MATTER--SHEET MUSIC,'' or ``PRINTED MATTER--PERIODICALS,'' as

appropriate (see 244.211).

b. Items weighing 4 pounds or less do not require any printed

matter endorsement but may be marked with the endorsements in 284.221a

at the mailer's option. Unmarked printed matter items are subject to

the mailing conditions for letters (see 220).

284.222 Letters/Letter Packages

Letters and letter packages that might be mistaken for another

class of mail because of their weight or appearance should be marked

``LETTER'' on the address side (see 224.2).

284.223 Small Packets

Each small packet must be marked ``SMALL PACKET'' (see 264.21).

284.3 Sealing

Any item sent in this service may be sealed at the option of the

sender.

284.4 Packaging

All items must be placed in envelopes or prepared in package form.

See 224.4 for LC mail and 244.4 for AO mail.

284.5 Sorting Requirements for IPA

284.51 Worldwide Nonpresorted Mail

284.511 Working Packages

IPA mail paid at the nonpresorted rate must be made up into working

packages. Letters and flats must be packaged separately, although

nonidentical pieces may be commingled within each of these categories.

Pieces that cannot be packaged because of their physical

characteristics must be placed loose in the sack.

284.512 Facing of Nonpresorted Mail Within Package

All pieces in the working packages must be faced the same way.

284.52 Presorted Mail

284.521 Direct Country Packages

When there are ten or more pieces or 1 pound or more of mail for

the same country (except Great Britain and Mexico), it must be made up

into a country package. Great Britain and Mexico require a finer

sortation (see 284.523). At the mailer's option, a finer breakdown by

city or postal code may be made based on sortation information provided

by the postal administration of the destination country.

284.522 Country Package Label

a. The label (facing slip) for country packages that contain ten or

more pieces

[[Page 65156]]

to a specific country (except for Great Britain and Mexico) must be

completed as follows:

Line 1: Foreign Exchange Office

Line 2: Country of Destination

Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location

Example

1150 VIENNA FLUG

AUSTRIA

RBA COMPANY WASHINGTON DC

b. See Exhibit 284.522 for Direct Country Package Label and Tag

178, CN 35 Par Avion, for information.

284.523 Country Packages to Great Britain and Mexico

Country packages to Great Britain and Mexico must be made up as

follows:

a. Great Britain. When there are 10 or more pieces or 1 pound or

more of mail per separation, mail to Great Britain must be sorted into

packages as follows:

Separation Exchange Office (Line 1 Package Label):

LONDON CITY LONDONTOWN

SCOTLAND GLASGOW FWD

NORTHERN IRELAND BELFAST FWD

ALL OTHER GREAT BRITAIN GREAT BRITAIN, GREAT BRITAIN

Example

LONDONTOWN

GREAT BRITAIN

MAILER, MAILER LOCATION

b. Mexico. Mail to Mexico must be sorted based on state

separations. When a state separation contains ten or more pieces or 1

pound or more of mail, it must be packaged and labeled to the

designated foreign exchange office shown in Exhibit 284.523. When there

are less than ten pieces or 1 pound to one or more states in the

grouping, package and label these pieces to the designated foreign

exchange office listed for ``Remaining.'' When there are less than ten

pieces or 1 pound to one or more states in the grouping, package and

label these pieces to the designated foreign exchange office listed for

``Remaining.''

Example: MEXICO 506 DF MEXICO MAILER, MAILER LOCATION.

Exception: When there are less than ten pieces or 1 pound of mail

to the Mexican states of Baja Calif Norte, Baja Calif Sur, Chihuahua,

Distrito Federal (Mexico City), Guerrero, and Sonora, package the

pieces separately and affix a facing slip labeled to the U.S.

International Exchange Office listed in Exhibit 284.622.

284.524 Facing of Pieces Within Country Package

All pieces in the country package must be faced in the same

direction and a facing slip identifying the contents of the package

must be placed on the address side of the top piece of each package in

such a manner that it will not become separated from the package.

Note: The pressure-sensitive labels and optional endorsement

lines used domestically for presort mail are prohibited for

International Priority Airmail.

284.53 Physical Characteristics and Requirements for Packages

284.531 Thickness

Packages of letter-size mail should be no thicker than

approximately a handful of mail (4 to 6 inches thick).

