47394 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 174 / Tuesday, September 9, 1997 / Proposed Rules

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR part 20

International Surface Air Lift Service;

Proposed Changes

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: The Postal Service proposes

to change the postage rates and

conditions of service for International

Surface Air Lift Service (ISAL). In

addition to adjusting rates, the Postal

Service proposes to establish a

minimum weight for direct country

sacks, establish separate direct shipment

rates, implement new sortation

requirements, and impose a maximum

on the amount of unsorted mail

contained in an ISAL mailing. There

will no longer be a restricted number of

acceptance offices. ISAL mailings may

be deposited at any post office where

bulk mail is accepted.

DATES: Comments on the proposed

changes must be received on or before

October 9, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should

be directed 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:

Robert E. Michelson, (202) 268–5731.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) is

a bulk mailing service for international

shipment of publications, advertising

mail, catalogs, directories, books, other

printed matter, and small packets. The

service is available to approximately

125 countries. To use ISAL, a mailer

must send at least 50 pounds of these

items at one time, presorted by country

of destination. Identical piece mailings

are not required to qualify. Postage for

ISAL is calculated according to a rate

structure including both per-piece and

per-pound elements with destination

countries separated into four rate

groups. A discount is given to ISAL mail

tendered at the Dropship ISAL Service

Centers (Dropship ISC) (formerly called

gateway airport mail facilities) at New

York (JFK), San Francisco, Chicago, and

Miami, or when direct shipment (750

pounds or more to a single destination)

can be arranged from the acceptance

city. An additional discount is available

for M-bags (printed matter to a single

addressee).

The Postal Service reviewed the

current ISAL service and is making

changes to ISAL preparation

requirements that will reduce operating

costs. The Postal Service also proposes

rate discounts based on the place of

mailing, the availability of

transportation, and the volume of mail.

The Postal Service believes these

changes make the service available to

more users at more convenient locations

and still will cover the cost of providing

the service with a reasonable

contribution to institutional costs. The

Postal Service proposed the change to

ISAL as described below.

Minimum Weight

Currently there is no required

minimum amount of mail per sack

prepared by the mailer. The mailer

merely places the mail for a particular

country in a mail sack and labels the

sack to that country. This has resulted

in an unacceptable number of sacks

containing small amounts of mail. In

some cases the sack itself weighed more

than the mail in the sack. This resulted

in an excessive number of sacks, higher

transportation costs, and complaints

from other postal administrations.

Therefore, the Postal Service proposes a

minimum weight of 11 pounds (5

kilograms) for direct country sacks

prepared by mailers. When there is less

than 11 pounds but 10 or more pieces

(a package) the mailer will prepare this

mail in a mixed country package rate

group sack. This mail will be entitled to

the ISAL rate as if it had been placed in

the direct country sack. Generally, when

there are less than 10 pieces to a

country, this mail will be prepared in

‘‘residual’’ sacks by rate group. Residual

mail cannot exceed 10%, by weight, of

the rest of the mailing.

Acceptance Cities

Since the inception of ISAL, the

Postal Service has limited the number of

cities where ISAL 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 ISAL.

The Postal Service proposes a Full

Service rate that will be available from

all post offices where bulk mail is

accepted and will make ISAL accessible

to all customers. Mailers may still mail

at the lower Dropship ISC Rate by

tendering their mail to a Dropship ISC.

Volume Discount

The Postal Service proposes discounts

based on the amount of postage spent by

a mailer in the preceding postal fiscal

year. For example, a mailer spending $2

million or more for ISAL during postal

fiscal year 1996 (September 16, 1995—

September 13, 1996) will receive a 5

percent discount on ISAL 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%

discount for over $10 million. These

discounts apply to Full Service, Direct

Shipment, and Dropship ISC Rates. The

discount is calculated on the mailing

statement.

Direct Shipment Rates

Direct Shipment rates are still

available for mailers tendering 750

pounds or more to one country at any

office from which the Postal Service can

obtain direct transportation to the

destination country. However, a new

rate schedule has been developed for

this service to reflect current costs.

