[Federal Register: November 25, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 227)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 65153-65161]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25no98-30]

[[Page 65153]]

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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20


International Priority Airmail Service; Proposed Changes

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service proposes to change the postage rates and
conditions of service for International Priority Airmail service (IPA).
In addition to adjusting rates, the Postal Service is changing country
rate groups to be the same as International Surface Air Lift service
(ISAL) and increasing the minimum weight from 10 to 11 pounds of mail.
Also, acceptance of IPA will be extended to all post offices accepting
bulk mail.

DATES: Comments on the proposed changes must be received on or before
December 28, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to the Manager,
International Pricing, Costing, and Classification, Room 370-IBU,
International Business Unit, U.S. Postal Service, Washington, DC 20260-
6500. Copies of all written comments will be available for public
inspection between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, in the
International Business Unit, 10th Floor, 901 D Street SW, Washington,
DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Walter J. Grandjean, (202) 314-7256 or
Dan Singer, (202) 314-3422.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: International Priority Airmail service (IPA)
is a volume airmail letter service. Mailers have the opportunity to
benefit from work sharing with the Postal Service and gain improved
speed of delivery for presorted mail, which the Postal Service does not
have to sort.
    The Postal Service recently adopted program changes to
International Surface Air Lift Service (ISAL) on February 28, 1998, (63
FR 3642-3650) and is now proposing changes to IPA which will align it
with ISAL in rate structure and preparation requirements. This will
make it easier for mailers to participate in either service.

Minimum Weight

    The Postal Service is increasing the minimum weight for direct
country and mixed direct country package sacks from 10 to 11 pounds.
This reflects the desired minimum sack which the Postal Service
normally dispatches to other countries and matches the sack weights
recently adopted in ISAL. This will cause the minimum weight for a
mailing to be increased to 11 pounds. In addition, a package of mail
will be defined as 10 or more pieces or 1 pound of mail to coincide
with the definition used in ISAL. ``Bundles'' will be referred to as
``packages'' in the future.

Acceptance Cities

    Since the inception of IPA, the Postal Service has limited the
number of cities where IPA mailings could be deposited. This was
intended to reduce the cost of maintaining an extensive transportation
network, but many customers not located near an acceptance point could
not use IPA. The Postal Service proposes a Full Service rate that will
be available from all post offices where bulk mail is accepted and will
make IPA accessible to all customers. Additionally, a drop shipment
option is added.

Volume Discounts

    The Postal Service proposes discounts for IPA based on the amount
of postage spent by a mailer in the preceding postal fiscal year for
both IPA and ISAL. For example, a mailer spending $2 million or more
for IPA and ISAL during postal fiscal year 1996 (September 16, 1995-
September 13, 1996) will receive a 5 percent discount on IPA mailings
made during the next fiscal year, 1997 (September 14, 1996-September
12, 1997). Mailers spending over $5 million receive a 10 percent
discount and a 15 percent discount for over $10 million. These
discounts apply to full service and drop ship rates. The discount is
calculated on the mailing statement.

Drop Ship Rates

    The Postal Service is introducing drop ship rates for mailers
willing to transport their mail to certain locations. The Postal
Service avoids certain processing, handling, and transportation costs
and these savings are being passed on to the mailer. Drop ship sites
are located in the following locations: Jamaica, NY; Miami, FL;
Franklin Park, IL; and San Francisco, CA.
    Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the
Administrative Procedure Act, S U.S.C. 553(b), (c) regarding proposed
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410 (a), the Postal Service invites comments on
the following proposed revisions of Chapter 280 of the International
Mail Manual, incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal
Regulations. See 30 CFR 20.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

    Foreign relations, Incorporation by reference, International postal
services.

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. The International Mail Manual is amended to incorporate program
changes to Subchapter 280 International Priority Airmail Service as
follows:
280  INTERNATIONAL PRIORITY AIRMAIL SERVICE

281  Description

281.1  General

    International Priority Airmail (IPA) service is as fast as or
faster than regular international airmail service. It is available to
bulk mailers of all LC and AO items that are prepared by the sender in
accordance with the requirements of this subchapter. Separate rates are
provided for presorted mail and nonpresorted mail with drop shipment
and volume discounts.

281.2  Qualifying Mail

    Any item of the LC or AO classification, as defined in 141.2,
qualifies. Letters, letter packages, postal cards, aerogrammes, regular
printed matter, books and sheet music, publishers' periodicals, matter
for the blind, and small packets, which are prepared in compliance with
the applicable mailing conditions in this subchapter, may be sent in
this service. Items do not have to be of the same size and weight to
qualify.

281.3  Minimum Quantity Requirements

281.31  Worldwide Nonpresort Mail

    The mailer must have a minimum of 11 pounds of LC/AO mail in the
total mailing. The minimum does not apply to each country destination.

281.32  Presort Mail

    The mailer must have a minimum of 11 pounds of presorted LC/AO mail
to a single rate group to qualify for the presort rate for that rate
group.

    Note: Mail that cannot be made up in direct country packages
(284.521) or in direct country sacks (284.61) does not qualify for
the presort rates and is subject to the worldwide nonpresort rates.

281.4  Dutiable Items

    Dutiable items may be sent in LC letter packages or AO small
packets in accordance with the applicable rules in this subchapter for
those classes of mail. Parcel post (CP) items, either ordinary or
insured, may not be mailed as International Priority Airmail.

