[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 62 (Friday, March 29, 1996)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 14025-14029] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-7587] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- POSTAL SERVICE 39 CFR Part 20 Expansion of Global Priority Mail AGENCY: Postal Service. ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Postal Service is expanding Global Priority Mail service by increasing the number of acceptance points, countries (annotated in bold in the text) and adding weight variable rates for items up to four pounds. DATES: The interim regulations take effect March 25, 1996. Comments must be received on or before May 28, 1996. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be mailed or delivered to the Manager, Commercial Products, International Business Unit, US Postal Service, Room 370-IBU, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20260- 4261. 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: Jay Thabet, (202) 268-2269. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 17, 1995, the Postal Service published in the Federal Register (60 FR 14370) interim regulations implementing WORLDPOST Priority Letter and requested comments. A final rule adopting the interim rules as final was filed at the Office of the Federal Register March 25, 1996. In the final rule the name of the service was changed to Global Priority Mail service and additional acceptance points were added. Global Priority Mail is an expedited airmail service providing fast reliable, and economical delivery of all items mailable as letters. Although a Global Priority Mail item will travel in the normal airmail stream between the United States and the destination country, the item will receive priority [[Page 14026]] 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. Service is available only in certain ZIP Code areas in the United States and only to certain countries. The Postal Service is now expanding the number of acceptance points to make the service more widely available. The new acceptance points are set forth below. The Postal Service is also adding weight variable rates. With the new rates, customers may use their own packaging for items weighing up to 4 pounds. Each variable weight item must bear a Global Priority Mail sticker provided by the Postal Service. These changes will make Global Priority Mail available to more customers and should make the service more useful, by making it easier to mail items other than documents or letters. 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 comments concerning the interim rule. The Postal Service adopts 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 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 revising part 226 to read as follows: 2 CONDITIONS FOR MAILING * * * * * 226 Global Priority Mail 226.1 General 226.11 Definition Global Priority Mail is an expedited airmail letter service providing fast, reliable, and economical delivery of all items mailable as letters or merchandise up to 4 pounds. Global Priority Mail 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. 226.12 Permissible Items All items sent as letter class mail (see 221.1) are accepted in Global Priority Mail provided the contents are mailable and fit securely in the envelope. Global Priority Mail items may contain dutiable merchandise unless the country of destination specifically prohibits dutiable merchandise in letters (see 224.51). Any item that is prohibited in international mail is prohibited in Global Priority Mail. Refer to the ``Country Conditions of Mailing'' in the individual country listings for individual country prohibitions. 