15380 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 64 / Monday, April 6, 2009 / Rules and Regulations 

piece at the correct price or each piece 

is of identical weight and the mailpieces 

are separated by price, the serial number 

field of each Intelligent Mail barcode 

can be populated with a mailing serial 

number that is unique to the mailing but 

common to all pieces in the mailing. 

This unique mailing serial number must 

not be reused for a period of 45 days 

from the date of mailing. These mailings 

are not required to submit electronic 

documentation for full-service, only an 

electronic postage statement; except 

mailers of full-service Periodicals letters 

and flats and Bound Printed Matter flats 

must submit electronic documentation 

and an electronic postage statement. 

Unique mailing serial numbers must be 

populated in the Postal Wizard entry 

screen field or in the Mail.XML 

messages. Mailers must populate the 

serial number field of all Intelligent 

Mail tray labels and Intelligent Mail 

container barcodes with the unique 

mailing serial number. 

* * * * * 

708 Technical Specifications 

1.0 Standardized Documentation for 

First-Class Mail, Periodicals, Standard 

Mail, and Flat-Size Bound Printed 

Matter 

* * * * * 

1.3 Price Level Column Headings 

* * * * * 

b. Presorted First-Class Mail, 

barcoded and nonbarcoded Periodicals 

flats, nonbarcoded Periodicals letters, 

and machinable and nonmachinable 

Standard Mail: 

[Revise the table in item b to add a 

new fourth row with the following 

information:] 

Price Abbreviation 

* * * * 

SCF (for Standard Mail parcels and NFMs).SCF 

* * * * * 

6.0 Standards for Barcoded Tray 

Labels, Sack Labels, and Container 

Placards 

* * * * * 

6.2 Specifications for Barcoded Tray 

and Sack Labels 

6.2.4 3-Digit Content Identifier 

Numbers 

* * * * * 

Exhibit 6.2.4 3-Digit Content Identifier 

Numbers 

* * * * * 

Standard Mail 

* * * * * 

STD Not Flat-Machinable Pieces Less 

Than 6 Ounces—Nonautomation 

[Revise the table as follows:] 

5-digit scheme 

sacks 

500 STD NFM 5D 

SCH 

5-digit sacks 500 STD NFM 5D 

SCF sacks 507 STD NFM SCF 

ASF sacks 509 STD NFM ASF 

BMC sacks 505 STD NFM BMC 

mixed BMC sacks 506 STD NFM WKG 

STD Not Flat-Machinable Pieces 6 

Ounces Or More—Nonautomation 

[Revise the table as follows:] 

5-digit scheme 

sacks 

500 STD NFM MACH 

5D SCH 

5-digit sacks 500 STD NFM MACH 

5D 

ASF sacks 503 STD NFM MACH 

ASF 

BMC sacks 514 STD NFM MACH 

BMC 

mixed BMC sacks 518 STD NFM MACH 

WKG 

* * * * * 

STD Irregular Parcels—Presorted 

[Revise the table as follows:] 

5-digit scheme 

sacks 

590 STD IRREG 5D 

SCH 

5-digit sacks 590 STD IRREG 5D 

SCF sacks 596 STD IRREG SCF 

ASF sacks 571 STD IRREG ASF 

BMC sacks 570 STD IRREG BMC 

mixed BMC sacks 594 STD IRREG WKG 

* * * * * 

Index and Appendices 

* * * * * 

Labeling Lists 

* * * * * 

L000 General Use 

* * * * * 

[Revise the heading and text of L009 

to delete ‘‘Standard Mail irregular 

parcels’’ to read as follows:] 

L009 Mixed ADCs—Periodicals, 

Package Services Flats and Irregular 

Parcels and Standard Mail Flats 

Mailers must use L009 to label mixed 

ADC bundles and sacks of Periodicals, 

Standard Mail, Bound Printed Matter, 

Media Mail, and Library Mail flats. 

Mailers also must use L009 to label 

mixed ADC bundles and sacks 

containing Periodicals irregular parcels 

and Bound Printer Matter irregular 

parcels. 