[[Page 65154]]

281.5  Deposit

281.51  Full Service

    Mailings must be deposited and accepted at a business mail entry
unit of the post office where the mailer holds an advance deposit
account or postage meter license.

281.52  Drop Shipment

    To qualify for the drop shipment rates, the mailer must tender the
mail to one of the locations in 281.53. The mailer must pay postage at
the drop shipment location either through an advance deposit account or
postage meter license at the serving post office.
    As an alternative, mailers who are participating in a PVDS program
(see DMM P750) may have the mail verified, accepted and paid for at the
mailer's plant or at the origin post office serving the mailer's plant
if authorized under DMM P750.2.2. Plant-verified drop shipment mail
must be transported by the mailer to the drop shipment location and the
mail accompanied by a clearance document Form 8125.

281.53  Drop Shipment Locations

    Drop shipment rates are available from the following offices:

New York

    Regular and plant-verified drop shipment:

AMC JFK BUILDING 250
JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
JAMAICA NY 11430-9998

California

    Regular drop shipment:

SAN FRANCISCO P&DC
1300 EVANS AVE
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94188

    Plant-verified drop shipment:

AMC SAN FRANCISCO
BLDG 660 RD 6
SAN FRANCISCO CA 94158-9998

Florida

    Regular drop shipment:

MIAMI P&DC
2200 NORTHWEST 72 AVE
MIAMI FL 33152

    Plant-verified drop shipment:

AMC MIAMI
MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
MIAMI FL 33159-9998

Illinois

    Regular and plant-verified drop shipment:

CHICAGO O'HARE DROPSHIP ISAL SERVICE CENTER
INTERNATIONAL PROCESSING CENTER ANNEX
3333 N MOUNT PROSPECT RD
FRANKLIN PARK IL 60131

281.6  Special Services Not Available

    Items sent in this service may not be registered.

282  Postage

282.1  Rates

282.11  General

    There are two rate options for International Priority Airmail
service: a presort rate option that has four rate groups and a
worldwide nonpresort rate. For both options there are full service
rates for mail deposited at offices other than the four drop shipment
offices listed in 281.5, and drop ship rates for mail deposited at one
of the four drop shipment offices. The per-piece rates and per-pound
rates are shown in Exhibit 282.11. The per-piece rate of $0.10 or $0.25
applies to each piece regardless of its weight. The per-pound rate
applies to the net weight (gross weight minus tare weight of sack) of
the mail for the specific rate group. Fractions of a pound are rounded
to the next whole pound for postage calculation.

          Exhibit 282.11--International Priority Airmail Rates
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Pound rate
                                               Piece  ------------------
                 Rate group                     rate     Full
                                                       service  Dropship
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...........................................    $0.25    $5.00     $4.00
2...........................................     0.10     5.25      4.25
3...........................................     0.10     6.50      5.50
4...........................................     0.10     7.50      6.50
Worldwide...................................     0.25     7.00      6.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------

282.12  Volume Discount

    Mailers who spend $2 million or more on IPA and ISAL in the
preceding postal fiscal year may receive discounts off the rates shown
in Exhibit 282.11 as follows:

a. $2 million to $5 million: 5% discount
b. over $5 million to $10 million: 10% discount
c. over $10 million: 15% discount

    Mailers entitled to these discounts must place the full per piece
rate on each piece of mail if payment is by postage meter or mailer-
precanceled stamps. The discount is calculated on the statement of
mailing.

282.13  Qualifying for Volume Discounts

    To qualify for volume discounts, mailers must apply in writing to
the Manager, Mail Order, International Business Unit, 475 L'Enfant
Plaza, SW, Room 370-IBU, Washington, DC 20260-6500. The Manager
evaluates all requests and informs the mailer and the post office(s) of
mailing whether discounts are approved and the level of discount.
Mailers must supply the following information:
    a. Postal fiscal year for the qualifying mail.
    b. Permit number(s) and post office(s) where the permits are held.
    c. Total revenue for the postal fiscal year.
    d. Post office(s) where the discount is to be claimed.
    The combined IPA and ISAL revenue is counted toward the discounts.
The Postal Service will count as revenue to qualify for the volume
discounts only postage paid by the permit holder. If a permit holder
has more than one account, or accounts in several cities, then these
revenues may be combined to qualify for discounts. Agents who prepare
mail for the owner of the mail and mail paid by the owner's permit may
not be included in the revenue to qualify for the discounts, except for
the initial year (Postal Fiscal Year 1997, September 14, 1996, through
September 12, 1997). Customers may be required to substantiate their
request by providing copies of all postage statements for the
appropriate postal fiscal year. All decisions of the Manager, Mail
Order are final.

282.14  Availability

    IPA service is available to all foreign countries, as listed in
Exhibit 284.522. The exhibit shows the rate group assigned to each
country.

282.15  Presort Rates

    To qualify for the presort Group 1, 2, 3, or 4 rates (see Exhibit
282.11), a mailing must consist of a minimum of 11 pounds to a specific
rate group. This minimum applies to each rate group and not to the
entire mailing (see 281.32). Within a rate group all mail addressed to
an individual country must be sorted into direct country packages of 10
or more pieces (or 1 pound or more of mail) (284.521) and/or sacked in
direct country sacks of 11 pounds or more (284.61). Mail that cannot be
made up into direct country packages or direct country sacks must be
sent at the worldwide nonpresort rates.

282.16  Separation by Rate Group

    The mailer must specify the rate group on the back of Tag 115,
International Priority Airmail, with the number 1, 2, 3, 4 or WW
(Worldwide), and must physically separate the sacks by rate group at
the time of mailing.