226.13 Packaging Items must fit comfortably within the flat-rate envelope without distorting or bursting the container. No excessive use of tape to keep the envelopes from bursting, only one piece of tape may be used to secure the flap. 226.2 Availability Global Priority Mail is available to the following additional countries: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Western Europe Pacific Rim North America ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Austria......................... Australia......... Canada. Belgium......................... Hong Kong......... Denmark......................... Japan............. Finland......................... Korea, Republic of France.......................... New Zealand....... Germany......................... Philippines....... Iceland......................... Singapore......... Ireland......................... Taiwan............ Luxembourg...................... Thailand.......... Netherlands, The................ Vietnam........... Norway. Portugal. Spain. Sweden. Switzerland. United Kingdom.* ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * 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 Global Priority Mail service is available only through the designated post offices and the additional post offices listed in 226.32. Pickup Service is available for an additional fee. (See 226.83.) 226.32 Service Areas Service is available only from the metropolitan areas as defined by the ZIP Code ranges shown below. If Global Priority Mail is presented at a non-participating retail unit, advise the customer that the item cannot be accepted as Global Priority Mail. Refer customer to the nearest Global Priority Mail retail acceptance unit. 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. Global Priority Mail Acceptance Cities and Three-Digit ZIP Codes ALABAMA Anniston: 362 Birmingham: 352 Huntsville: 356, 357, 358 Mobile: 366 Montgomery: 361, 368 ARIZONA Phoenix: 850, 852, 853 Tucson: 857 ARKANSAS Little Rock: 722 West Memphis: 723 CALIFORNIA Industry: 917, 918 Inglewood: 902, 903, 904, 905 Long Beach: 906, 907, 908 Los Angeles: 900, 901 North Bay: 949 Oakland: 945, 946, 947, 948, Pasadena: 910, 911, 912 Salinas: 939 San Diego: 919, 920, 921 San Francisco: 940, 941, 943, 944 San Jose: 950, 951 Santa Ana: 926, 927, 928 Van Nuys: 913, 914, 915, 916 COLORADO Brighton: 806 Colorado Springs: 808, 809 Denver: 800, 801, 802, 803 Longmont: 805 Pueblo: 810 CONNECTICUT Hartford: 060, 061, 062 New Haven: 063, 064, 065, 066 Stamford: 068, 069 Waterbury: 067 DELAWARE Wilmington: 197, 198, 199 DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (Washington, DC) Washington: 200, 202, 203, 204, 205 FLORIDA Daytona Beach: 321 Fort Myers: 339 Ft. Lauderdale: 333 Gainesville: 326, 344 Jacksonville: 320, 322 Lakeland: 338 Manasota: 342 Miami: 331, 332 Mid-Florida: 327 [[Page 14027]] Orlando: 328, 329, 347 South Florida: 330 St. Petersburg: 337 Tallahassee: 323 Tampa: 335, 336, 346 West Palm Beach: 334, 349 GEORGIA Albany: 317 Athens: 306 Atlanta: 303, 311 Augusta: 298, 308, 309 Columbus: 318, 319 Macon: 310, 312 North Metro: 300, 301, 302, 305 Savannah: 299, 313, 314 Swainsboro: 304 Valdosta: 316 Waycross: 315 INDIANA Bloomington: 474 Columbus: 472 Evansville: 424, 476, 477 Fort Wayne: 467, 468 Gary: 463, 464 Indianapolis: 460, 461, 462 Kokomo: 469 Lafayette: 479 Muncie: 473 South Bend: 465, 466 Terre Haute: 478 Washington: 475 ILLINOIS Bloomington: 617 Carbondale: 629 Carol Stream: 601, 603 Centralia: 628 Chicago: 606, 607, 608 Effingham: 624 Champaign: 618, 619 Fox Valley: 605 Galesburg: 614 Kankakee: 609 La Salle: 613 Palatine: 600, 602 Peoria: 615, 616 Quincy: 623, 634, 635 Rockford: 610, 611 Rock Island: 612 Springfield: 625, 626, 627 South Suburban: 604 IOWA Burlington: 526 Cedar Rapids: 522, 523, 524 Davenport: 527, 528 Des Moines: 500, 501, 502, 503, 509 Dubuque: 520 Mason City: 504 Ottumwa: 525 Sioux City: 510, 511 Waterloo: 506, 507 KANSAS Fort Scott: 667 Kansas City: 660, 661, 662 Hays: 676 Salina: 674 Topeka: 664, 665, 666, 668 Wichita: 672 KENTUCKY Ashland: 411, 412 Bowling Green: 421, 422 Campton: 413, 414 Elizabeth: 427 Evansville: 424, 476 Louisville: 400, 401, 402, 471 Lexington: 403, 404, 405, 406 Owensboro: 423 Pikeville: 415, 416 LOUISIANA Baton Rouge: 707, 708 New Orleans: 700, 701 Hammond: 704 Thibodaux: 703 MAINE Bangor: 044, 046, 047 Portland: 040, 041, 042, 043, 045, 048, 049 MARYLAND Baltimore: 210, 211, 212, 214, 219 Cumberland: 215, 267 Easton: 216 Frederick: 217 Salisbury: 218 