* * * * * 

We will publish an appropriate 

amendment to 39 CFR Part 111 to reflect 

these changes. 

Stanley F. Mires, 

Chief Counsel, Legislative. 

[FR Doc. E9–7569 Filed 4–3–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7710–12–P 

POSTAL SERVICE 

39 CFR Part 111 

New Standards for Domestic Mailing 

Services 

AGENCY: Postal Service TM. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The Postal Service is revising 

Mailing Standards of the United States 

Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual 

(DMM®) to reflect changes to the prices 

and standards for the products now 

referred to as Mailing Services. 

DATES: Effective Date: May 11, 2009. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill 

Chatfield, 202–268–7278. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On 

January 29, 2009 the Postal Service 

published a proposed rule in the 

Federal Register (Volume 74, Number 

18, pages 5130–5137) that included 

several mail classification changes, 

modifications to mailpiece 

characteristics, and changes in 

classification terminology. A 

supplemental proposed rule was 

published in the Federal Register on 

February 6, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 

24, pages 6250–6257) amending and 

clarifying certain standards. This final 

rule contains revisions that will be 

effective on May 11, 2009. We 

additionally describe those standards 

that were proposed for May 11, 2009 for 

which we will delay implementation 

until September 8, 2009. 

For May 2010, we proposed: 

elimination of the Standard Mail® Not 

Flat-Machinable category, restriction on 

inserts in flats, and a new flexibility or 

foldability standard for flats. These 

items will be included in a new, 

separate proposal at a later date. 

In the sections below, we identify 

each revision, and summarize and 

respond to comments regarding May 11, 

2009 implementation. 

Overview of Changes for Letters and 

Flats for May 2009 

Letters 

We align standards for commercial 

machinable and automation letters so all 

machinable letters have the same 

physical characteristics required of 

automation letters, with the exception of 


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a qualifying barcode. We make slight 

revisions to the list of nonmachinable 

characteristics. We received comments 

in support of this alignment. Several 

commenters requested clarification of 

some of the elements that would render 

letters nonmachinable. Questions were 

raised about the effect of window 

envelopes or attachments on the 

addition of nonpaper surfaces to the list 

of nonmachinable characteristics. 

Several commenters questioned if this 

new nonmachinable characteristic 

would render laminated paper cards 

nonmachinable. The intent of this 

change is the alignment of machinable 

and automation letter standards. Current 

standards require automation letters to 

be ‘‘made of paper.’’ Mailers who have 

been able to establish that their 

laminated paper cards are made of 

paper and not plastic, have been able to 

mail those items at automation prices 

and will continue to be able to do so. 

Letters with nonpaper surfaces, other 

than envelope windows or attachments 

that are allowed in a class of mail, are 

not machinable. Several commenters 

asked for clarification of when letters 

with enclosed keys, coins or similar 

objects are nonmachinable. If coins or 

similar objects are either loose or make 

the letter nonuniform in thickness, the 

piece is nonmachinable. This revision 

aligns with current standards in DMM 

201.3.10 and with Customer Support 

Ruling PS–328, available online at 

pe.usps.com. Commercial letters that are 

not machinable are eligible to be mailed 

as nonmachinable letters. 

We proposed a new minimum 0.009 

inch thickness standard for automation 

and machinable letters. We received a 

few comments in favor of this proposal 

and a few opposed. We continue to 

require automation and machinable 

letters larger than postcard size to be at 

least 0.009 inch thick, and we continue 

the current minimum thickness of 0.007 

inch for letters and cards up to postcard 

size (41⁄4 inches high by 6 inches long). 

We received several comments about 

the difficulty in determining excessive 

static charge or meeting coefficient of 

friction standards. As announced in a 

DMM Advisory notice on February 3, 

2009, we postpone implementation of 

new static charge and coefficient of 

friction standards for automation and 

machinable letters, while new methods 

are explored to measure the standards. 