284.532 Securing Packages

Each package must be securely tied. Placing rubber bands around the

length and then the girth is the preferred method of securing packages

of letter-size mail. Plastic strapping placed around the length and

then the girth is the preferred method of securing packages of flat-

size mail.

284.533 Separation of Packages

Letter-size and flat-size mail must be packaged separately. LC and

AO mail classes may be commingled in a letter-size or flat-size mail

package.

284.6 Sacking Requirements

284.61 Direct Country Sack (11 Pounds or More)

284.611 General

When there are 11 or more pounds of mail addressed to the same

country (including Great Britain and Mexico), the mail must be packaged

and enclosed in blue international airmail sacks and labeled to the

country with Tag 178, Airmail Bag Label LC (CN 35/AV 8) (white). All

types of mail, including letter-size packages, flat-size packages, and

loose items for each destination, can be commingled in the same sack

and counted toward the 11-pound minimum.

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 a number 1, 2, 3, 4, or WW (Worldwide).

284.62 Mixed Direct Country Package Sacks

284.621 General

The direct country packages containing 10 or more pieces or 1 pound

or more of mail destined to a specific country that cannot be made up

in direct country sacks must be enclosed in orange Priority Mail sacks

unless other equipment is specified by the acceptance office.

284.622 Mixed Direct Country Sack Label

The sack label must be completed as follows. (See Exhibit 284.622

for list of U.S. International Exchange Offices.)

Line 1: Appropriate U.S. Exchange Office and Routing Code

Line 2: Contents--DRX

Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location

Example

AMC SEATTLE WA 980

INT'L PRIORITY AIRMAIL--DRX

ABC STORE SEATTLE WA

284.63 Worldwide Nonpresort Mail Sacks

284.631 General

The working packages of mixed country mail and loose items must be

enclosed in orange Priority Mail sacks unless other equipment is

specified by the acceptance office. Nonpresorted letter-size mail may

be presented in trays if authorized by the acceptance office.

Note: Working packages of mixed country mail cannot be enclosed

in mixed direct country package sacks.

284.632 Worldwide Nonpresort Mail Sack Label

The sack label must be completed as follows:

Line 1: Appropriate U.S. Exchange Office and Routing Code

Line 2: Contents--WKG

Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location

Example

AMC ATLANTA GA 300

INT'L PRIORITY AIRMAIL--WKG

CPA COMPANY ATLANTA GA

See Exhibit 284.622 for list of U.S. International Exchange

Offices.

284.64 Tags and Weight Maximum for Sacks

284.641 Tag 115 and Tag 178

All IPA sacks (direct country, mixed direct country package sacks,

and worldwide nonpresort mail sacks) must

[[Page 65157]]

be labeled with Tag 115, International Priority Airmail. Tag 115 is a

``Day-Glo'' pink tag that identifies IPA mail to ensure that it

receives priority treatment. Tag 178 (see section 284.611) is a

dispatching tag to be used only for direct country sacks. Tag 178 is

white and specially coded to route the mail to a specific country and

airport of destination. The Postal Service must complete the blocks on

the tag for date, weight, and dispatch information. The mailer must

complete only the ``To'' block showing the destination country. Postal

tags and sacks are available from the post office.

284.642 Sack Weight Maximum

The maximum weight of the sack and contents must not exceed 66

pounds.

284.7 Customs Forms Requirements

284.71 Letters and Letter Packages

See 224.5.

284.72 Printed Matter

See 244.6.

284.73 Small Packets

See 264.5.

Exhibit 284.522--Foreign Exchange Office and Country Rate Groups, Information for Direct Country Package Label

(Facing Slip), Tag 178, 3-Letter Country Exchange Office Code, and Exchange Office

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

3-letter exchange

Rate group Country office code Exchange office

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4........................... Afghanistan........... KBL Kabul.

1........................... Albania............... TIA Tirana.

4........................... Algeria............... ALG Algiers.

1........................... Andorra \1\

4........................... Angola................ LAD Luanda.

2........................... Anguilla.............. AXA The Valley.

2........................... Antigua and Barbuda... ANU St. John's.

2........................... Argentina............. BUE Buenos Aires Avion.

4........................... Armenia............... EVN Yerevan.

2........................... Aruba................. AUA Oranjestad.