Although the Postal Service is

exempted by 39 U.S.C. 410(a) from the

advance notice requirements of the

Administrative Procedure Act regarding

proposed rulemaking (5 U.S.C. 553), the

Postal Service invites public comment

at the above address.

The Postal Service proposes to amend

part 246 of 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, 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,

407, 408.

2. The International Mail Manual will

be amended to incorporate part 246,

International Surface Air Lift Service as

follows:

246 International Surface Air Lift

(ISAL) Service

246.1 Definition

International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) is

a bulk mailing system that provides fast,

economical international delivery of

publications, advertising mail, catalogs,

directories, books, other printed matter,

and small packets. The cost is lower

than airmail and the service is faster

than surface mail. ISAL shipments are

flown to the foreign destinations and

entered into that country’s surface or

non-priority mail system for delivery.
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 174 / Tuesday, September 9, 1997 / Proposed Rules 47395

246.2 Qualifying Mail and Minimum

Quantity Requirements

Only printed matter as defined in 241

and small packets as defined in 260 that

meet all applicable mailing standards

may be sent in this service. There is a

minimum volume requirement of 50

pounds per mailing except for the Direct

Shipment option, which requires a

minimum 750 pounds to a single

country destination. Small packets may

not be enclosed in M-bags and do not

qualify for the Full Service, Direct

Shipment, or Dropship ISC M-bag Rates.

Mail is prepared as (1) direct country

sacks when there are 11 pounds or more

to a single country or required country

separation; (2) mixed country package

sacks when there are 10 or more pieces

to a single country, but less than 11

pounds; and (3) residual mail when

there is less than 10 pieces to a single

country. Residual mail not exceeding

10%, by weight, of the mail presented

in direct country sacks and mixed

country package sacks qualifies for the

appropriate ISAL rate (Full Service,

Direct Shipment, or Dropship ISC).

246.3 Service Options

246.31 Availability

ISAL service is available to the foreign

countries listed in exhibit 246.71 from

all post offices where bulk mail is

accepted and from the Dropship ISCs

listed in 246.32.

246.32 Dropship ISAL International

Service Centers

ISAL deposited at the following

Dropship ISAL International Services

Centers qualify for the Dropship ISC

rates shown in 246.71:

AMC JFK BUILDING 250, JFK

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,

JAMAICA NY 11430–9998

SAN FRANCISCO P&DC, 1300 EVANS

AVE, SAN FRANCISCO CA 94188

AMC SAN FRANCISCO*, BLDG 660 RD

6, SAN FRANCISCO CA 94158–9998

MIAMI P&DC, 2200 NORTHWEST 72

AVE, MIAMI FL 33152

AMC MIAMI*, MIAMI

INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, MIAMI

FL 33159–9998

CHICAGO O’HARE DROPSHIP ISAL

SERVICE CENTER,

INTERNATIONAL PROCESSING

CENTER ANNEX, 3333 N MOUNT

PROSPECT RD, FRANKLIN PARK IL

60131.

* Plant verified mail is taken directly to

these facilities by the mailer.

246.4 Special Services

The special services described in

Chapter 3 are not available for items

sent by ISAL.

246.5 Customs Documentation

See 244.6 and 264.5 for the

requirements for customs forms.

246.6 Permits

Mailers depositing mail at a Dropship

ISC must maintain an advance deposit

account at that city if postage is paid by

advance deposit account.

246.7 Postage

246.71 Rates

Rate group Per piece

Full service per lb. Direct shipment per lb. Dropship ISC per lb.

Regular M-bag * Regular M-bag * Regular M-bag *

1 ................................................................ $.25 $3.10 $2.50 $2.35 $1.75 $2.10 $1.50

2 ................................................................ .10 4.10 2.70 3.35 1.95 3.10 1.70

3 ................................................................ .10 3.95 3.00 3.20 2.25 2.95 2.00

4 ................................................................ .10 6.25 4.25 5.50 3.50 5.25 3.25

*Small packets may not be mailed at these rates.

See exhibit 246.71 for network

countries and individual rates.

246.711 Full Service Rates

ISAL mailings presented at any post

office which accepts bulk mail, other

than a Dropship ISC listed in 246.32,

and not eligible for the direct shipment

rate are paid at the Full Service rates.