Some mailers indicated that they have 

methods to reduce effective static 

charge. We recommend that mailers try 

to measure and reduce the static charge 

created by their mailpieces to no more 

than two kilovolts and meet the paperto-paper coefficient of friction 

recommendations between 0.24 and 

0.36. As we stated in a DMM Advisory 

notice on January 28, 2009, we also 

postpone new standards for window 

envelopes. 

Mailers have the option to prepare 

First-Class Mail® and Standard Mail 

automation letters and Standard Mail 

machinable letters to all applicable sort 

levels, with prices matching the level of 

sortation chosen. We received several 

comments objecting to this change and 

one in favor of the change. Claims were 

made that if a mailer chose to only 

prepare mixed AADC trays, that we 

would effectively be granting a discount 

for nonpresorted letters. There are other 

requirements for this mail, such as 

Move Update compliance, CASS TMcertification for barcoded letters, and 

ZIP® Code accuracy—all of which help 

us process and deliver mixed AADC 

mail more efficiently than single-piece 

mail. Some commenters stated that 

processing plants urged mailers to bring 

in ‘‘residual’’ mail as early as possible; 

they were also concerned that the 

USPS® might impose earlier critical 

entry times for this mail. The USPS has 

the operational capacity to enable 

timely processing without changing 

critical entry times. 

Flats 

We will retain the current preparation 

options for automation First-Class Mail 

flats of either bundle-based or traybased sortation with applicable prices. 

We received many comments opposed 

to the proposal to eliminate bundlebased sortation, ranging from recent 

investments in bundling equipment to 

potentially less access to lower prices. 

We are postponing implementation of 

this change, and will reconsider it for 

later implementation. 

Rigid flat-size mailpieces that are not 

able to meet the flexibility standards in 

DMM 301.1.3 may be eligible for 

automation prices if they are 

determined to have flats machinecompatibility through a Pricing and 

Classification Service Center (PCSC)- 

administered testing process. Eligibility 

for such pieces will be valid until May 

2010. Mailers coordinate testing 

requests via district managers of 

business mail entry. Those pieces that 

do not meet the published flexibility 

standards for flats, but are authorized to 

mail at flats prices by PCSC approval, 

must be marked ‘‘Automation Flat.’’ 

Postponed Until September 8, 2009— 

Flats Changes 

The following changes for flats will 

have a September 8, 2009 

implementation date to provide 

additional time for mailers to make the 

adjustments to their operations. 

Polywrap standards, currently 

applicable only to automation flats, will 

apply to all flat-size mailpieces using 

polywrap, except for flats mailed at 

saturation and high-density Periodicals 

or Standard Mail prices. We received a 

few comments asking for exemption of 

saturation and high-density flats, which 

we have accommodated in our 

revisions. We received some comments 

requesting more time to comply with 

this change and some comments in 

favor of the change. In response to 

requests for more time, the delayed 

implementation will allow mailers who 

have not been using approved polywrap 

to make the transition. Detailed 

specifications for polywrap approved 

for use on flats, as well as a list of 

approved products, is available at 

ribbs.usps.gov. The use of automationcompatible polywrap on all flat-size 

mailpieces improves mail processing 

efficiency and applies standardization 

and consistency for mailers of 

polywrapped flats. 

The polywrap selvage (overhang) on a 

polywrapped flat will be included when 

a flat is measured for maximum 

dimensions, because selvage that 

extends beyond the maximum height or 

length interferes with efficient 

processing. Several commenters thought 

this restriction would render their larger 

flats ineligible for flats prices. When our 

flats-sorting equipment attempts to 

process pieces that are larger than the 

maximum length or height of a 

mailpiece, the pieces are often culled 

out. As an accommodation, we will 

increase the maximum length of a 

polywrapped flat to 15.75 inches 

(inclusive of selvage) from the current 

15 inches to accommodate some 

additional selvage for larger 

publications. As a reminder, we 

continue to allow no more than 11⁄2

inches of selvage in the length and no 

more than 1⁄2 inch in the height. We will 

not include selvage when measuring for 

minimum dimensions because the 

selvage is not substantial enough for it 

to be considered part of a uniformly 

thick flat. We received no comments 

related to selvage and minimum 

dimensions. 