1........................... Ascension \1\

3........................... Australia \2\......... SYD Sydney.

1........................... Austria............... VIE 1150 Vienna Flug.

4........................... Azerbaijan............ BAK Baku.

1........................... Azores \1\

2........................... Bahamas............... NAS Nassau.

4........................... Bahrain............... BAH Bahrain.

4........................... Bangladesh............ DAC Dhaka 17.

2........................... Barbados.............. BGI Bridgetown.

1........................... Belarus............... MOW Moscow PCI-1.

1........................... Belgium............... BRU Brussels X.

2.......................... Belize................ BZE Belize City.

4........................... Benin................. COO Cotonou.

2........................... Bermuda............... BDA Hamilton.

4........................... Bhutan \1\

2........................... Bolivia............... LPB La Paz

2........................... Bonaire 1 3

1........................... Bosnia-Herzegovina.... SJJ Sarajevo.

4........................... Botswana.............. GBE Gabrone.

2........................... Brazil................ RIO Rio de Janeiro.

2........................... British Virgin Islands EIS Roadtown Tortola

3........................... Brunei Darussalam..... BWN Bandar Seri Begawan.

1........................... Bulgaria.............. SOF Sofia.

4........................... Burkina Faso.......... OUA Ouagadougou.

4........................... Burma (Myanmar)....... RGN Rangoon.

4........................... Burundi............... BJM Bujumbura.

3........................... Cambodia.............. PNH Phnom Penh.

4........................... Cameroon.............. DLA Douala.

4........................... Cape Verde............ SID SAL.

2........................... Cayman Islands........ GCM Grand Cayman.

4........................... Central African BGF Bangui.

Republic.

4........................... Chad.................. NDJ N'Djamena.

2........................... Chile................. SCL Santiago.

3........................... China................. PEK Beijing.

2........................... Colombia.............. BOG Bogota Aeropuerto.

4........................... Comoros Islands \1\

4........................... Congo, Dem. Rep. of FIH Kinshasa CTT.

the.

4........................... Congo, Rep. of the BZV Brazzaville.

(Brazzaville).

4........................... Corsica \1\

2........................... Costa Rica............ SJO San Jose.

4........................... Cote d'Ivoire......... ABJ Abidjan.

1........................... Croatia............... ZAG Zagreb.

2........................... Cuba.................. HAV Havana.

Curacao \3\........... CUR Willemstad.

4........................... Cyprus................ NIC Nicosia.

1........................... Czech Republic........ PRG Prague 120.

1........................... Denmark............... CPH Copenhagen PTM.

[[Page 65158]]

4........................... Djibouti.............. JIB Djibouti.

2........................... Dominica.............. DOM Roseau.

2........................... Dominican Republic.... SDQ Santo Domingo.

2........................... Ecuador............... UIO Quito.

4........................... Egypt................. CAI Cairo Int'l Airport.

2........................... El Salvador........... SAL San Salvador.

4........................... Equatorial Guinea..... BSG Bata.

4........................... Eritrea............... ASM Asmara.

1........................... Estonia............... TLL Tallinn.

4........................... Ethiopia.............. ADD Addis Ababa.

2........................... Falkland Islands \1\

1........................... Faroe Islands \1\

3........................... Fiji.................. NAN Nadi.

1........................... Finland............... HEL Helsinki.

1........................... France................ PAR Paris Aviation Passe.

2........................... French Guiana......... CAY Cayenne.

3........................... French Polynesia...... PPT Papeete.

4........................... Gabon................. LBV Libreville.

4........................... Gambia................ BJL Banjul.

4........................... Georgia, Republic of.. TBS Tbilisi.

1........................... Germany............... FRA Frankfurt am Main.

Flughafen.

4........................... Ghana................. ACC Accra.

1........................... Gibraltar............. GIB Gibraltar.

1........................... Great Britain

London City........... LON Londontown.

Northern Ireland...... BFS Belfast.

Scotland.............. GLA Glasgow.

All Other

Great Britain......... LON Great Britain.

1........................... Greece................ ATH Athens.

1........................... Greenland \1\

2........................... Grenada............... GND St. George's.

2........................... Guadeloupe............ PTP Pointe-a-Pitre.

2........................... Guatemala............. GUA Guatemala.

4........................... Guinea................ CKY Conakry.