Southern: 206, 207 Suburban: 208, 209 MASSACHUSETTS Boston: 021, 022 Brockton: 020, 023, 024 Buzzard Bay: 025, 026 Middlesex-Essex: 018, 019 Pittsfield: 012 Springfield: 013, 010, 011 Worchester: 014, 015, 016, 017 MICHIGAN Detroit: 481, 482 Flint: 484, 485 Gaylord: 497 Grand Rapids: 493, 494, 495 Jackson: 492 Kalamazoo: 490, 491 Lansing: 488, 489 Royal Oak: 480, 483 Saginaw: 486, 487 Traverse City: 496 MINNESOTA Detroit Lakes: 565 Duluth: 558 Mankato: 560 Minneapolis: 553, 554f Rochester: 559 Saint Cloud: 563 St. Paul: 550, 551, 540 Thief River Falls: 567 Willmar: 562 Windom: 561 MISSISSIPPI Grenada: 389 Gulf Port: 395 Hattiesburg: 394 Jackson: 392 McComb: 396 MISSOURI Cape Girardeau: 636, 637, 638, 639 Chillicothe: 646 East St. Louis: 622 Harrisonville: 647 Kansas City: 640, 641 Mid-Missouri: 650, 651, 652, 653 Saint Joseph: 644, 645 Springfield: 648, 654, 655, 656, 657, 658 St. Louis: 620, 630, 631, 633 MONTANA Billings: 591 NEBRASKA Lincoln: 683, 684, 685 Norfolk: 686, 687 Omaha: 515, 516, 680, 681 NEVADA Las Vegas: 891 NEW HAMPSHIRE Manchester: 030, 031, 032, 033, 034 Portsmouth: 038, 039 NEW JERSEY Hackensack: 076 Kilmer: 088, 089 Monmouth: 077 Newark: 070, 071, 072, 073 Paterson: 074, 075 South Jersey: 080, 081, 082, 083, 084 Trenton: 085, 086, 087 West Jersey: 078, 079 NEW MEXICO Albuquerque: 871 NEW YORK Albany: 120, 121, 122, 123 Binghamton: 137, 138, 139 Bronx: 104 Brooklyn: 112 Buffalo: 140, 141, 142, 143 Elmira: 148, 149 Glen Falls: 128 Jamestown: 147 Long Island: 111 Mid-Hudson: 124, 125, 126, 127 Mid Island: 119 New York: 100, 101, 102 Plattsburgh: 129 Queens: 110, 113, 114, 116 Rochester: 144, 145, 146 Rockland: 109 Staten Island: 103 Syracuse: 130, 131, 132 Utica: 133, 134, 135 Watertown: 136 Westchester: 105, 106, 107, 108 Western Nassau: 115 NORTH CAROLINA Asheville: 287, 288, 289 Charlotte: 280, 281, 282, 297 Greensboro: 270, 271, 272, 273, 274 Hickory: 286 Raleigh: 275, 276, 277 NORTH DAKOTA Bismarck: 585 Dickinson: 586 Devils Lake: 583 Fargo: 580, 581 Grand Forks: 582 Jamestown: 584 Minot: 587 Williston: 588 OHIO Akron: 442, 443 Athens: 457 Canton: 446, 447 Chillicothe: 456 Cincinnati: 410, 450, 451, 452, 470 Cleveland: 440, 441 Columbus: 430, 431, 432, 433 Dayton: 453, 454, 455 Lima: 458 Mansfield: 448, 449 Steubenville: 439 Toledo: 434, 435, 436 [[Page 14028]] Youngstown: 444, 445 Zanesville: 337-338 OKLAHOMA Ardmore: 734 Clinton: 736 Durant: 747 Enid: 737 Lawton: 735 McAlester: 745 Muskogee: 744 Oklahoma City: 730, 731 Ponca City: 746 Poteau: 749 Shawnee: 748 Tulsa: 740, 741, 743 Woodard: 738 OREGON Portland: 972 PENNSYLVANIA Altoona: 166, 168 Bradford: 167 Dubois: 158 Erie: 164, 165 Greensburg: 156 Harrisburg: 170, 171, 172, 178 Johnstown: 155, 157, 159 Lancaster: 173, 174, 175, 176 Lehigh Valley: 180, 181, 183 New Castle: 160, 161, 162 Oil City: 163 Philadelphia: 190, 191 Pittsburgh: 150, 151, 152, 153, 154 Reading: 179, 195, 196 Scranton: 184, 185, 188 Southeastern: 189, 193, 194 Wilkes-Barre: 182, 186, 187 PUERTO RICO/VIRGIN ISLANDS San Juan: 006, 007, 008, 009 RHODE ISLAND Providence: 027, 028, 029 SOUTH CAROLINA Charleston: 294 Columbia: 290, 291, 292 Florence: 295 Greenville: 293, 296 SOUTH DAKOTA Aberdeen: 574 Dakota Central: 572, 573 Mobridge: 576 Pierre: 575 Rapid City: 577 Sioux Falls: 570, 571 TENNESSEE Chattanooga: 307, 373, 374 Columbia: 384 Cookeville: 385 Jackson: 383 Johnson City: 376 Knoxville: 377, 378, 379 McKenzie: 382 Memphis: 380, 381, 386 Nashville: 370, 371, 372 TEXAS Abilene: 768, 795, 796 Amarillo: 791 Austin: 786, 787, 789 Beaumont: 776, 777 Bryan: 778 Corpus Christi: 784 Dallas: 751, 752, 753 El Paso: 799 Fort Worth: 760, 761, 762, 764 Greenville: 754 Houston: 770, 772 Longview: 756 Lubbock: 794 Lufkin: 759 North Houston: 773, 774, 775 North Texas: 750 Palestine: 758 San Angelo:769 San Antonio: 780, 781, 782, 788 Texarkana: 755 Tyler: 757 Waco: 765, 766, 767 Wichita Falls: 763 UTAH Provo: 845, 846, 847 Salt Lake City: 840, 841, 843, 844 VERMONT Burlington: 054, 056 White River Junction: 035, 036, 037, 050, 051, 052, 053, 057, 058, 059 VIRGINIA Charlottesville: 228, 229, 244 Culpeper: 227 Farmville: 