We extend the deflection standards 

currently applicable to automation flats, 

to all flat-size mailpieces, except those 

mailed at saturation and high-density 

Periodicals or Standard Mail prices. The 

deflection standards also change to 

allow one inch less of vertical deflection 

(droop) than is currently allowed. We 

also eliminate the current exception for 

oblong flats (those with a bound edge on 

the shorter side) so all flats are tested 

with the length placed perpendicular to 

the edge of a flat surface. A few 


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commenters asked that the exception to 

deflection standards apply to highdensity as well as saturation flats. We 

agree to make that accommodation. 

Several commenters disagreed with the 

more restrictive deflection standards on 

all flats. Some commenters also objected 

to the change in the testing procedure 

for oblong flats, stating that those flats 

would not pass the new test 

administered by placing the bound edge 

parallel to the edge of the flat surface. 

As a reminder, the USPS reduced the 

deflection standards in 2007, permitting 

up to a 4-inch drop for pieces at least 

10 inches long. The new standards will 

allow a 3-inch drop for pieces at least 

10 inches long, compared to a maximum 

of 23⁄8 inch drop before May 2007. Our 

difficulties in processing oblong flats, 

and those that come close to the current 

maximum deflection, made it clear that 

the previous reduction was too 

extensive. Some oblong flats may be 

able to meet the new standards by 

adding a tab to the open edges opposite 

the bound edge or by other methods. 

Our delayed implementation offers 

mailers the opportunity to make 

changes to slightly stiffen their ‘‘floppy’’ 

flats to meet the new standards. The 

new standards, by allowing more 

deflection for flats over 10 inches long 

than for shorter pieces, provide 

flexibility to the mailing community 

while ensuring efficient processing of 

the mail. 

Parcels 

For consolidation purposes, we 

remove definitions of irregular parcels 

from the mail preparation standards in 

DMM 465, 475, and 485, and provide 

references to the current definition of 

irregular parcels in DMM 401, Physical 

Standards. This does not change the 

current definition of irregular parcels. 

Overview of Proposed Changes for 2010 

Summary 

All changes originally proposed for 

2010 will be reissued in a subsequent 

proposed rule. As information, we 

briefly discuss those changes below. 

Flats 

We proposed to merge standards for 

nonautomation and automation flats in 

May 2010; requiring all machinable 

flats, whether or not they are barcoded, 

to have the same physical 

characteristics. The terminology would 

change the categories to: machinable; 

barcoded machinable; and irregular 

flats. Irregular flats would encompass 

two types of flat-size mailpieces. One is 

a flat-size piece that is machinable, but 

with parcel-like characteristics that 

affect deliverability, such as pieces with 

rigid contents because the pieces cannot 

be folded. Another type of irregular flat 

is foldable with favorable delivery 

characteristics, but is not machinable, 

such as flimsy pieces that are difficult 

to process on automation equipment. 

Current flexibility standards in DMM 

301.1.3 describe minimum flexibility as 

demonstrated by ‘‘tabletop’’ flexibility 

tests. Effective May 2009, rigid flat-size 

mailpieces not able to meet the 

flexibility standards in 301.1.3 may be 

eligible for automation prices if they 

demonstrate flat machine-compatibility 

through a PCSC-administered testing 

process. Delivery of rigid pieces is often 

more costly than delivery of foldable 

flats. Rigid pieces that do not fit in 

smaller mail receptacles often result in 

Postal employees having to leave nondelivery notices. This is similar to 

delivery constraints for parcels. 