[[Page 65155]]

282.17  Computation of Postage

    Postage is computed on PS Form 3652, Postage Statement--
International Priority Airmail. Postage at the worldwide nonpresort
rate is calculated by multiplying the number of pieces in the mailing
by the applicable per-piece rate, multiplying the net weight (in whole
pounds) of the entire mailing by the applicable per-pound rate, and
then adding the two totals together. Postage at the presorted rates is
calculated by multiplying the number of pieces in the mailing destined
for countries in a specific rate group by the appropriate per-piece
rate, multiplying the net weight (in whole pounds) of those pieces by
the corresponding per-pound rate, and then adding the two totals
together. Volume discounts are calculated on the postage statement.

282.2  Postage Payment Methods

282.21  General

282.211  Postage Meter or Permit Imprint

    Postage must be paid by postage meter, permit imprint, or mailer
precanceled stamps (see DMM P023.3.0) or a combination. Postage charges
are computed on PS Form 3652.

282.212  Piece Rate Portion

    The applicable per-piece postage must be affixed to each piece by
meter unless postage is paid by permit imprint (see 282.23).

282.213  Pound Rate Portion

    Postage for the pound rate portion must be paid either by meter
stamp(s) attached to the postage statement or from the mailer's
authorized permit imprint advance deposit account.

282.22  Postage Meter

282.221  Postage Endorsement

    When postage is paid by meter or mailer precanceled stamps, each
piece must be legibly endorsed with the words ``INTERNATIONAL PRIORITY
AIRMAIL.''

282.222  Specifications for Endorsement

    The endorsement required in 282.221 must appear on the address side
of each piece and must be applied by a printing press, hand stamp, or
other similar printing device. It must be printed above the name of the
addressee and to the left or below the postage, or it may be printed
adjacent to the meter stamp in either the postal inscription slug area
or ad plate area. If the postal endorsement appears in the ad plate
area, no other information may be printed in the ad plate. The
endorsement may not be typewritten or hand drawn. The endorsement is
not considered adequate if it is included as part of a decorative
design or advertisement.

282.223  Unmarked Pieces

    Unmarked pieces lacking the postage endorsement required by 282.221
are subject to the applicable LC/AO airmail single piece rates.

282.224  Drop Shipment of Metered Mail

    Mailers who want to enter metered IPA mail at a post office other
than where the meter is licensed must obtain a drop shipment
authorization. To obtain an authorization, the mailer must submit a
written request to the postmaster at the office where the mail will be
entered. (see DMM D072).

282.23  Permit Imprint

    Mailers may use a permit imprint for mailings that contain
identical weight pieces. Any of the permit imprints shown in Exhibit
152.3 are acceptable. The postage charges are computed on PS Form 3652
and deducted from the advance deposit account. Permit imprints must not
denote Priority Mail, bulk mail, nonprofit, or other domestic or
special rate mail. Mailers may use permit imprint with nonidentical
weight pieces only if authorized to use postage mailing systems under
DMM P710, P720, or P730.

283  Weight and Size Limits

    See 223 and 233 for the weight and size limits for LC items sent in
this service. See 243, 253, and 263 for the weight and size limits for
AO items sent in this service.

284  Preparation Requirements for Individual Items

284.1  Addressing

    See 122.

284.2  Marking

284.21  Airmail

    The sender should mark ``PAR AVION'' or ``AIR MAIL'' on the address
side of each piece. Use of bordered airmail envelopes is optional and
may be used for items sent in this service if the envelope contains the
``AIR MAIL'' endorsement.

284.22  Class of Mail

284.221  Printed Matter

    Printed matter is endorsed as required by weight:
    a. Items weighing more than 4 pounds must be marked to specify the
type of printed matter: ``PRINTED MATTER,'' ``PRINTED MATTER--BOOKS,''
``PRINTED MATTER--SHEET MUSIC,'' or ``PRINTED MATTER--PERIODICALS,'' as
appropriate (see 244.211).
    b. Items weighing 4 pounds or less do not require any printed
matter endorsement but may be marked with the endorsements in 284.221a
at the mailer's option. Unmarked printed matter items are subject to
the mailing conditions for letters (see 220).

284.222  Letters/Letter Packages

    Letters and letter packages that might be mistaken for another
class of mail because of their weight or appearance should be marked
``LETTER'' on the address side (see 224.2).

284.223  Small Packets

    Each small packet must be marked ``SMALL PACKET'' (see 264.21).

284.3  Sealing

    Any item sent in this service may be sealed at the option of the
sender.

284.4  Packaging

    All items must be placed in envelopes or prepared in package form.
See 224.4 for LC mail and 244.4 for AO mail.

284.5   Sorting Requirements for IPA

284.51  Worldwide Nonpresorted Mail

284.511  Working Packages

    IPA mail paid at the nonpresorted rate must be made up into working
packages. Letters and flats must be packaged separately, although
nonidentical pieces may be commingled within each of these categories.
Pieces that cannot be packaged because of their physical
characteristics must be placed loose in the sack.

284.512  Facing of Nonpresorted Mail Within Package

    All pieces in the working packages must be faced the same way.

284.52  Presorted Mail

284.521  Direct Country Packages

    When there are ten or more pieces or 1 pound or more of mail for
the same country (except Great Britain and Mexico), it must be made up
into a country package. Great Britain and Mexico require a finer
sortation (see 284.523). At the mailer's option, a finer breakdown by
city or postal code may be made based on sortation information provided
by the postal administration of the destination country.