Postage for regular ISAL is paid on a per

piece and a per pound basis. M-bags are

subject to the M-bag pound rate only.

Small packets are ineligible for the Mbag rates and may not be included in Mbags.

246.712 Direct Shipment Rates

Mailers are eligible for the direct

shipment rates from the acceptance post

office (except Dropship ISCs) when the

Postal Service is able to arrange direct

transportation from the origin office to

the destination country. To qualify,

mailers must present a minimum of 750

pounds to each destination country.

Mailers must contact the post office of

mailing at least 14 days before the first

desired mailing date. A postal employee

must complete PS Form 3655 and fax it

to the distribution network office (DNO)

to obtain a contract for transportation. If

the DNO cannot arrange direct

transportation, the direct shipment rate

does not apply. The Postal Service may

cancel direct shipment rates and service

when direct transportation is no longer

available.

246.713 Dropship ISC Rates

ISAL mailings transported by the

mailer to the Dropship ISC’s listed in

246.32 are eligible for the Dropship ISC

rate.

246.714 Volume Discount

Mailers who spend $2 million or more

on ISAL in the preceding postal fiscal

year may receive discounts off the rates

shown in 246.71, 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.

EXHIBIT 246.71.—INTERNATIONAL SURFACE AIR LIFT SERVICE NETWORK COUNTRIES AND RATES

Country City Code Rate group

Albania ............................................................................... Tirana ................................................................................ TIA 1

Algeria ................................................................................ Algiers ................................................................................ ALG 4

Angola ................................................................................ Luanda ............................................................................... LAD 4

Argentina ............................................................................ Buenos Aires ..................................................................... BUE 2
47396 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 174 / Tuesday, September 9, 1997 / Proposed Rules

EXHIBIT 246.71.—INTERNATIONAL SURFACE AIR LIFT SERVICE NETWORK COUNTRIES AND RATES—Continued

Country City Code Rate group

Aruba .................................................................................. Oranjestad ......................................................................... AUA 2

Australia ............................................................................. Sydney ............................................................................... SYD 3

Austria ................................................................................ Vienna ............................................................................... VIE 1

Bahrain ............................................................................... Bahrain .............................................................................. BAH 4

Bangladesh ........................................................................ Dhaka ................................................................................ DAC 4

Belgium .............................................................................. Brussels ............................................................................. BRU 1

Belize .................................................................................. Belize City ......................................................................... BZE 2

Benin .................................................................................. Cotonou ............................................................................. COO 4

Bolivia ................................................................................. La Paz ............................................................................... LPB 2

Brazil .................................................................................. Rio de Janeiro ................................................................... RIO 2

Bulgaria .............................................................................. Sofia .................................................................................. SOF 1

Burkina Faso ...................................................................... Ouagadougou .................................................................... OUA 4

Burundi 1 ............................................................................. Bujumbara ......................................................................... BJM 4

Cameroon ........................................................................... Douala ............................................................................... DLA 4

Central African Republic .................................................... Bangui ............................................................................... BGF 4

Chile ................................................................................... Santiago ............................................................................ SCL 2

China .................................................................................. Beijing (Peking) ................................................................. PEK 3

Colombia ............................................................................ Bogota ............................................................................... BOG 2

Congo, Dem. Rep. of ......................................................... Kinshasa ............................................................................ FIH 4

Congo, Rep. of 1 ................................................................. Brazzaville ......................................................................... BZV 4

Costa Rica .......................................................................... San Jose ........................................................................... SJO 2

Coˆte d’Ivoire (Ivory) ............................................................ Abidjan ............................................................................... ABJ 4

Cuba ................................................................................... Havana .............................................................................. HAV 2

Czech Republic .................................................................. Prague ............................................................................... PRG 1

Denmark ............................................................................. Copenhagen ...................................................................... CPH 1

Dominican Republic ........................................................... Santo Domingo .................................................................. SDQ 2

Ecuador .............................................................................. Guayaquil .......................................................................... GYE 2

Egypt .................................................................................. Cairo .................................................................................. CAI 4

El Salvador ......................................................................... San Salvador ..................................................................... SAL 2