For May 2010, we proposed a single 

flexibility standard that would require 

all machinable flat-size mailpieces with 

rigid contents to be foldable, parallel to 

the length, to a height no greater than 5 

inches. Flat-size pieces failing to meet 

this level of flexibility may be 

categorized as irregular flats. Quite a 

few commenters objected to the 5-inch 

restriction, suggesting that allowing a 6- 

inch height would accommodate the 

contents that they mail in substantial 

quantities, while others requested that 

we allow pieces to be folded in either 

direction. 

We will provide revised DMM 

language for new flexibility standards 

and any new categorization of flats for 

2010 in a subsequent Federal Register 

proposal. 

We are postponing our proposal to 

restrict inserts in flats. We received 

many comments requesting 

reconsideration due to the prevalence of 

inserts that advertisers rely on as part of 

their mailing strategy. We recognize that 

mailers rely on loose inserts for 

advertising purposes and understand 

that we share common ground in taking 

steps to be sure that inserts reach the 

addressees and do not fall out of 

mailpieces. Therefore, we will work 

with mailers to identify publications 

and catalogs with loose inserts that fall 

out of the mailpiece and inhibit our 

processing and delivery functions. In 

most cases, a simple ‘‘shake’’ test may 

provide a useful demonstration of 

whether inserts are likely to fall out. 

Pinching a flat with inserts by the upper 

corner of the bound edge and shaking it 

will tend to dislodge those inserts not 

blown well into the body of the flat. 

Inserts that are inserted or blown well 

into the body of a flat tend to stay in 

place. 

Not Flat-Machinable (NFMs) 

In 2007, we created an NFM category 

for Standard Mail items that could not 

meet revised automation flats standards. 

We proposed to discontinue the NFM 

category in May 2010. Since 2007, many 

mailers have converted pieces that 

might have been subject to NFM or 

parcel prices, into pieces eligible for 

flats prices. We will include any change 

in the NFM categorization in a 

subsequent proposal along with other 

proposals to be effective in May 2010. 

The Postal Service adopts the 

following changes to Mailing Standards 

of the United States Postal Service, 

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), 

incorporated by reference in the Code of 

Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR Part 

111. 

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111 

Administrative practice and 

procedure, Postal Service. 

■ Accordingly, 39 CFR Part 111 is 

amended as follows: 

PART 111—[AMENDED] 

■ 1. The authority citation for 39 CFR 

Part 111 continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 

401, 403, 404, 414, 416, 3001–3011, 3201– 

3219, 3403–3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 

3633, and 5001. 

■ 2. Revise the following sections of 

Mailing Standards of the United States 

Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual 

(DMM), as follows: 

100 Retail Mail Letters, Cards, Flats, 

and Parcels 

101 Physical Standards 

101.1 Physical Standards for Letters 

* * * * * 

1.2 Nonmachinable Criteria 

A letter-size piece is nonmachinable 

(see 6.4) if it has one or more of the 

following characteristics (see 601.1.4 to 

determine the length, height, top, and 

bottom of a mailpiece): 

* * * * * 

[Revise item b to add that any 

nonpaper exterior surface is 

nonmachinable as follows:] 

b. Is polybagged, polywrapped, 

enclosed in any plastic material, or has 

an exterior surface made of a material 

that is not paper. Windows in envelopes 

made of paper do not make mailpieces 

nonmachinable. Attachments allowable 

under applicable eligibility standards do 

not make mailpieces nonmachinable. 

* * * * * 

[Revise item d to clarify that letters 

are nonmachinable when certain items 


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are loose or when they cause the 

thickness to be uneven, as follows:] 

d. Contains items such as pens, 

pencils, keys, or coins that cause the 

thickness of the mailpiece to be uneven; 

or loose keys or coins or similar objects 

not affixed to the contents within the 

mailpiece. Loose items may cause a 

letter to be nonmailable when mailed in 

paper envelopes; see 601.2.3, OddShaped Items in Paper Envelopes. 

* * * * * 

[Revise item h by referring to sealing 

standards in 201.3.14.1 for all selfmailers as follows:] 

h. Is a self-mailer that is not prepared 

according to 201.3.14.1. 

