[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 52 (Friday, March 17, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 14370-14371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6776]



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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20


Implementation of WORLDPOST Priority Letter

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.

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SUMMARY: WORLDPOST Priority Letter (WPL) is a new international mail 
service designed for correspondence and documents. WPL items receive 
priority handling in the United States and in destination countries. 
Initially, the service will be available to 14 destination countries, 
from specified post offices in seven metropolitan areas. To use WPL, a 
customer must use either of the two flat-rate envelopes designed for 
this service and provided by the Postal Service. Interim implementing 
regulations have been developed and are set forth below for comment and 
suggested revision prior to adoption in final form.

DATES: The interim regulations take effect March 16, 1995. Comments 
must be received on or before April 17, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to 
International Product Management, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant 
Plaza SW., Room 5300, Washington, DC 20260-2410. Copies of all written 
comments will be available for public inspection and photocopying 
between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Janet Mitchell, (202) 268-6095.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the Universal Postal Convention, 
international mail items bearing the ``expres'' logo receive priority 
handling in destination countries. A number of postal administrations 
take advantage of that provision by offering their customers an 
international mail service that is based on, but superior to, normal 
airmail service. In contrast, the only single-piece international 
service the Postal Service offers that is superior to airmail is 
Express Mail International Service (EMS), which is significantly more 
expensive than airmail. In order to provide its customers with a wider 
range of international services, the Postal Service is implementing, on 
a pilot basis, WORLDPOST Priority Letter (WPL).
    WPL is an expedited airmail service providing fast, reliable, and 
economical delivery of all items mailable as letters. Although a WPL 
item will travel in the normal airmail stream between the United States 
and the destination country, the item will receive priority handling in 
the United States and, typically, in the destination country. In the 
United States, after the item is deposited, the Postal Service will 
transport it in a dedicated stream to the appropriate gateway for 
dispatch. Upon arrival in the destination country, the item will also 
receive priority handling.
    Initially, WPL is available to the following 14 countries: 
Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, 
Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, and The 
Netherlands. Based on the Postal Service's evaluation of WPL 
performance during the pilot test, the service may be extended to 
additional destination countries.
    Initially, WPL is available only from specified ZIP Codes in the 
following seven metropolitan areas: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas/Fort Worth, 
Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Washington, DC. The Postal Service 
chose these initial acceptance sites because of their ability to 
provide reliable transportation of items deposited there to the WPL 
gateways, as well as their potential to generate significant WPL 
volume. Based on the Postal Service's evaluation of WPL performance 
during the pilot test, the service may be extended to additional 
acceptance sites.
    To use WPL, a customer will be required to place the material being 
mailed in either the small (5 inches by 8\7/8\ inches) or large (9 
inches by 11\1/2\ inches) WPL envelope provided by the Postal Service. 
These envelopes bear the appropriate internationally recognized logo 
for this service. In addition, their colorful design will facilitate 
recognition of the items by U.S. and foreign postal employees, which 
will help to ensure that the items receive priority handling.
    Rates are based on size (either small or large) and destination as 
follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Envelope size 
                      Destination                      -----------------
                                                         Small    Large 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western Europe........................................    $3.75    $6.95
[[Page 14371]]                                                          
                                                                        
Pacific Rim...........................................     4.95     8.95
Canada................................................     3.75     6.95
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Accordingly, the Postal Service hereby adopts WPL, on an interim 
basis, at the rates set forth in the schedule above. Although 39 U.S.C. 
407 does not require advance notice and opportunity for submission of 
comments, and the Postal Service is exempted by 39 U.S.C. 410(a) from 
the advance notice requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act 
regarding proposed rulemaking (5 U.S.C. 553), the Postal Service 
invites interested persons to submit written data, views, or arguments 
concerning the interim rule.
    The Postal Service adopts the following 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

    International postal service, Foreign relations.

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. Chapter 2 of the International Mail Manual is amended by adding 
new part 226 to read as follows:

2  CONDITIONS FOR MAILING
* * * * *
226  WORLDPOST Priority Letter (Interim Regulations/Standards)
226.1  General
226.11  Definition
    WORLDPOST Priority Letter (WPL) is an expedited airmail letter 
service providing fast, reliable, and economical delivery of all 
items mailable as letters. WPL items receive priority handling in 
the United States and in destination countries. Service is available 
only to destination countries identified in 226.2, from post offices 
identified in 226.3. WPL items must be mailed in special envelopes 
provided for this purpose by the Postal Service.