239 Northern Virginia: 201, 220, 221, 222, 223 Norfolk: 233, 234, 235, 236, 237 Richmond: 224, 225, 230, 231, 232, 238 Winchester: 226 WASHINGTON Everett: 982 Olympia: 985 Seattle: 980, 981 Tacoma: 983, 984 Wenatchee: 988 Yakima: 989 WEST VIRGINIA Charleston: 250, 251, 252, 253 Huntington: 255, 256, 257 Martinsburg: 254 Wheeling: 260 WISCONSIN Eau Claire: 547 Green Bay: 543 La Crosse: 546 Madison: 537 Milwaukee: 530, 531, 532 Oshkosh: 549 Racine: 534 Spooner: 548 WYOMING Cheyenne: 820 226.4 Postage 226.41 Flat Rate Envelopes Postage Each Global Priority Mail flat rate envelope is charged at a flat rate. The rate is based on the geographic rate zone regardless of its actual weight. Postage is required for each piece. Exhibit 226.41 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Small Large Destination envelope envelope ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Western Europe *.................................... $3.75 $6.95 Canada *............................................ 3.75 6.95 Pacific Rim *....................................... 4.95 8.95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ * See 226.2 for listing. 226.42 Variable Weight Option Postage--Single Piece Rates Global Priority Mail variable weight rates are calculated in half (or fraction thereof) increments based on the weight of each piece the destination geographic rate zone up to four pounds. (See Exhibit 226.42.) Exhibit 226.42.--Variable Weight Rate Sticker Postage ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Western Pacific Weight level (lbs.) Europe Rim Canada ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0.5....................................... $7.00 $8.00 $5.95 1.0....................................... 10.50 12.50 10.00 1.5....................................... 12.50 16.95 13.50 2.0....................................... 15.00 21.00 16.50 2.5....................................... 17.50 23.95 18.00 3.0....................................... 19.95 27.25 19.50 3.5....................................... 22.00 31.50 21.00 4.0....................................... 24.75 34.50 22.50 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 226.43 Global Priority Mail Sticker--Volume Rates 226.431 Minimum Quantity Requirement The mailer must have a minimum of 5 or more pieces to one or more Global Priority Mail countries. The minimum does not apply to each geographic zone rate. 226.432 Mailing Statement Postage for volume rate mail and permit imprint must be computed on Form 3653, Global Priority Mail Statement of Mailings. Exhibit 226.43.--Variable Weight Sticker Option--Volume Rates ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Western Pacific Weight level Europe Rim Canada ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 0.5....................................... $5.95 $6.95 $5.00 1.0....................................... 8.50 10.00 7.50 1.5....................................... 10.00 13.50 10.00 2.0....................................... 12.00 16.95 12.50 2.5....................................... 14.00 19.25 13.50 3.0....................................... 16.95 21.95 14.50 3.5....................................... 19.95 25.50 15.50 4.0....................................... 22.50 27.75 16.50 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 226.5 Payment Methods 226.51 Postage Payment Methods Nonidentical weight piece mailings must have the applicable postage affixed by adhesive stamps, meter stamps or if [[Page 14029]] presented at a post office, postal validation imprinter (PVI labels). Identical weight piece mailings may be paid by meter stamps, adhesive stamps, PVI labels or permit imprint subject to certain standards. To use permit imprint, the mailing must consist of 200 or more pieces and be of identical weight. The 200 pieces criteria for permit imprint applies to both volume rate and flat rate mail. Mailers may use permit imprint with nonidentical weight items only if authorized by the USPS under a Manifest Mailing System (MMS), in Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) P710. 