284.522  Country Package Label

    a. The label (facing slip) for country packages that contain ten or
more pieces

[[Page 65156]]

to a specific country (except for Great Britain and Mexico) must be
completed as follows:

Line 1: Foreign Exchange Office
Line 2: Country of Destination
Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location

Example

1150 VIENNA FLUG
AUSTRIA
RBA COMPANY WASHINGTON DC

    b. See Exhibit 284.522 for Direct Country Package Label and Tag
178, CN 35 Par Avion, for information.

284.523  Country Packages to Great Britain and Mexico

    Country packages to Great Britain and Mexico must be made up as
follows:
    a. Great Britain. When there are 10 or more pieces or 1 pound or
more of mail per separation, mail to Great Britain must be sorted into
packages as follows:
    Separation Exchange Office (Line 1 Package Label):

LONDON CITY LONDONTOWN
SCOTLAND GLASGOW FWD
NORTHERN IRELAND BELFAST FWD
ALL OTHER GREAT BRITAIN GREAT BRITAIN, GREAT BRITAIN

Example

LONDONTOWN
GREAT BRITAIN
MAILER, MAILER LOCATION

    b. Mexico. Mail to Mexico must be sorted based on state
separations. When a state separation contains ten or more pieces or 1
pound or more of mail, it must be packaged and labeled to the
designated foreign exchange office shown in Exhibit 284.523. When there
are less than ten pieces or 1 pound to one or more states in the
grouping, package and label these pieces to the designated foreign
exchange office listed for ``Remaining.'' When there are less than ten
pieces or 1 pound to one or more states in the grouping, package and
label these pieces to the designated foreign exchange office listed for
``Remaining.''
    Example: MEXICO 506 DF MEXICO MAILER, MAILER LOCATION.
    Exception: When there are less than ten pieces or 1 pound of mail
to the Mexican states of Baja Calif Norte, Baja Calif Sur, Chihuahua,
Distrito Federal (Mexico City), Guerrero, and Sonora, package the
pieces separately and affix a facing slip labeled to the U.S.
International Exchange Office listed in Exhibit 284.622.

284.524  Facing of Pieces Within Country Package

    All pieces in the country package must be faced in the same
direction and a facing slip identifying the contents of the package
must be placed on the address side of the top piece of each package in
such a manner that it will not become separated from the package.

    Note: The pressure-sensitive labels and optional endorsement
lines used domestically for presort mail are prohibited for
International Priority Airmail.

284.53  Physical Characteristics and Requirements for Packages

284.531  Thickness

    Packages of letter-size mail should be no thicker than
approximately a handful of mail (4 to 6 inches thick).

284.532  Securing Packages

    Each package must be securely tied. Placing rubber bands around the
length and then the girth is the preferred method of securing packages
of letter-size mail. Plastic strapping placed around the length and
then the girth is the preferred method of securing packages of flat-
size mail.

284.533  Separation of Packages

    Letter-size and flat-size mail must be packaged separately. LC and
AO mail classes may be commingled in a letter-size or flat-size mail
package.

284.6  Sacking Requirements

284.61  Direct Country Sack (11 Pounds or More)

284.611  General

    When there are 11 or more pounds of mail addressed to the same
country (including Great Britain and Mexico), the mail must be packaged
and enclosed in blue international airmail sacks and labeled to the
country with Tag 178, Airmail Bag Label LC (CN 35/AV 8) (white). All
types of mail, including letter-size packages, flat-size packages, and
loose items for each destination, can be commingled in the same sack
and counted toward the 11-pound minimum.

284.612  Direct Country Sack Tags

    Direct country sacks must be labeled with Tag 178. The tag is white
and specially coded to route the mail to a specific country and airport
of destination. The blocks on the tag for date, weight, and dispatch
information must be completed by the Postal Service and may not be
completed by the mailer. The mailer must complete the ``To'' block
showing the destination country. Tag 115, International Priority
Airmail, must also be affixed to the Direct Country Sacks. Tag 115 is a
``Day-Glo'' pink tag that identifies the mail to ensure it receives
priority handling. The mailer must designate on the back of Tag 115 the
applicable rate group, using a number 1, 2, 3, 4, or WW (Worldwide).

284.62  Mixed Direct Country Package Sacks

284.621  General

    The direct country packages containing 10 or more pieces or 1 pound
or more of mail destined to a specific country that cannot be made up
in direct country sacks must be enclosed in orange Priority Mail sacks
unless other equipment is specified by the acceptance office.

284.622  Mixed Direct Country Sack Label

    The sack label must be completed as follows. (See Exhibit 284.622
for list of U.S. International Exchange Offices.)

Line 1: Appropriate U.S. Exchange Office and Routing Code
Line 2: Contents--DRX
Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location

Example

AMC SEATTLE WA  980
INT'L PRIORITY AIRMAIL--DRX
ABC STORE SEATTLE WA

284.63  Worldwide Nonpresort Mail Sacks

284.631  General

    The working packages of mixed country mail and loose items must be
enclosed in orange Priority Mail sacks unless other equipment is
specified by the acceptance office. Nonpresorted letter-size mail may
be presented in trays if authorized by the acceptance office.

    Note: Working packages of mixed country mail cannot be enclosed
in mixed direct country package sacks.

