[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 81 (Friday, April 26, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20644-20645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10363]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Domestic Mail Manual Changes To Clarify the Method Used To 
Determine Postal Zones

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule amends Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) G030 to 
clarify the language describing the method used by the Postal Service 
to determine postal zones. This final rule is effective with the 
implementation date of the Docket No. R2001-1 omnibus rate case on June 
30, 2002. On that date, the Postal Service will update zone chart 
coordinates for all 3-digit ZIP Code prefixes in L005, Column A, that 
do not match the corresponding coordinates for L005, Column B.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This final rule is effective at 12:01 a.m. on June 30, 
2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Boyce, 901-681-4525.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 7, 2002, the Postal Service 
published a proposed rule in the Federal Register (67 FR 10340) for the 
purpose of clarifying the language in DMM G030 which describes the 
method used to determine postal zones 1 through 8. This clarification 
would not change the method used to calculate postal zones.
    As information, postal rates for certain subclasses of mail are 
based on the weight of the individual piece and the distance that the 
piece travels from origin to destination (i.e., the number of postal 
zones crossed). For the administration of the system of postal zones, 
the sphere of the earth is geometrically divided into units of area 30 
minutes square, identical with a quarter of the area formed by the 
intersecting parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude. Postal 
zones are based on the distance between these units of area. The 
distance is measured from the center of the unit of area containing the 
sectional center facility (SCF) serving the origin Post Office to the 
SCF serving the destination Post Office. The SCF serving the origin and 
destination Post Offices are determined by the appropriate SCF in L005, 
Column B.
    In the March 7, 2002, proposed rule, the Postal Service solicited 
comments on the implementation date for this revision. During the 30-
day comment period, the Postal Service received no comments on the 
proposed rulemaking.
    Therefore, effective June 30, 2002, the longitude and latitude of 
130 3-digit ZIP Code prefixes for SCF coordinates in L005, Column A, 
will be updated to reflect the parent SCF in L005, Column B. This 
update will align the 3-digit ZIP Code prefixes with current postal 
processing and distribution networks. To accommodate the small number 
of 3-digit ZIP Code prefixes for military post offices (MPOs) that are 
not listed in L005, the Postal Service will add a new table to DMM 
G030.1.2. The information in DMM G030.1.3 regarding the available 
formats in which zone chart data may be obtained from the Postal 
Service will be updated to reflect current distribution methods. 
Additionally, DMM G030.3.0 will be deleted because it repeats 
eligibility information for intra-BMC, inter-BMC, SCF, and delivery 
unit rates contained in other portions of the DMM.
    The Postal Service Official National Zone Chart Data Program is 
administered from the National Customer Support Center (NCSC) in 
Memphis, TN. Single-page zone charts for originating mail are available 
online through Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov. Zone chart data 
for the entire nation can be purchased in a CD-ROM format. For more 
information, or to purchase zone charts, call the Zone Chart program 
administrator at 800-238-3150. The single-page zone chart program 
available online through Postal Explorer has a link (click on ``what's 
new'') to the updated zone chart data effective on June 30, 2002.
    For the reasons stated, the Postal Service adopts the following 
amendments to the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), which is incorporated by 
reference in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). See 39 CFR part 
111.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Postal Service.

PART 111--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 
3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403'3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.

[[Page 20645]]


    2. Amend the following sections of the Domestic Mail Manual as set 
forth below:

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

* * * * *

G  General Information

G000  The USPS and Mailing Standards

* * * * *

G030  Postal Zones

Summary

    [Amend Summary text by removing the references to BMCs, SCF, and 
delivery unit zones to read as follows:]
    G030 describes how postal zones are used to compute postage for 
zoned mail. It also defines local and nonlocal zones.
1.0  BASIC INFORMATION

2.1  Basis

    [Amend 1.1 by removing the last sentence and adding the following 
two sentences to read as follows:]
    * * * The distance is measured from the center of the unit of area 
containing the SCF serving the origin post office to the SCF serving 
the destination post office. The SCFs serving the origin and 
destination post offices are determined by using L005, Column B.

1.2  Application

    [Amend 1.2 by redesignating 1.2a and 1.2b as 1.2b and 1.2c, and 
inserting new item 1.2a to read as follows:]
    Zones are used to compute postage on zoned mail sent between USPS 
facilities, including military post offices (MPOs), wherever located, 
as follows:
    a. For the purposes of computing postal zone information, except 
for items 1.2b or 1.2c, the following table applies to MPOs not listed 
in L005.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            SCF Serving the destination
      3-Digit ZIP Code prefix group                    office
------------------------------------------------------------------------
090-098..................................  SCF New York NY 100.
340......................................  SCF Miami FL 331.
962-966..................................  SCF San Francisco CA 940.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *

1.3  Zone Charts

    [Amend 1.3 to include updated information on the format of zone 
chart data available for purchase to read as follows:]
    The USPS Official National Zone Chart Data Program is administered 
from the National Customer Support Center (NCSC) in Memphis, TN. 
Single-page zone charts for originating mail are available at no cost 
from local post offices or online at http://pe.usps.gov. Zone chart 
data for the entire nation can be purchased in a CD--ROM format. For 
more information or to purchase zone charts, call the Zone Chart 
program administrator at 800-238-3150 or write to the NCSC (see G043 
for address).
* * * * *
2.0  SPECIFIC ZONES
* * * * *

2.1  Nonlocal Zones

    Nonlocal zones are defined as follows:
    [Amend item 2.2a to read as follows:]
    a. The zone 1 rate applies to pieces not eligible for the local 
zone in 2.1 that are mailed between two post offices with the same 3-
digit ZIP Code prefix identified in L005, Column A. Zone 1 includes all 
units of area outside the local zone lying in whole or in part within a 
radius of about 50 miles from the center of a given unit of area.
* * * * *
    [Remove 3.0 in its entirety.]
* * * * *
    This change will be published in a future issue of the Domestic 
Mail Manual. An appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to reflect 
these changes will be published.

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 02-10363 Filed 4-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P