4........................... Guinea-Bissau......... BXO Bissau.

2........................... Guyana................ GEO Georgetown.

2........................... Haiti................. PAP Port-au-Prince.

2........................... Honduras.............. TGU Tegucigalpa.

3........................... Hong Kong............. HKG Victoria.

1........................... Hungary............... BUD Budapest 72 Trans.

1........................... Iceland............... REK Reykjavik.

4........................... India................. DEL Delhi Air.

3........................... Indonesia............. JKT Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta.

4........................... Iran.................. THR Tehran.

4........................... Iraq.................. BGW Baghdad.

1........................... Ireland............... DUB Dublin.

4........................... Israel................ TLV Tel Aviv-Yafo.

1........................... Italy................. ROM Rome Ferr.

2........................... Jamaica............... KIN Kingston.

3........................... Japan................. TYO Tokyo APT FWD.

4........................... Jordan................ AMM Amman.

4........................... Kazakhstan............ ALA Alma Ata.

4........................... Kenya................. NBO Nairobi.

3........................... Kiribati.............. TRW Tarawa.

3........................... Korea, Dem. People's

Rep. (North) \1\

3........................... Korea, Republic of SEL Seoul.

(South).

4........................... Kuwait................ KWI Kuwait.

1........................... Kyrgyzstan............ MOW Moscow PCI-1.

3........................... Laos.................. VTE Vientiane.

1........................... Latvia................ RIX Riga.

4........................... Lebanon............... BEY Beirut.

4........................... Lesotho............... MSU Maseru.

4........................... Liberia............... MLW Monrovia.

4........................... Libya................. TIP Tripoli.

1........................... Liechtenstein \1\

1........................... Lithuania............. VNO Vilnius.

[[Page 65159]]

1........................... Luxembourg............ LUX Luxembourg Ville.

3........................... Macao................. HKG Macau.

1........................... Macedonia............. BEG Belgrade.

4........................... Madagascar............ TNR Antananarivo.

1........................... Madeira Islands....... FNC Funchal.

4........................... Malawi................ BLZ Limbe C.S.O.

3........................... Malaysia.............. KUL Kuala Lumpur.

4........................... Maldives.............. MLE Male.

4........................... Mali.................. BKO Bamako.

4........................... Malta................. VLT Valletta.

2........................... Martinique............ FDF Fort de France.

4........................... Mauritania............ NKC Nouakchott.

4........................... Mauritius............. MRU Mauritius.

2........................... Mexico See Exhibit

284.523

4........................... Moldova............... KIV Kishinev.

1........................... Monaco................ MCM Monte Carlo.

3........................... Mongolia \1\

2........................... Montserrat............ MNI Plymouth.

4........................... Morocco............... CAS Casablanca P/PAL.

4........................... Mozambique............ MPM CPI Maputo.

4........................... Namibia............... WDH Windhoek.

3........................... Nauru................. INU Nauru.

3........................... Nepal................. KTM Kathmandu.

1........................... Netherlands........... AMS Amsterdam EXP.

2........................... Netherlands Antilles

\1\ \3\

3........................... New Caledonia......... NOU Noumea.

3........................... New Zealand........... AKL Auckland.

2........................... Nicaragua............. MGA Managua.

4........................... Niger................. NIM Niamey.

4........................... Nigeria............... LOS Lagos.

1........................... Norway................ OSL Oslo Transit.

4........................... Oman.................. MCT Muscat.

4........................... Pakistan.............. KHI Karachi.

2........................... Panama................ PTY Panama City.

3........................... Papua New Guinea...... POM Port Moresby.

2........................... Paraguay.............. ASU Asuncion.

2........................... Peru.................. LIM Lima Transito.

3........................... Philippines........... MNL Manila.

3........................... Pitcairn Island \1\

1........................... Poland................ WAW Warsaw.\3\

1........................... Portugal.............. LIS Lisbon Province.

4........................... Qatar................. DOH Doha.

4........................... Reunion............... RUN St. Denis.

1........................... Romania............... BUH Bucharest.

1........................... Russia................ MOW Moscow PCI-1.

4........................... Rwanda................ KGL Kigali.

2........................... Saba 1 3

2........................... Saint Christopher and SKB Basseterre.

Nevis.

2........................... Saint Eustatius 1 3

4........................... Saint Helena \1\

2........................... Saint Lucia........... SLU Castries.