226.52 Postal Marking Related to Volume Rate Postage When pieces are paid at the volume rate and paid by stamps or meter impression, each piece must be legibly marked with the words ``Volume Rate Global Priority Mail.'' If stamps are used the endorsement must appear on the address side of each piece and must be applied by a printing press, hand stamp or other similar printing device. If meter impression is used the endorsement must be in the ad plate or the slug area. If part of the slug, the abbreviation GPM Vol. Rate may be used. See DMM P030.4.14 for specification of size requirements. 226.53 Permit Imprint Content and Format All permit imprints on Global Priority Mail must show city and state, ``Global Priority Mail,'' U.S. Postage Paid, and permit number. They may show the mailing date, amount of postage paid or the number of ounces for each postage. 226.54 Meter Stamps Content At a minimum, a meter stamp must show the month, day and year in the postmark, city and state designation of the licensing post office, the number, and the amount of postage. See DMM P030.4.6. 226.6 Preparation Requirements 226.61 Addressing All items must bear the complete delivery address of the addressee and the full name (no abbreviations) of the destination country. See 122. 226.62 Marking Global Priority Mail items must be mailed in special envelopes (EP- 15A, EP-15B) or with the Global Priority Mail sticker (DEC-10) provided by the Postal Service. (These supplies may be obtained by calling 800- 222-1811.) Unmarked pieces are subject to the applicable LC/AO airmail regular rates and treatment. Pieces paid at the Global Priority Mail sticker rate must be affixed to the address side of the package. 226.63 Customs A green customs label must be affixed if the package is 1 pound or more, regardless of its contents. Only documents and correspondence under 1 pound do not require a customs form. 226.7 Size and Weight Limits 226.71 Size Limits 226.72 Flat-Rate Envelope Sizes a. Small Size: 6 x 10 inches. b. Large Size: 9\1/2\ x 12\1/2\ inches. 226.73 Package Sizes for Variable Weight Option a. Minimum length and height: 5\1/2\ x 3\1/2\ inches. b. Minimum depth (thickness): .007 inches. c. Maximum length: 24 inches. d. Maximum length, height, depth (thickness) combined: 36 inches. 226.74 Rolls a. Minimum length: 4 inches. b. Minimum length plus twice the diameter combined: 6\3/4\ inches. c. Maximum length: 36 inches. d. Maximum length plus twice the diameter combined: 42 inches. 226.75 Weight Limits Items sent as Global Priority Mail in envelopes and the variable weight option must not exceed 4 pounds. 226.76 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. 226.8 Mailer Preparation 226.81 Mailer Requirement Global Priority Mail claimed at the volume rate must be separated by geographic rate zone (Western Europe, Pacific Rim, and Canada) when presented to the business mail entry unit unless otherwise authorized by the USPS. All pieces in a permit imprint mailing and metered mail must be facing the same direction. 226.82 Deposit Of Mail Global Priority Mail pieces paid by permit imprint and pieces claimed at the Global Priority Mail volume rates must be deposited at a business mail acceptance unit as authorized by the postmaster in the designated Global Priority Mail sites for weighing. Flat rate envelopes with postage affixed may be deposited in any Express Mail Street collection or other such place where Express Mail is accepted. Metered mail must be deposited in locations under the jurisdiction of the licensing post office except as permitted under DMM P030. 226.83 Pickup Service On call and scheduled pickup service are available for Global Priority Mail from the designated Global Priority Mail acceptance cities. There is a charge of $4.95 for each pickup stop, regardless of the number of pieces picked up. (See DMM D010 for standards of pickup service.) Pickup is not available for Global Priority Mail pieces if paid by permit imprint or claimed at the volume rate. * * * * * 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. 96-7587 Filed 3-26-96; 10:30 am] BILLING CODE 7710-12-P