Ethiopia .............................................................................. Addis Ababa ...................................................................... ADD 4

Fiji ....................................................................................... Nadi ................................................................................... NAN 3

Finland ................................................................................ Helsinki .............................................................................. HEL 1

France ................................................................................ Paris .................................................................................. PAR 1

French Guiana ................................................................... Cayenne ............................................................................ CAY 2

Gabon ................................................................................. Libreville ............................................................................ LBV 4

Germany ............................................................................. Frankfurt ............................................................................ FRA 1

Ghana ................................................................................. Accra ................................................................................. ACC 4

Great Britain ....................................................................... London ............................................................................... LON 1

Greece ................................................................................ Athens ............................................................................... ATH 1

Guatemala .......................................................................... Guatemala City .................................................................. GUA 2

Guyana ............................................................................... Georgetown ....................................................................... GEO 2

Haiti .................................................................................... Port-au-Prince ................................................................... PAP 2

Honduras ............................................................................ Tegucigalpa ....................................................................... TGU 2

Hong Kong ......................................................................... Hong Kong ........................................................................ HKG 3

Hungary .............................................................................. Budapest ........................................................................... BUD 1

Iceland ................................................................................ Reykjavik ........................................................................... REK 1

India .................................................................................... Mumbai .............................................................................. BOM 4

Indonesia ............................................................................ Jakarta ............................................................................... JKT 3

Iran ..................................................................................... Tehran ............................................................................... THR 4

Ireland ................................................................................ Dublin ................................................................................ DUB 1

Israel ................................................................................... Tel Aviv .............................................................................. TLV 4

Italy ..................................................................................... Rome ................................................................................. ROM 1

Jamaica .............................................................................. Kingston ............................................................................. KIN 2

Japan 2 ............................................................................... Tokyo ................................................................................. TYO 3

Japan 2 ............................................................................... Osaka ................................................................................ OSA 3

Jordan ................................................................................ Amman .............................................................................. AMM 4

Kenya ................................................................................. Nairobi ............................................................................... NBO 4

Korea, Rep. of (South) ....................................................... Seoul ................................................................................. SEL 3

Kuwait ................................................................................. Kuwait City ........................................................................ KWI 4

Lebanon ............................................................................. Beirut ................................................................................. BEY 4

Liechtenstein ...................................................................... Basel .................................................................................. BSL 1

Luxembourg ....................................................................... Luxembourg ....................................................................... LUX 1

Madagascar ........................................................................ Antananariva ..................................................................... TNR 4

Malaysia ............................................................................. Kuala Lumpur .................................................................... KUL 3

Mali ..................................................................................... Bamako ............................................................................. BKO 4

Mauritania ........................................................................... Nouakchott ........................................................................ NKC 4

Mauritius ............................................................................. Port Louis .......................................................................... MRU 4

Mexico ................................................................................ Mexico City ........................................................................ MEX 2

Morocco .............................................................................. Casablanca ........................................................................ CAS 4

Mozambique ....................................................................... Maputo ............................................................................... MPM 4

Netherlands ........................................................................ Amsterdam ........................................................................ AMS 1

Netherlands Antilles ........................................................... Curacao ............................................................................. CUR 2
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 174 / Tuesday, September 9, 1997 / Proposed Rules 47397

EXHIBIT 246.71.—INTERNATIONAL SURFACE AIR LIFT SERVICE NETWORK COUNTRIES AND RATES—Continued

Country City Code Rate group

New Zealand ...................................................................... Auckland ............................................................................ AKL 3

Nicaragua ........................................................................... Managua ............................................................................ MGA 2

Niger ................................................................................... Niamey .............................................................................. NIM 4

Nigeria ................................................................................ Lagos ................................................................................. LOS 4

Norway ............................................................................... Oslo ................................................................................... OSL 1

Oman .................................................................................. Muscat ............................................................................... MCT 4

Pakistan .............................................................................. Karachi .............................................................................. KHI 4

Panama .............................................................................. Panama City ...................................................................... PTY 2

Papua New Guinea ............................................................ Port Moresby ..................................................................... POM 3

Paraguay ............................................................................ Asuncion ............................................................................ ASU 2