2........................... Saint Maarten \3\..... SXM Philipsburg.

2........................... Saint Pierre and

Miquelon \1\

2........................... Saint Vincent and The SVD Kingstown.

Grenadines.

1........................... San Marino \1\

1........................... Sao Tome and Principe

\1\

4........................... Saudi Arabia.......... DHA Dhahran APT.

4........................... Senegal............... DKR Dakar Yoff.

1........................... Serbia-Montenegro BEG Belgrade.

(Yugoslavia).

4........................... Seychelles............ SEZ Mahe Is.

4........................... Sierra Leone.......... FNA Freetown.

3........................... Singapore............. SIN Singapore.

1........................... Slovak Republic BTS Bratislava.

(Slovakia).

1........................... Slovenia.............. LJU Ljubljana.

3........................... Solomon Islands....... HIR Honiara.

4........................... Somalia............... MGQ Mogadishu.

4........................... South Africa.......... JNB Johannesburg.

1........................... Spain................. MAD Madrid Airport.

[[Page 65160]]

4........................... Sri Lanka............. CMB Colombo.

4........................... Sudan................. KRT Khartoum.

2........................... Suriname.............. PBM Paramaribo.

4........................... Swaziland............. MTS Manzini.

1........................... Sweden................ STO Stockholm Flug.

1........................... Switzerland........... GVA Geneva 1.

4........................... Syria................. DAM Damascus.

3........................... Taiwan................ TPE Taipei.

4........................... Tajikistan............ MOW Moscow PCI-1.

4........................... Tanzania.............. DAR Dar es Salaam.

3........................... Thailand.............. BKK Bangkok.

4........................... Togo.................. LFW Lome.

3........................... Tonga................. NUK Nukualofa.

2........................... Trinidad and Tobago... POS Port of Spain.

4........................... Tristan da Cunha \1\

4........................... Tunisia............... TUN Tunis.

1........................... Turkey................ IST Istanbul Hava Alani.

1........................... Turkmenistan.......... MOW Moscow PCI-1.

2........................... Turks and Caicos TKI Grand Turk.

Islands.

3........................... Tuvalu \1\

4........................... Uganda................ KLA Kampala

4........................... Ukraine............... IEV Kiev.

4........................... United Arab Emirates.. DXB Dubai.

2........................... Uruguay............... MVD Montevideo.

4........................... Uzbekistan............ TAS Tashkent.

3........................... Vanuatu............... VLI Port Vila.

4........................... Vatican City.......... VCY Vatican City State.

2........................... Venezuela............. CCS Caracas.

3........................... Vietnam............... SGN Ho Chi Minh Ville.

3........................... Wallis and Futuna

Islands \1\

3........................... Western Samoa......... APW Apia.

4........................... Yemen................. SAH Sanaa.

4........................... Zambia................ NLA Ndola.

4........................... Zimbabwe.............. HRE Harare.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Footnotes

\1\ Direct country sacks are not made to these destinations. Prepare direct country packages (ten or more

pieces) and include in mixed direct country package sacks labeled to the assigned U.S. exchange office listed

in Exhibit 284.622.

\2\ At the mailer's option, a finer sortation for IPA items addressed to Australia may be used. If this option

is chosen, items addressed with postal codes beginning with 0, 1, 2, 4, and 9 and uncoded mail should be

sorted and packaged to Sydney. Direct country sacks should be tagged to Sydney as well. Both the three-letter

exchange office code, ``SYD,'' and the country name, Australia, should be entered in the ``TO'' block of Tag

178. Items addressed with postal codes beginning with 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 should be sorted and packaged to

Melbourne. Direct country sacks should be tagged to Melbourne as well. Both the three-letter exchange office

code, ``MEL,'' and the country name, Australia, should be entered in the ``TO'' block of Tag 178.

\3\ Netherlands Antilles includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten.

Exhibit 284.523--Mexico

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tag 116 3-

Package label (facing letter

State group State name State abbreviation slip) line 1 exchange

office code

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.......................... Aguascalientes....... AGS 20001 Aguascalientes GDL.

AGS DIS.

Colima............... COL 28001 Colima COL DIS. GDL.

Guanajuato........... GTO 36501 Irapuato GTO GDL.

