[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 22, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18297-18298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-9158]


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

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 233


Mail Covers

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The U.S. Postal Service is amending the Code of Federal 
Regulations to revise the definitions of sealed mail and unsealed mail 
to reflect current classifications.

DATES: Effective Date: June 1, 2009.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lawrence Katz, Inspector in Charge, 
Office of Counsel, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, 202-268-7732.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The current mail cover regulations provide 
definitions for sealed and unsealed mail. Certain words used (e.g., 
second-class, third-class, and fourth-class mail) no longer reflect 
current classifications. The definitions of sealed and unsealed mail 
are revised to mirror mail classification definitions found in the 
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail 
Manual, and in the International Mail Manual.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 233

    Administrative practice and procedure, Crime, Law enforcement, 
Penalties, Privacy.

0
For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Postal Service amends 39 
CFR part 233 as set forth below:

PART 233--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 233 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  39 U.S.C. 101, 102, 202, 204, 401, 402, 403, 404, 
406, 410, 411, 1003, 3005(e)(1); 12 U.S.C. 3401-3422; 18 U.S.C. 981, 
1956, 1957, 2254, 3061; 21 U.S.C. 881; Omnibus Budget Reconciliation 
Act of 1996, sec. 662 (Pub. L. 104-208).

0
2. In Sec.  233.3, the definitions of sealed mail and unsealed mail in 
paragraphs (c)(3) and (c)(4) are revised to read as follows;


Sec.  233.3  Mail covers.

* * * * *
    (c) * * *
    (3) Sealed mail is mail which under postal laws and regulations is 
included within a class of mail maintained by the Postal Service for 
the transmission of letters sealed against inspection. Sealed mail 
includes: First-Class Mail; Priority Mail; Express Mail; Express Mail 
International; Global Express Guaranteed items containing only 
documents; Priority Mail International flat-rate envelopes and small 
flat-rate boxes; International Priority Airmail, except M-bags; 
International Surface Air Lift, except M-bags; First-Class Mail 
International; Global Bulk Economy, except M-bags; certain Global 
Direct mail as specified by customer contract; and International 
Transit Mail.
    (4) Unsealed mail is mail which under postal laws or regulations is 
not included within a class of mail maintained by the Postal Service 
for the transmission of letters sealed against inspection. Unsealed 
mail includes: Periodicals; Standard Mail; Package Services; incidental 
First-Class Mail attachments and enclosures; Global Express Guaranteed 
items containing non-documents; Priority Mail International, except 
flat-rate envelopes and small flat-rate boxes; International Direct 
Sacks--M-bags; certain Global Direct mail as specified by customer 
contract; and all items sent via ``Free Matter for the Blind or 
Handicapped''

[[Page 18298]]

under 39 U.S.C. 3403-06 and International Mail Manual 270.
* * * * *

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. E9-9158 Filed 4-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P