[Federal Register: March 3, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 41)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 10219-10227]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr03mr99-8]

[[Page 10219]]

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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 20

International Priority Airmail Service

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Postal Service published a proposed rule with a request
for comment on November 25, 1998, in the Federal Register (63 FR 65153-
65161) regarding proposed changes to International Priority Airmail
Service (IPA). The Postal Service proposed to change the postage rates
and conditions of service. The Postal Service hereby adopts the
proposed rule, effective April 4, 1999.

EFFECTIVE DATE: 12:01 a.m., April 4, 1999.

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.
    On February 28, 1998, the Postal Service adopted program changes to
International Surface Air Lift Service (ISAL) (63 FR 3642-3650). The
proposed changes to IPA will align it with ISAL in rate structure and
preparation requirements. This will make it easier for mailers to
participate in either service. The Postal Service published a proposed
rule with a request for comment in the Federal Register on November 25,
1998, (63 FR 65153-65161) and requested comments by December 28, 1998.
By that date the Postal received one comment from an international
courier company.
    The commentor fully supported the changes to IPA proposed by the
Postal Service but suggested that mail to Canada be included in rate
group 2 and that the proposal be implemented no later than February 28,
1999.
    The Postal Service has reviewed the recommendation that Canada be
included in rate group 2 of IPA service. The Postal Service does not
believe that, at this time, it is possible to include Canada in rate
group 2 of IPA service. This is because the costs associated with
sending mail to Canada significantly differ from those associated with
sending mail to all other countries in the rate group. Such differences
would result in non-compensatory rates to the Postal Service where rate
group 2 mailings included disproportionate volumes of Canadian mail.
    The Postal Service believes that an effective date of February 28,
1999, does not provide sufficient time for customers, vendors, or the
Postal Service to make changes to systems and procedures necessary to
successfully implement the changes to IPA. Therefore, the Postal
Service will implement the changes on April 4, 1999, which is the
earliest practical date.
    The Postal Service adopts the following 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

    Foreign relations, 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.

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, Drop Shipment Clearance Document.

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 94188-9998,
Plant-verified drop shipment:
    AMC SAN FRANCISCO,
    BLDG 660 RD 6,
    SAN FRANCISCO CA 94158-9998

[[Page 10220]]

Florida

Regular drop shipment:
    MIAMI P&DC,
    2200 NORTHWEST 72 AVE,
    MIAMI FL 33152-9997
Plant-verified drop shipment:
    AMC MIAMI,
    MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,
    MIAMI FL 33159-9998

Illinois

Regular and plant-verified drop shipment:
    CHICAGO OHARE DROPSHIP ISAL SERVICE CENTER,
    INTERNATIONAL PROCESSING CENTER ANNEX,
    3333 N MOUNT PROSPECT RD,
    FRANKLIN PARK IL 60131-1347

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:

MANAGER, MAIL ORDER, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS UNIT, 475 L'ENFANT PLAZA SW
RM 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.

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.''

[[Page 10221]]

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 10 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 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 10 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 10 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 10
pieces or 1 pound to one or more states in the grouping, package

[[Page 10222]]

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 10 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 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.

[[Page 10223]]

   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
   Rate group           Country       exchange office   Exchange office
                                            code
------------------------------------------------------------------------
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         ANU              St. John's.
                   Barbuda.
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\1\,\3\
1...............  Bosnia-Herzegovina  SJJ              Sarajevo.
4...............  Botswana..........  GBE              Gabrone.
2...............  Brazil............  RIO              Rio de Janeiro.
2...............  British Virgin      EIS              Roadtown Tortola.
                   Islands.
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.    FIH              Kinshasa CTT.
                   of 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.
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\

[[Page 10224]]

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   TBS              Tbilisi.
                   of.
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.
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.

[[Page 10225]]

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 \1\,\3\
2...............  Saint Christopher   SKB              Basseterre.
                   and Nevis.
2...............  Saint Eustatius
                   \1\,\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   SVD              Kingstown.
                   The 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.
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.

[[Page 10226]]

2...............  Trinidad and        POS              Port of Spain.
                   Tobago.
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         DXB              Dubai.
                   Emirates.
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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<SUP>1</SUP> Direct country sacks are not made to these destinations. Prepare
  direct country packages (10 or more pieces) and include in mixed
  direct country package sacks labeled to the assigned U.S. exchange
  office listed in Exhibit 284.622.
<SUP>2</SUP> 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.
<SUP>3</SUP> Netherlands Antilles includes Bonaire, Curacao, Saba, St. Eustatius,
  and St. Maarten.