Peru .................................................................................... Lima ................................................................................... LIM 2

Philippines .......................................................................... Manila ................................................................................ MNL 3

Poland ................................................................................ Warsaw .............................................................................. WAW 1

Portugal .............................................................................. Lisbon ................................................................................ LIS 1

Qatar .................................................................................. Doha .................................................................................. DOH 4

Reunion Island ................................................................... St Denis ............................................................................. RUN 4

Romania ............................................................................. Bucharest .......................................................................... BUH 1

Russia ................................................................................ Moscow ............................................................................. MOW 1

San Marino ......................................................................... Rome ................................................................................. ROM 1

Saudi Arabia ....................................................................... Dhahran ............................................................................. DHA 4

Senegal .............................................................................. Dakar ................................................................................. DKR 4

Serbia-Montenegro 1 .......................................................... Belgrade ............................................................................ BEG 1

Sierra Leone 1 .................................................................... Freetown ............................................................................ FNA 4

Singapore ........................................................................... Singapore .......................................................................... SIN 3

Somalia 1 ............................................................................ Mogadishu ......................................................................... MEQ 4

South Africa ........................................................................ Johannesburg .................................................................... JNB 4

Spain 3 ................................................................................ Madrid ................................................................................ MAD 1

Sri Lanka ............................................................................ Colombo ............................................................................ CMB 4

Sudan ................................................................................. Khartoum ........................................................................... KRT 4

Suriname ............................................................................ Paramaribo ........................................................................ PBM 2

Sweden .............................................................................. Stockholm .......................................................................... STO 1

Switzerland ......................................................................... Basel .................................................................................. BSL 1

Syria ................................................................................... Damascus .......................................................................... DAM 4

Taiwan ................................................................................ Taipei ................................................................................. TPE 3

Tanzania ............................................................................. Dar es Salaam .................................................................. DAR 4

Thailand .............................................................................. Bangkok ............................................................................. BKK 3

Togo ................................................................................... Lome .................................................................................. LFW 4

Trinidad and Tobago .......................................................... Port of Spain ..................................................................... POS 2

Tunisia ................................................................................ Tunis .................................................................................. TUN 4

Turkey ................................................................................ Istanbul .............................................................................. IST 1

Uganda ............................................................................... Kampala ............................................................................ KLA 4

United Arab Emirates ......................................................... Dubai ................................................................................. DXB 4

Uruguay .............................................................................. Montevideo ........................................................................ MVD 2

Venezuela .......................................................................... Caracas ............................................................................. CCS 2

Yemen ................................................................................ Sanaa ................................................................................ SAH 4

Zambia ............................................................................... Ndola ................................................................................. NLA 4

Zimbabwe ........................................................................... Harare ................................................................................ HRE 4

Notes:

1Service currently suspended.

2To expedite service, Japan Post has requested that ISAL shipments to Japan be separated by two destination delivery zones as follow:

Osaka (OSA) for postal codes 52–79, 91, and Tokyo (TYO) for all other postal codes. 3 Including the Canary Islands.

246.72 Payment Methods

246.721 Postage Meter, Permit

Imprint, or Precanceled Stamps

Postage must be paid by postage

meter, permit imprint, or mailerprecanceled stamps. Postage is

computed on PS Form 3650, Statement

of Mailing—International Surface Air

Lift. PS Form 3650 is required for all

ISAL mailings.

246.722 Piece Rate

The applicable per piece postage must

be affixed to each piece (except M-bags,

see 246.723) by meter or mailerprecanceled stamps, unless postage is

paid by permit imprint. Mailers may use

a permit imprint only with identical

weight pieces unless authorized under

the postage mailing systems in DMM

P710, P720, or P730. Any of the permit

imprints for printed matter shown in

exhibit 152.3 are acceptable.

246.723 Pound Rate

Postage for the pound rate portion

must be paid either by meter stamp(s)

attached to the finance copy of the

mailing statement or from the mailer’s

advance deposit account.

246.8 Weight and Size Limits

Any item sent by ISAL must conform

to the weight and size limits for the

types of printed matter described in 243

or for small packets in 263.

246.9 Preparation Requirements

246.91 Addressing

See 122.