DIS.

Jalisco.............. JAL CPA Occidente........ GDL.

Guadalajara DIS...... GDL.

Nayarit.............. NAY 63001 Tepic NAY DIS.. GDL.

Zacatecas............ ZAC 98001 Zacatecas ZAC GDL.

DIS.

Remaining............ CPA Occidente Guadalajara GDL.

DIS.

2.......................... Campeche............. CAM 24001 Campeche CAM MID.

DIS.

Tabasco.............. TAB 86001 Villahermosa MID.

TAB DIS.

Yucatan.............. YUC 97001 Merida YUC DIS. MID.

Remaining............ 97001 Merida YUC DIS. MID.

3.......................... Coahuila............. COAH CPA Noreste Monterrey MTY.

NL DIS.

Nuevo Leon........... NL CPA Noreste Monterrey MTY.

NL DIS.

San Luis Potosi...... SLP 78001 San Luis Potosi MTY.

SPL DIS.

Tamulipas............ TAM 87001 DC Victoria TAM MTY.

DIS.

[[Page 65161]]

Remaining............ CPA Noreste Monterrey NL MTY.

DIS.

4.......................... Chiapas.............. CHIS 29002 Tuxtla Gtz CHIS MEX.

DIS.

Hidalgo.............. HGO 42001 Pachuca HGO DIS MEX.

Mexico............... MEX Mexico 506 DF DIS.... MEX.

Michoacan............ MICH 58001 Morelia MICH MEX.

DIS.

Morelos.............. MOR 62001 Cuernavaca MOR MEX.

DIS.

Oaxaca............... OAX 68001 Oaxaca OAX DIS. MEX.

Puebla............... PUE 72001 Puebla PUE DIS. MEX.

Queretaro............ QRO 76001 Queretaro QRO MEX.

DIS.

Quintana Roo......... QROO 77001 Chetumal QROO MEX.

DIS.

Tlaxcala............. TLAX 90001 Tlaxcala TLAX MEX.

DIS.

Veracruz............. VER 91701 Veracruz VER MEX.

DIS.

Remaining Mexico..... ..................... 506 DF DIS........... MEX.

5.......................... Durango.............. DGO 82001 Mazatlan SIN MZT.

DIS.

Sinaloa.............. SIN 82001 Mazatlan SIN MZT.

DIS.

Remaining 82001...... SIN DIS Mazatlan............. MZT.

6.......................... Distrito Federal..... DF Mexico 506 DF (Mexico MEX.

City).

7.......................... Guerrero............. GRO 39301 Acapulco de ACA.

Juarez GRO DIS.

8.......................... Baja Calif Norte..... BCN 22001 Tijuana BCN DIS N/A.

Baja Calif Sur....... BCS 23001 La Paz BCS DIS. N/A.

Chihuahua............ CHIH 32001 CD Juarez CHIH N/A.

DIS.

Sonora............... SON 84001 Nogales SON DIS N/A.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Exhibit 284.622--Labeling of IPA Mail to USPS Exchange Offices

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

IPA acceptance office 3-digit ZIP code prefix U.S. exchange office and routing code for line 1

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

004-005, 010-098, 100-199, 250-267........................ AMC KENNEDY NY 003.

200-249, 254, 268, 283-285, 400-418, 420-427, 476-477..... P&DC DULLES VA 201.

270-282, 286-326, 344, 350-397, 399....................... AMC ATLANTA GA 300.

424, 430-459, 460-516, 520-528, 530-532, 534-535, 537-567, AMC O'HARE 606.

570-588, 600-620, 622-631, 633-641, 644-658, 660-662, 664-

681, 683-693, 739.

700-708, 710-738, 740-799, 885............................ ISC DALLAS TX 753.

590-599, 821, 832-838, 970-986, 988-999................... AMC SEATTLE WA 980

850, 852-853, 855-857, 859-860, 863-865, 870-875, 877-884, AMC LOS ANGELES CA 900.

889-891, 900-908, 910-928, 930-936.

800-816, 820, 822-831, 840-847, 893-898, 937-966.......... AMC SAN FRANCISCO CA 940.

967-969................................................... P&DC HONOLULU 967.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stanley F. Mires,

Chief Counsel, Legislative.

[FR Doc. 98-31438 Filed 11-24-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7710-12-P