284.632  Worldwide Nonpresort Mail Sack Label

    The sack label must be completed as follows:

Line 1: Appropriate U.S. Exchange Office and Routing Code
Line 2: Contents--WKG
Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location

Example

AMC ATLANTA GA  300
INT'L PRIORITY AIRMAIL--WKG
CPA COMPANY ATLANTA GA

    See Exhibit 284.622 for list of U.S. International Exchange
Offices.

284.64  Tags and Weight Maximum for Sacks

284.641  Tag 115 and Tag 178

    All IPA sacks (direct country, mixed direct country package sacks,
and worldwide nonpresort mail sacks) must

[[Page 65157]]

be labeled with Tag 115, International Priority Airmail. Tag 115 is a
``Day-Glo'' pink tag that identifies IPA mail to ensure that it
receives priority treatment. Tag 178 (see section 284.611) is a
dispatching tag to be used only for direct country sacks. Tag 178 is
white and specially coded to route the mail to a specific country and
airport of destination. The Postal Service must complete the blocks on
the tag for date, weight, and dispatch information. The mailer must
complete only the ``To'' block showing the destination country. Postal
tags and sacks are available from the post office.

284.642  Sack Weight Maximum

    The maximum weight of the sack and contents must not exceed 66
pounds.

284.7  Customs Forms Requirements

284.71  Letters and Letter Packages

    See 224.5.

284.72  Printed Matter

    See 244.6.

284.73  Small Packets

    See 264.5.

 Exhibit 284.522--Foreign Exchange Office and Country Rate Groups, Information for Direct Country Package Label
               (Facing Slip), Tag 178, 3-Letter Country Exchange Office Code, and Exchange Office
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         3-letter exchange
         Rate group                   Country               office code                 Exchange office
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4...........................  Afghanistan...........  KBL                     Kabul.
1...........................  Albania...............  TIA                     Tirana.
4...........................  Algeria...............  ALG                     Algiers.
1...........................  Andorra \1\
4...........................  Angola................  LAD                     Luanda.
2...........................  Anguilla..............  AXA                     The Valley.
2...........................  Antigua and Barbuda...  ANU                     St. John's.
2...........................  Argentina.............  BUE                     Buenos Aires Avion.
4...........................  Armenia...............  EVN                     Yerevan.
2...........................  Aruba.................  AUA                     Oranjestad.
1...........................  Ascension \1\
3...........................  Australia \2\.........  SYD                     Sydney.
1...........................  Austria...............  VIE                     1150 Vienna Flug.
4...........................  Azerbaijan............  BAK                     Baku.
1...........................  Azores \1\
2...........................  Bahamas...............  NAS                     Nassau.
4...........................  Bahrain...............  BAH                     Bahrain.
4...........................  Bangladesh............  DAC                     Dhaka 17.
2...........................  Barbados..............  BGI                     Bridgetown.
1...........................  Belarus...............  MOW                     Moscow PCI-1.
1...........................  Belgium...............  BRU                     Brussels X.
 2..........................  Belize................  BZE                     Belize City.
4...........................  Benin.................  COO                     Cotonou.
2...........................  Bermuda...............  BDA                     Hamilton.
4...........................  Bhutan \1\
2...........................  Bolivia...............  LPB                     La Paz
2...........................  Bonaire <SUP>1 <SUP>3
1...........................  Bosnia-Herzegovina....  SJJ                     Sarajevo.
4...........................  Botswana..............  GBE                     Gabrone.
2...........................  Brazil................  RIO                     Rio de Janeiro.
2...........................  British Virgin Islands  EIS                     Roadtown Tortola
3...........................  Brunei Darussalam.....  BWN                     Bandar Seri Begawan.
1...........................  Bulgaria..............  SOF                     Sofia.
4...........................  Burkina Faso..........  OUA                     Ouagadougou.
4...........................  Burma (Myanmar).......  RGN                     Rangoon.
4...........................  Burundi...............  BJM                     Bujumbura.
3...........................  Cambodia..............  PNH                     Phnom Penh.
4...........................  Cameroon..............  DLA                     Douala.
4...........................  Cape Verde............  SID                     SAL.
2...........................  Cayman Islands........  GCM                     Grand Cayman.
4...........................  Central African         BGF                     Bangui.
                               Republic.
4...........................  Chad..................  NDJ                     N'Djamena.
2...........................  Chile.................  SCL                     Santiago.
3...........................  China.................  PEK                     Beijing.
2...........................  Colombia..............  BOG                     Bogota Aeropuerto.
4...........................  Comoros Islands \1\
4...........................  Congo, Dem. Rep. of     FIH                     Kinshasa CTT.
                               the.
4...........................  Congo, Rep. of the      BZV                     Brazzaville.
                               (Brazzaville).
4...........................  Corsica \1\
2...........................  Costa Rica............  SJO                     San Jose.
4...........................  Cote d'Ivoire.........  ABJ                     Abidjan.
1...........................  Croatia...............  ZAG                     Zagreb.
2...........................  Cuba..................  HAV                     Havana.
                              Curacao \3\...........  CUR                     Willemstad.
4...........................  Cyprus................  NIC                     Nicosia.
1...........................  Czech Republic........  PRG                     Prague 120.
1...........................  Denmark...............  CPH                     Copenhagen PTM.