246.92 Marking

Items must be endorsed with the

appropriate markings as shown in 244.2

for printed matter and in 264.2 for small

packets. For publishers’ periodicals
47398 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 174 / Tuesday, September 9, 1997 / Proposed Rules

(Periodicals Mail), the imprint

authorized under 244.211c(2) or

244.211c(3) may be used in place of the

‘‘PRINTED MATTER—‘‘ PERIODICALS’’

endorsement. Individual items paid by

meter postage or mailer-precanceled

stamps must be endorsed ‘‘International

Surface Air Lift’’ or ‘‘ISAL.’’

246.93 Sealing and Packaging

Printed matter must be prepared to

protect the contents and permit easy

inspection. If not contained in

envelopes or wrappers, folded items

must have the open edges secured by

tape, tabs, or wafer seals of sufficient

quantity and strength to keep the items

from opening during postal handling.

246.94 Makeup Requirements for

ISAL

246.941 Packaging

All ISAL mail must be prepared in

packages within sacks as appropriate.

Packages and sacks must be prepared

and labeled as described below. All mail

pieces in a package must be ‘‘faced’’ in

the same direction (i.e., arranged so that

the addresses read in the same

direction, with an address visible on the

top piece). Pieces that cannot be

bundled because of their physical

characteristics may be placed loose in

the sack.

Packages of letter-size mail should be

no thicker than approximately a handful

of mail (4 to 6 inches). Packages of flatsize mail may be thicker than 6 inches

but should not weigh more than 20

pounds. Each package must be securely

tied. Placing rubber bands around the

length and then the girth is the preferred

method of securing packages of lettersize mail. Plastic strapping placed

around the length and then the girth is

the preferred method of securing

packages of flat-size mail.

a. Direct Country Packages. When

there are 10 or more pieces to the same

country, such pieces must be prepared

as a direct country package. If there are

less than 11 pounds of mail to the same

country, then the direct country package

must be labeled with a facing slip

showing the destination country or

country separation. The facing slip 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. (The pressure-sensitive

labels and optional endorsement lines

used domestically for presort mail are

prohibited for International Surface

Airlift Mail.)

b. Residual Packages. If there is not

enough mail to prepare a direct country

package (less than 10 pieces), the mail

is considered residual mail. When there

are less than 10 pieces to the same

country, then such pieces should be

combined in packages with other mail

for countries within the same rate group

that similarly have fewer than 10 pieces.

Such mixed country packages must be

labeled with a facing slip marked

‘‘Residual—Rate Group lll’’. The

designated rate group (1,2,3, or 4) must

be inserted as appropriate. The facing

slip 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. The

pressure-sensitive labels and optional

endorsement lines used domestically for

presort mail are prohibited for

International Surface Airlift Mail.

Exception: When there are fewer than

10 pieces to the same country which

combined weigh more than 11 pounds,

the pieces should be packaged together

as a direct country package and placed

in a direct country sack. This mail is not

considered ‘‘residual.’’ Pieces that

cannot be bundled because of their

physical characteristics may be placed

loose in the sack.

Sacking.

Once packages of ISAL mail are

prepared, the packages are then placed

into one of three types of designated

sacks as follows:

a. Direct Country Sack. Prepare a

direct country sack if there are at least

11 pounds of mail to the same country.

The mail must be packaged and

enclosed in a gray plastic ISAL sack and

labeled to the country with Tag 155,

Surface Airlift Mail. The maximum

weight of a direct country sack must not

exceed 66 pounds.

b. Mixed Country Package Sack.