226.12  Permissible Items
    All items admitted in letters (see 221.1) are accepted in WPL as 
long as the contents fit securely into the WPL envelopes provided by 
the Postal Service. WPL items may contain dutiable merchandise 
unless the country of destination prohibits dutiable merchandise in 
letters (see 224.51). However, WPL items that contain dutiable 
merchandise might experience delay in delivery caused by customs 
handling.

226.13  Addressing
    See 122. All items must bear the complete delivery address of 
the addressee and the full name (no abbreviations) of the 
destination country.

226.2  Availability
    WORLDPOST Priority Letter service is available only to the 
following countries:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Western Europe                  Pacific Rim             Canada   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Belgium.....................  Australia...................  Canada      
France......................  Hong Kong...................  ............
Germany.....................  Japan.......................  ............
Great Britain*..............  New Zealand.................  ............
Norway......................  Singapore...................  ............
Sweden......................  Taiwan......................  ............
The Netherlands.............  ............................  ............
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Includes all points in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland,     
  Guernsey, Jersey, and the Isle of Man.                                

226.3  Mailing Locations
226.31  Acceptance Offices and Pickup Service Locations
    WPL service is available only through the designated post 
offices listed in 226.32.
    WPL items must not be accepted or deposited in areas not listed 
in 226.32.
226.32  Service Areas
    Service is available only from the metropolitan areas as defined 
by the ZIP Code ranges shown below. Within these service areas, 
prepaid items may be given to carriers, deposited in Express Mail 
collection boxes, or mailed at post offices, stations, and branches. 
Pickup service is available.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Metropolitan area                  ZIP code service area               
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Atlanta, GA.......  300-303, 305, 306, 311                              
Boston, MA........  018-024                                             
Dallas/Ft. Worth,   750-754, 760-762, 764                               
 TX.                                                                    
Los Angeles, CA...  900-918, 926-928                                    
Miami, FL.........  330-334, 349                                        
New York, NY......  068, 069, 100-108, 110-118                          
Washington, DC....  200, 201, 203, 205, 20813-20815, 20817, 20850-20852,
                     20854, 20855, 20898, 20901, 20902, 20904, 20906,   
                     20907, 20910-20912, 222, 223                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------

226.4  Postage
226.41  Rates
    Rates are based on size (either small or large) and destination 
as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Envelope size 
                      Destination                      -----------------
                                                         Small    Large 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Western Europe........................................    $3.75    $6.95
Pacific Rim...........................................     4.95     8.95
Canada................................................     3.75     6.95
------------------------------------------------------------------------

226.42  Pickup Service
    On-call and scheduled pickup service are available for WORLDPOST 
Priority Letters for a charge of $4.95 for each pickup stop, 
regardless of the number of pieces picked up. Only one pickup fee is 
charged if domestic or international Express Mail, domestic Priority 
Mail, or domestic or international parcel post is picked up at the 
same time. (See DMM D010 for standards for pickup service.)

226.43  Postage Payment Methods
    Postage for WORLDPOST Priority Letters may be paid by adhesive 
stamps, postage meter and meter stamps, or, if presented at a post 
office, postage validation imprinter (PVI) labels.

226.5  Packaging
    Items must be placed in special WORLDPOST Priority Letter 
envelopes provided by the Postal Service. All items that cannot be 
adequately protected by these envelopes should not be mailed using 
this service. Envelopes must be sealed.

226.6  Size and Weight Limits
226.61  General
    Two sizes of envelopes are available from the Postal Service for 
mailing WPL items. Postage rates are based on the size of the 
envelope used, not the weight of the item. (See 226.41 for rates.)

226.62  Size Limits
    Sizes of the required Postal Service-provided envelopes are:

    a. Small size--5 inches by 8-7/8 inches.
    b. Large size--9 inches by 11-1/2 inches.

226.63  Weight Limits
    The Postal Service-provided envelopes are not intended to 
accommodate items weighing more than several ounces. However, the 
maximum weight for letter-class (LC) items is 4 pounds.

226.7  Customs Forms Required
    If WORLDPOST Priority Letters contain dutiable merchandise, the 
sender must prepare a customs declaration and affix it to the 
letter. See 123 for instructions. Certain nonpostal export forms may 
be required as described in Chapter 5.

226.8  Special Services
    Mailers may obtain certificates of mailing (see 310). No other 
special services such as registry, insurance, restricted delivery, 
return receipt, or recorded delivery are available.
    A transmittal letter making the changes in the pages of the 
International Mail Manual will be published and transmitted 
automatically to subscribers. Notice of issuance of the transmittal 
letter will be published in the Federal Register as provided by 39 
CFR 20.3.
Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 95-6776 Filed 3-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P