[[Page 65158]]

4...........................  Djibouti..............  JIB                     Djibouti.
2...........................  Dominica..............  DOM                     Roseau.
2...........................  Dominican Republic....  SDQ                     Santo Domingo.
2...........................  Ecuador...............  UIO                     Quito.
4...........................  Egypt.................  CAI                     Cairo Int'l Airport.
2...........................  El Salvador...........  SAL                     San Salvador.
4...........................  Equatorial Guinea.....  BSG                     Bata.
4...........................  Eritrea...............  ASM                     Asmara.
1...........................  Estonia...............  TLL                     Tallinn.
4...........................  Ethiopia..............  ADD                     Addis Ababa.
2...........................  Falkland Islands \1\
1...........................  Faroe Islands \1\
3...........................  Fiji..................  NAN                     Nadi.
1...........................  Finland...............  HEL                     Helsinki.
1...........................  France................  PAR                     Paris Aviation Passe.
2...........................  French Guiana.........  CAY                     Cayenne.
3...........................  French Polynesia......  PPT                     Papeete.
4...........................  Gabon.................  LBV                     Libreville.
4...........................  Gambia................  BJL                     Banjul.
4...........................  Georgia, Republic of..  TBS                     Tbilisi.
1...........................  Germany...............  FRA                     Frankfurt am Main.
                                                                              Flughafen.
4...........................  Ghana.................  ACC                     Accra.
1...........................  Gibraltar.............  GIB                     Gibraltar.
1...........................  Great Britain
                              London City...........  LON                     Londontown.
                              Northern Ireland......  BFS                     Belfast.
                              Scotland..............  GLA                     Glasgow.
                              All Other
                              Great Britain.........  LON                     Great Britain.
1...........................  Greece................  ATH                     Athens.
1...........................  Greenland \1\
2...........................  Grenada...............  GND                     St. George's.
2...........................  Guadeloupe............  PTP                     Pointe-a-Pitre.
2...........................  Guatemala.............  GUA                     Guatemala.
4...........................  Guinea................  CKY                     Conakry.
4...........................  Guinea-Bissau.........  BXO                     Bissau.
2...........................  Guyana................  GEO                     Georgetown.
2...........................  Haiti.................  PAP                     Port-au-Prince.
2...........................  Honduras..............  TGU                     Tegucigalpa.
3...........................  Hong Kong.............  HKG                     Victoria.
1...........................  Hungary...............  BUD                     Budapest 72 Trans.
1...........................  Iceland...............  REK                     Reykjavik.
4...........................  India.................  DEL                     Delhi Air.
3...........................  Indonesia.............  JKT                     Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta.
4...........................  Iran..................  THR                     Tehran.
4...........................  Iraq..................  BGW                     Baghdad.
1...........................  Ireland...............  DUB                     Dublin.
4...........................  Israel................  TLV                     Tel Aviv-Yafo.
1...........................  Italy.................  ROM                     Rome Ferr.
2...........................  Jamaica...............  KIN                     Kingston.
3...........................  Japan.................  TYO                     Tokyo APT FWD.
4...........................  Jordan................  AMM                     Amman.
4...........................  Kazakhstan............  ALA                     Alma Ata.
4...........................  Kenya.................  NBO                     Nairobi.
3...........................  Kiribati..............  TRW                     Tarawa.
3...........................  Korea, Dem. People's
                               Rep. (North) \1\
3...........................  Korea, Republic of      SEL                     Seoul.
                               (South).
4...........................  Kuwait................  KWI                     Kuwait.
1...........................  Kyrgyzstan............  MOW                     Moscow PCI-1.
3...........................  Laos..................  VTE                     Vientiane.
1...........................  Latvia................  RIX                     Riga.
4...........................  Lebanon...............  BEY                     Beirut.
4...........................  Lesotho...............  MSU                     Maseru.
4...........................  Liberia...............  MLW                     Monrovia.
4...........................  Libya.................  TIP                     Tripoli.
1...........................  Liechtenstein \1\
1...........................  Lithuania.............  VNO                     Vilnius.

[[Page 65159]]