Prepare a mixed country package sack

for direct country packages where there

is less than 11 pounds of mail to the

same country. The mail must be

packaged as direct country packages,

identified with a facing slip showing the

destination country or country

separation, and enclosed in a green

pouch appropriately labeled to the

dropship ISAL service center. Tag 155,

Surface Airlift Mail, must also be

attached to the sack. Prepare a mixed

country package sack for each of the

respective rate groups for which there is

a direct country package and label as

follows:

Rate group 1—AMC Kennedy—JFK 003

Rate group 2—AMC Miami 33159

Rate group 3—AMC San Francisco 941

Rate group 4—AMC Kennedy—JFK 003

c. Residual Sack. Prepare a residual

sack for those packages of mail that

contain less than 10 pieces to any one

country (residual packages). The mail

must be packaged as residual packages,

appropriately identified with a facing

slip, and enclosed in a green pouch

appropriately labeled to the dropship

ISAL service center. Tag 155, Surface

Airlift Mail, must also be attached to the

sack. You must prepare a residual sack

for each of the respective rate groups for

which there is a residual package and

label it as follows:

Rate group 1—AMC Kennedy—JFK 003

Rate group 2—AMC Miami 33159

Rate group 3—AMC San Francisco 941

Rate group 4—AMC Kennedy—JFK 003

246.943 Sack Labeling

a. Direct Country Sack. For a direct

country sack, use a gray plastic ISAL

sack. Use Tag 155, Surface Airlift Mail,

to label each sack with the destination

country’s name. Mailers must complete

four blocks on Tag 155:

1. To (Pour) Block: enter the name of

the ISAL country foreign exchange

office, its three-letter exchange office

code, and the country’s name. See

Exhibit A for the name of the foreign

exchange office and its three-letter

exchange office code. As an example,

for Japan, this block will be one of two

options, as follows:

Osaka OAS Japan (for postal codes

52–79 and 91)

Tokyo TYO Japan (for all other

postal codes)

2. Customer Permit No. Block: Enter

your 10-digit ISAL permit or customer

identification number.

3. Kg. Block: Enter the combined

weight of the sack and its contents in

kilograms (1 pound = 0.4536 kilogram).

4. Date Block: Enter date as shown on

PS Form 3650, Statement of Mailing—

International Surface Air Lift.

After completing the above items on

Tag 155, attach it to the neck of the sack.

b. Mixed Country Package Sack. For a

mixed country package sack, use a

domestic green nylon pouch and label it

to the appropriate dropship ISAL

service center as follows:

Rate group 1—AMC Kennedy—JFK 003

Rate group 2—AMC Miami 33159

Rate group 3—AMC San Francisco 941

Rate group 4—AMC Kennedy—JFK 003

Labels are prepared as follows:

Content:

Line 1: Dropship ISAL Service Center

Line 2: ISAL DRX

Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location

Example:

AMC KENNEDY—JFK 003

ISAL DRX

ABC COMPANY, NEW YORK, NY

For the mixed country package sack

label, use Content Identification

Number (CIN) 753.

In addition, use Tag 155, Surface

Airlift Mail, to label each sack with the
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 174 / Tuesday, September 9, 1997 / Proposed Rules 47399

appropriate dropship ISAL service

center. Mailers must complete four

blocks on Tag 155:

To (Pour) Block: enter the name of the

dropship ISAL service center and rate

group:

AMC Kennedy—JFK 003

Rate Group 1

AMC Miami 33159

Rate Group 2

AMC San Francisco 941

Rate Group 3

AMC Kennedy—JFK 003

Rate Group 4

2. Customer Permit No. Block: Enter

your 10-digit ISAL permit or customer

identification number.

3. Kg. Block: Enter the combined

weight of the sack and its contents in

kilograms (1 pound = 0.4536 kilogram).

4. Date Block: Enter date as shown on

PS Form 3650, Statement of Mailing—

International Surface Air Lift.

After completing the above items on

Tag 155, attach it to the sack.

Residual Sack. For a residual sack,

use a domestic green nylon pouch and

label it to the appropriate dropship

ISAL service center as follows:

Rate group 1—AMC Kennedy—JFK 003

Rate group 2—AMC Miami 33159

Rate group 3—AMC San Francisco 941

Rate group 4—AMC Kennedy—JFK 003

Labels are prepared as follows:

Content:

Line 1: Dropship ISAL Service Center

Line 2: ISAL WKG

Line 3: Mailer, Mailer Location

Example:

AMC KENNEDY—JFK 003

ISAL WKG

ABC COMPANY, NEW YORK, NY

For the residual sack label, use

Content Identification Number (CIN)

754.