                                            Exhibit 284.523.--Mexico
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                         Package label        Tag 116 3-letter
      State group            State name         State abbreviation   (facing slip) Line 1   exchange office code
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.....................  Aguascalientes......  AGS                    20001  Aguascaliente  GDL
                                                                      s AGS DIS.
                        Colima..............  COL                    28001  Colima COL     GDL
                                                                      DIS.
                        Guanajuato..........  GTO                    36501  Irapuato GTO   GDL
                                                                      DIS.
                        Jalisco.............  JAL                    CPA Occidente         GDL
                                                                      Guadalajara DIS.
                        Nayarit.............  NAY                    63001  Tepic NAY DIS  GDL
                        Zacatecas...........  ZAC                    98001  Zacatecas ZAC  GDL
                                                                      DIS.
                        Remaining...........  CPA                    Occidente             GDL
                                                                      Guadalajara DIS.
2.....................  Campeche............  CAM                    24001  Campeche CAM   MID
                                                                      DIS.
                        Tabasco.............  TAB                    86001  Villahermosa   MID
                                                                      TAB DIS.
                        Yucatan.............  YUC                    97001  Merida YUC     MID
                                                                      DIS.
                        Remaining...........  .....................  97001  Merida YUC     MID
                                                                      DIS.
3.....................  Coahuila............  COAH                   CPA Noreste           MTY
                                                                      Monterrey NL DIS.
                        Nuevo Leon..........  NL                     CPA Noreste           MTY
                                                                      Monterrey NL DIS.
                        San Luis Potosi.....  SLP                    78001  San Luis       MTY
                                                                      Potosi SPL DIS.
                        Tamulipas...........  TAM                    87001  DC Victoria    MTY
                                                                      TAM DIS.
                        Remaining...........  CPA                    Noreste Monterrey NL  MTY
                                                                      DIS.
4.....................  Chiapas.............  CHIS                   29002  Tuxtla Gtz     MEX
                                                                      CHIS DIS.
                        Hidalgo.............  HGO                    42001  Pachuca HGO    MEX
                                                                      DIS.
                        Mexico..............  MEX                    Mexico 506 DF DIS...  MEX
                        Michoacan...........  MICH                   58001  Morelia MICH   MEX
                                                                      DIS.
                        Morelos.............  MOR                    62001  Cuernavaca     MEX
                                                                      MOR DIS.
                        Oaxaca..............  OAX                    68001  Oaxaca OAX     MEX
                                                                      DIS.
                        Puebla..............  PUE                    72001  Puebla PUE     MEX
                                                                      DIS.
                        Queretaro...........  QRO                    76001  Queretaro QRO  MEX
                                                                      DIS.
                        Quintana Roo........  QROO                   77001  Chetumal QROO  MEX
                                                                      DIS.
                        Tlaxcala............  TLAX                   90001  Tlaxcala TLAX
                                                                      DIS MEX.
                        Veracruz............  VER                    91701  Veracruz VER
                                                                      DIS MEX.
                        Remaining Mexico....  506 DF DIS             MEX.................
5.....................  Durango.............  DGO                    82001  Mazatlan SIN   MZT
                                                                      DIS.
                        Sinaloa.............  SIN                    82001  Mazatlan SIN   MZT
                                                                      DIS.

[[Page 10227]]

                        Remaining 82001  ...  SIN DIS                Mazatlan............  MZT
6.....................  Distrito Federal....  DF                     Mexico 506 DF         MEX
                                                                      (Mexico City).
7.....................  Guerrero............  GRO                    39301  Acapulco de    ACA
                                                                      Juarez GRO DIS.
8.....................    Baja Calif Norte..  BCN                    22001  Tijuana BCN    N/A
                                                                      DIS.
                        Baja Calif Sur......  BCS 23001  La Paz BCS  N/A.................
                                               DIS
                        Chihuahua...........  CHIH                   32001  CD Juarez      N/A
                                                                      CHIH DIS.
                        Sonora..............  SON                    84001  Nogales SON    N/A
                                                                      DIS.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     Exhibit 284.622  Labeling of IPA Mail to USPS Exchange Offices
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                U.S. Exchange Office and
IPA Acceptance Office 3-Digit ZIP Code Prefix   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,  P&DC DULLES VA 201
 476-477.
270-282, 286-326, 344, 350-397, 399..........  AMC ATLANTA GA 300
424, 430-459, 460-516, 520-528, 530-532, 534-  AMC O'HARE 606
 535, 537-567, 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-  AMC LOS ANGELES CA 900
 875, 877-884, 889-891, 900-908, 910-928, 930-
 936.
800-816, 820, 822-831, 840-847, 893-898, 937-  AMC SAN FRANCISCO CA 940
 966.
967-969......................................  P&DC HONOLULU 967
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stanley F. Mires,
Chief Counsel, Legislative.
[FR Doc. 99-5264 Filed 3-2-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P