1...........................  Luxembourg............  LUX                     Luxembourg Ville.
3...........................  Macao.................  HKG                     Macau.
1...........................  Macedonia.............  BEG                     Belgrade.
4...........................  Madagascar............  TNR                     Antananarivo.
1...........................  Madeira Islands.......  FNC                     Funchal.
4...........................  Malawi................  BLZ                     Limbe C.S.O.
3...........................  Malaysia..............  KUL                     Kuala Lumpur.
4...........................  Maldives..............  MLE                     Male.
4...........................  Mali..................  BKO                     Bamako.
4...........................  Malta.................  VLT                     Valletta.
2...........................  Martinique............  FDF                     Fort de France.
4...........................  Mauritania............  NKC                     Nouakchott.
4...........................  Mauritius.............  MRU                     Mauritius.
2...........................  Mexico See Exhibit
                               284.523
4...........................  Moldova...............  KIV                     Kishinev.
1...........................  Monaco................  MCM                     Monte Carlo.
3...........................  Mongolia \1\
2...........................  Montserrat............  MNI                     Plymouth.
4...........................  Morocco...............  CAS                     Casablanca P/PAL.
4...........................  Mozambique............  MPM                     CPI Maputo.
4...........................  Namibia...............  WDH                     Windhoek.
3...........................  Nauru.................  INU                     Nauru.
3...........................  Nepal.................  KTM                     Kathmandu.
1...........................  Netherlands...........  AMS                     Amsterdam EXP.
2...........................  Netherlands Antilles
                               \1\ \3\
3...........................  New Caledonia.........  NOU                     Noumea.
3...........................  New Zealand...........  AKL                     Auckland.
2...........................  Nicaragua.............  MGA                     Managua.
4...........................  Niger.................  NIM                     Niamey.
4...........................  Nigeria...............  LOS                     Lagos.
1...........................  Norway................  OSL                     Oslo Transit.
4...........................  Oman..................  MCT                     Muscat.
4...........................  Pakistan..............  KHI                     Karachi.
2...........................  Panama................  PTY                     Panama City.
3...........................  Papua New Guinea......  POM                     Port Moresby.
2...........................  Paraguay..............  ASU                     Asuncion.
2...........................  Peru..................  LIM                     Lima Transito.
3...........................  Philippines...........  MNL                     Manila.
3...........................  Pitcairn Island \1\
1...........................  Poland................  WAW                     Warsaw.\3\
1...........................  Portugal..............  LIS                     Lisbon Province.
4...........................  Qatar.................  DOH                     Doha.
4...........................  Reunion...............  RUN                     St. Denis.
1...........................  Romania...............  BUH                     Bucharest.
1...........................  Russia................  MOW                     Moscow PCI-1.
4...........................  Rwanda................  KGL                     Kigali.
2...........................  Saba <SUP>1 <SUP>3
2...........................  Saint Christopher and   SKB                     Basseterre.
                               Nevis.
2...........................  Saint Eustatius <SUP>1 <SUP>3
4...........................  Saint Helena \1\
2...........................  Saint Lucia...........  SLU                     Castries.
2...........................  Saint Maarten \3\.....  SXM                     Philipsburg.
2...........................  Saint Pierre and
                               Miquelon \1\
2...........................  Saint Vincent and The   SVD                     Kingstown.
                               Grenadines.
1...........................  San Marino \1\
1...........................  Sao Tome and Principe
                               \1\
4...........................  Saudi Arabia..........  DHA                     Dhahran APT.
4...........................  Senegal...............  DKR                     Dakar Yoff.
1...........................  Serbia-Montenegro       BEG                     Belgrade.
                               (Yugoslavia).
4...........................  Seychelles............  SEZ                     Mahe Is.
4...........................  Sierra Leone..........  FNA                     Freetown.
3...........................  Singapore.............  SIN                     Singapore.
1...........................  Slovak Republic         BTS                     Bratislava.
                               (Slovakia).
1...........................  Slovenia..............  LJU                     Ljubljana.
3...........................  Solomon Islands.......  HIR                     Honiara.
4...........................  Somalia...............  MGQ                     Mogadishu.
4...........................  South Africa..........  JNB                     Johannesburg.
1...........................  Spain.................  MAD                     Madrid Airport.

[[Page 65160]]

4...........................  Sri Lanka.............  CMB                     Colombo.
4...........................  Sudan.................  KRT                     Khartoum.
2...........................  Suriname..............  PBM                     Paramaribo.
4...........................  Swaziland.............  MTS                     Manzini.
1...........................  Sweden................  STO                     Stockholm Flug.
1...........................  Switzerland...........  GVA                     Geneva 1.
4...........................  Syria.................  DAM                     Damascus.
3...........................  Taiwan................  TPE                     Taipei.
4...........................  Tajikistan............  MOW                     Moscow PCI-1.
4...........................  Tanzania..............  DAR                     Dar es Salaam.
3...........................  Thailand..............  BKK                     Bangkok.
4...........................  Togo..................  LFW                     Lome.
3...........................  Tonga.................  NUK                     Nukualofa.
2...........................  Trinidad and Tobago...  POS                     Port of Spain.
4...........................  Tristan da Cunha \1\
4...........................  Tunisia...............  TUN                     Tunis.
1...........................  Turkey................  IST                     Istanbul Hava Alani.
1...........................  Turkmenistan..........  MOW                     Moscow PCI-1.
2...........................  Turks and Caicos        TKI                     Grand Turk.
                               Islands.
3...........................  Tuvalu \1\
4...........................  Uganda................  KLA                     Kampala
4...........................  Ukraine...............  IEV                     Kiev.
4...........................  United Arab Emirates..  DXB                     Dubai.
2...........................  Uruguay...............  MVD                     Montevideo.
4...........................  Uzbekistan............  TAS                     Tashkent.
3...........................  Vanuatu...............  VLI                     Port Vila.
4...........................  Vatican City..........  VCY                     Vatican City State.
2...........................  Venezuela.............  CCS                     Caracas.
3...........................  Vietnam...............  SGN                     Ho Chi Minh Ville.
3...........................  Wallis and Futuna
                               Islands \1\
3...........................  Western Samoa.........  APW                     Apia.
4...........................  Yemen.................  SAH                     Sanaa.
4...........................  Zambia................  NLA                     Ndola.
4...........................  Zimbabwe..............  HRE                     Harare.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Footnotes

 \1\ Direct country sacks are not made to these destinations. Prepare direct country packages (ten or more
  pieces) and include in mixed direct country package sacks labeled to the assigned U.S. exchange office listed
  in Exhibit 284.622.
\2\ At the mailer's option, a finer sortation for IPA items addressed to Australia may be used. If this option
  is chosen, items addressed with postal codes beginning with 0, 1, 2, 4, and 9 and uncoded mail should be
  sorted and packaged to Sydney. Direct country sacks should be tagged to Sydney as well. Both the three-letter
  exchange office code, ``SYD,'' and the country name, Australia, should be entered in the ``TO'' block of Tag
  178. Items addressed with postal codes beginning with 3, 5, 6, 7, and 8 should be sorted and packaged to
  Melbourne. Direct country sacks should be tagged to Melbourne as well. Both the three-letter exchange office
  code, ``MEL,'' and the country name, Australia, should be entered in the ``TO'' block of Tag 178.
\3\ Netherlands Antilles includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten.