In addition, use Tag 155, Surface

Airlift Mail, to label each sack with the

appropriate dropship ISAL service

center. Mailers must complete three

blocks on Tag 155:

To (Pour) Block: enter the name of the

dropship ISAL service center and rate

group:

AMC Kennedy—JFK 003

Rate Group 1

AMC Miami 33159

Rate Group 2

AMC San Francisco 941

Rate Group 3

AMC Kennedy—JFK 003

Rate Group 4

2. Customer Permit No. Block: Enter

your 10-digit ISAL permit or customer

identification number.

3. Kg. Block: Enter the combined

weight of the sack and its contents in

kilograms (1 pound = 0.4536 kilogram).

4. Date Block: Enter date as shown on

PS Form 3650, Statement of Mailing—

International Surface Air Lift.

After completing the above items on

Tag 155, attach it to the sack.

246.944 Sack Separation

When presenting an ISAL shipment to

the Postal Service, the mailer must

physically separate the sacks of mail by

type (direct, mixed, residual) and rate

group (1, 2, 3, 4) at time of mailing.

246.945 Direct Sacks to One

Addressee (M-bags) for ISAL

M-bags may be sent in the ISAL

service to all ISAL destination

countries. Weight, makeup, sacking, and

sorting requirements must conform to

part 245. Tag 158 must show the

complete address of the addressee and

the sender and be attached securely to

the neck of each sack in addition to Tag

155. M-bags may not contain small

packets.

246.95 Mailer Notification

Mailers who wish to mail shipments

that weigh over 750 pounds but who are

not eligible for direct shipment rates

must notify the ISAL coordinator at the

office of mailing at least 4 days before

the planned date of mailing. Specific

country information and weight per

country must be provided. No prior

notification is required for mailers with

750 pounds or less.

Stanley F. Mires,

Chief Counsel, Legislative.

[FR Doc. 97–23738 Filed 9–8–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 7710–12–P

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

40 CFR Part 52

[IL145–2, IL152–2; FRL–5890–1]

Approval and Promulgation of

Implementation Plan; Illinois

Designation of Areas for Air Quality

Planning Purposes; Illinois

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of the

public comment period.

SUMMARY: On July 22, 1997, the EPA

published a proposed rule (62 FR

39199) proposing limited approval and

limited disapproval of the Granite City

portion of a State Implementation Plan

(SIP) revision request which was

submitted by the State of Illinois on

November 14, 1995, May 9, 1996, June

14, 1996, and February 3, 1997, to meet

commitments related to the conditional

approval of Illinois’ May 15, 1992, SIP

submittal for the Lake Calumet (SE

Chicago), McCook, and Granite City,

Illinois, Particulate Matter (PM)

nonattainment areas. The proposed

limited approval and limited

disapproval action entails approval of

the submitted regulations into the

Illinois SIP for their strengthening

effect, and disapproval of the submittal

for not meeting all of the commitments

of the conditional approval. All of the

deficiencies were corrected, except that

Illinois failed to provide an opacity

limit for coke oven combustion stacks

which is reflective of their mass limits.

In the same notice, the EPA also

proposed to disapprove Illinois’ March

19, 1996, and October 15, 1996, request

to redesignate the Granite City area to

attainment for PM because the area does

not have a fully approved

implementation plan. The EPA is

announcing a 60-day extension of the

public comment period on the July 22,

1997, proposed rule.

DATES: Written comments on the July

22, 1997, proposed rule must be

received on or before October 20, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should

be mailed to: J. Elmer Bortzer, Chief,

Regulation Development Section, Air

Programs Branch (AR–18J), U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency,

Region 5, 77 West Jackson Boulevard,

Chicago, Illinois 60604.

Copies of the documents relevant to

this action are available for inspection

during normal business hours at:

Regulation Development Section,

Regulation Development Branch (AR–

18J), U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency, Region 5, 77 West Jackson

Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois 60604.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David Pohlman, Environmental

Scientist, Regulation Development

Section, Regulation Development

Branch (AR–18J), U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, Region 5, 77 West

Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois

60604, (312) 886–3299.

Dated: August 15, 1997.

David A. Ullrich,

Acting Regional Administrator.

[FR Doc. 97–23842 Filed 9–8–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P