[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 110 (Friday, June 8, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31726-31727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-11069]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Customs Forms for Priority Mail To or From ``969'' ZIP Codes and 
96799

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Postal ServiceTM is revising the Mailing 
Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual to 
require customs declarations on certain Priority Mail[supreg] 
mailpieces to or from ZIP CodeTM 96799 and ZIP 
CodesTM beginning with the prefix 969.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 8, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Obataiye B. Akinwole, 202-268-7262.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In January 2003, the Postal Service 
published a Postal Bulletin article asking customers to affix either PS 
Form 2976, Customs Declaration CN22--Sender's Declaration, or PS Form 
2976-A, Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note--CP72, to all mailpieces 
weighing 16 ounces or more addressed to Guam. In March 2003, we revised 
our request to include mailpieces addressed to all ZIP Codes beginning 
with the 969 ZIP Code prefix. On September 13, 2006, we published a 
Proposed rule in the Federal Register, (71 FR 54006), to require 
customs declarations on certain Priority Mail mailpieces to or from ZIP 
CodesTM beginning with the prefix 969. We are now requiring 
that the appropriate customs form be affixed to all Priority Mail 
pieces weighing 16 ounces or more sent to or from ZIP Codes beginning 
with the prefix 969. We are also expanding the requirement to affix the 
appropriate customs form to all Priority Mail pieces weighing 16 ounces 
or more that are sent to or from ZIP Code 96799, American Samoa.
    We are also removing the language regarding ``dutiable 
merchandise'' from this final rule. The language is ambiguous at best 
and does not address a specific concern.

Comments

    Interested persons were invited to comment on the proposed rule. 
One comment was received. The commenter questioned the underlying 
rationale for the new rule. In response, these destinations are outside 
the customs territory of the United States. Hence, a customs form would 
facilitate the identification of the contents of the mail to the extent 
customs inspections may be applied to this traffic. In addition, use of 
a customs form would enable the Postal Service to meet requirements 
imposed by airlines to carry Priority Mail above a certain weight 
threshold. Such requirements are not imposed by surface transportation 
carriers, and are not needed for other classes of mail carried by air 
carriers.
    After reviewing and considering the comments, we adopt the 
following changes to Mailing Standards of the United States Postal 
Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated by reference in the 
Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.


0
Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is amended as follows:

PART 111--[AMENDED]

0
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, 
416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.

0
2. Revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, 
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), as follows:

600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services

* * * * *

[[Page 31727]]

608 Postal Information and Resources

* * * * *

2.0 Domestic Mail

* * * * *
    [Add new 2.4 as follows:]

2.4 Customs Forms Required

    Regardless of contents, all Priority Mail weighing 16 ounces or 
more sent from the United States to a ZIP Code beginning with the 
prefix 969 and ZIP Code 96799, and all Priority Mail sent from a ZIP 
Code beginning with the prefix 969 and ZIP Code 96799 to the United 
States, must bear either Form 2976 or Form 2976-A. This mail must be 
presented to an employee at a post office, to a letter carrier when 
using Click-N-Ship with Carrier Pickup, or to a Postal Service employee 
designated by the postmaster.
* * * * *

Neva R. Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
 [FR Doc. E7-11069 Filed 6-7-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P