                                             Exhibit 284.523--Mexico
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Tag 116 3-
                                                                           Package label (facing      letter
        State group                State name         State abbreviation        slip) line 1         exchange
                                                                                                    office code
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................  Aguascalientes.......  AGS                    20001 Aguascalientes   GDL.
                                                                            AGS DIS.
                             Colima...............  COL                    28001 Colima COL DIS.  GDL.
                             Guanajuato...........  GTO                    36501 Irapuato GTO     GDL.
                                                                            DIS.
                             Jalisco..............  JAL                    CPA Occidente........  GDL.
                                                                           Guadalajara DIS......  GDL.
                             Nayarit..............  NAY                    63001 Tepic NAY DIS..  GDL.
                             Zacatecas............  ZAC                    98001 Zacatecas ZAC    GDL.
                                                                            DIS.
                             Remaining............  CPA                    Occidente Guadalajara  GDL.
                                                                            DIS.
2..........................  Campeche.............  CAM                    24001 Campeche CAM     MID.
                                                                            DIS.
                             Tabasco..............  TAB                    86001 Villahermosa     MID.
                                                                            TAB DIS.
                             Yucatan..............  YUC                    97001 Merida YUC DIS.  MID.
                             Remaining............                         97001 Merida YUC DIS.  MID.
3..........................  Coahuila.............  COAH                   CPA Noreste Monterrey  MTY.
                                                                            NL DIS.
                             Nuevo Leon...........  NL                     CPA Noreste Monterrey  MTY.
                                                                            NL DIS.
                             San Luis Potosi......  SLP                    78001 San Luis Potosi  MTY.
                                                                            SPL DIS.
                             Tamulipas............  TAM                    87001 DC Victoria TAM  MTY.
                                                                            DIS.

[[Page 65161]]

                             Remaining............  CPA                    Noreste Monterrey NL   MTY.
                                                                            DIS.
4..........................  Chiapas..............  CHIS                   29002 Tuxtla Gtz CHIS  MEX.
                                                                            DIS.
                             Hidalgo..............  HGO                    42001 Pachuca HGO DIS  MEX.
                             Mexico...............  MEX                    Mexico 506 DF DIS....  MEX.
                             Michoacan............  MICH                   58001 Morelia MICH     MEX.
                                                                            DIS.
                             Morelos..............  MOR                    62001 Cuernavaca MOR   MEX.
                                                                            DIS.
                             Oaxaca...............  OAX                    68001 Oaxaca OAX DIS.  MEX.
                             Puebla...............  PUE                    72001 Puebla PUE DIS.  MEX.
                             Queretaro............  QRO                    76001 Queretaro QRO    MEX.
                                                                            DIS.
                             Quintana Roo.........  QROO                   77001 Chetumal QROO    MEX.
                                                                            DIS.
                             Tlaxcala.............  TLAX                   90001 Tlaxcala TLAX    MEX.
                                                                            DIS.
                             Veracruz.............  VER                    91701 Veracruz VER     MEX.
                                                                            DIS.
                             Remaining Mexico.....  .....................  506 DF DIS...........  MEX.
5..........................  Durango..............  DGO                    82001 Mazatlan SIN     MZT.
                                                                            DIS.
                             Sinaloa..............  SIN                    82001 Mazatlan SIN     MZT.
                                                                            DIS.
                             Remaining 82001......  SIN DIS                Mazatlan.............  MZT.
6..........................  Distrito Federal.....  DF                     Mexico 506 DF (Mexico  MEX.
                                                                            City).
7..........................  Guerrero.............  GRO                    39301 Acapulco de      ACA.
                                                                            Juarez GRO DIS.
8..........................  Baja Calif Norte.....  BCN                    22001 Tijuana BCN DIS  N/A.
                             Baja Calif Sur.......  BCS                    23001 La Paz BCS DIS.  N/A.
                             Chihuahua............  CHIH                   32001 CD Juarez CHIH   N/A.
                                                                            DIS.
                             Sonora...............  SON                    84001 Nogales SON DIS  N/A.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         Exhibit 284.622--Labeling of IPA Mail to USPS Exchange Offices
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       IPA acceptance office 3-digit ZIP code prefix          U.S. exchange office and routing code for line 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
004-005, 010-098, 100-199, 250-267........................  AMC KENNEDY NY 003.
200-249, 254, 268, 283-285, 400-418, 420-427, 476-477.....  P&DC DULLES VA 201.
270-282, 286-326, 344, 350-397, 399.......................  AMC ATLANTA GA 300.
424, 430-459, 460-516, 520-528, 530-532, 534-535, 537-567,  AMC O'HARE 606.
 570-588, 600-620, 622-631, 633-641, 644-658, 660-662, 664-
 681, 683-693, 739.
700-708, 710-738, 740-799, 885............................  ISC DALLAS TX 753.
590-599, 821, 832-838, 970-986, 988-999...................  AMC SEATTLE WA 980
850, 852-853, 855-857, 859-860, 863-865, 870-875, 877-884,  AMC LOS ANGELES CA 900.
 889-891, 900-908, 910-928, 930-936.
800-816, 820, 822-831, 840-847, 893-898, 937-966..........  AMC SAN FRANCISCO CA 940.
967-969...................................................  P&DC HONOLULU 967.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 98-31438 Filed 11-24-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P