[Revise item i by referring to sealing 

standards in 201.3.14.2 for all booklets 

as follows:] 

i. Is a booklet that is not prepared 

according to 201.3.14.2. 

* * * * * 

200 Commercial Mail Letters and 

Cards 

201 Physical Standards 

1.0 Physical Standards for 

Machinable Letters and Cards 

1.1 Physical Standards for 

Machinable Letters 

1.1.1 Dimensional Standards for 

Letters 

[Revise introductory sentence as 

follows:] 

Machinable letter-size mail is: 

* * * * * 

[Add new item d as follows:] 

d. Within an aspect ratio (length 

divided by height) of 1.3 to 2.5, 

inclusive. See 601.1.4. 

* * * * * 

1.1.3 All Machinable Letters 

[Revise the first sentence of 1.1.3 as 

follows:] 

All pieces of First-Class Mail and 

Standard Mail machinable letters must 

meet the standards for automationcompatible letters in 201.3.0. * * * 

* * * * * 

2.0 Physical Standards for 

Nonmachinable Letters 

2.1 Criteria for Nonmachinable 

Letters 

[Revise 2.1 by noting that letters with 

exterior surfaces not made of paper or 

that do not meet automationcompatibility standards are 

nonmachinable; that all letters over 3.3 

ounces must have a barcode and claim 

an automation letter price to avoid a 

surcharge; and by removing the 

individual listed items as follows:] 

A letter-size piece is nonmachinable if 

it has an exterior surface that is not 

made of paper or if it does not meet the 

standards in 201.3.0. Windows in 

envelopes made of paper do not make 

mailpieces nonmachinable. 

Attachments do not render mailpieces 

nonmachinable if allowed by eligibility 

standards according to the class of mail 

and if not prohibited in 201.3.0. In 

addition, a letter-size piece is 

nonmachinable if it weighs more than 

3.3 ounces (up to 3.5 ounces) unless it 

has a barcode and is eligible for and 

claims automation letter prices or 

Standard Mail Carrier Route letter 

prices. 

* * * * * 

[Revise title of 3.0 as follows:] 

3.0 Physical Standards for 

Machinable and Automation Letters 

and Cards 

* * * * * 

[Revise title of 3.2 as follows:] 

3.2 Dimensions and Shape Standards 

for Machinable and Automation Letters 

* * * * * 

230 First-Class Mail 

* * * * * 

235 Mail Preparation 

* * * * * 

[Revise heading of 6.0 as follows:] 

6.0 Preparing Automation Letters 

* * * * * 

6.6 Tray Preparation 

* * * Preparation sequence, tray size, 

and Line 1 labeling: 

* * * * * 

[Revise items b through d to allow 

optional preparation and modify 

grouping requirement as follows:] 

b. 3-digit/scheme: optional, but 

required for 3-digit price (150-piece 

minimum except no minimum for origin 

or entry 3-digit/scheme); overflow 

allowed; for Line 1, use L002, Column 

B. 

c. AADC: optional, but required for 

AADC price (150-piece minimum); 

overflow allowed; group pieces by 3- 

digit (or 3-digit scheme) ZIP Code when 

overflow pieces from 3-digit trays are 

placed in AADC trays. For Line 1, use 

L801, Column B. 

d. Mixed AADC: required (no 

minimum); group pieces by AADC 

when overflow pieces from AADC trays 

are placed in mixed AADC trays. For 

Line 1 use L201; for mail originating in 

ZIP Code areas in Column A, use 

‘‘MXD’’ followed by city, state, and 3- 

digit ZIP Code prefix in Column C (use 

‘‘MXD’’ instead of ‘‘OMX’’ in the 

destination line and ignore Column B). 

* * * * * 

240 Standard Mail 

* * * * * 

245 Mail Preparation 

* * * * * 

5.0 Preparing Nonautomation Letters 

* * * * * 

5.3 Machinable Preparation 

* * * * * 

[Revise introductory paragraph of 

5.3.2 as follows:] 

5.3.2 Traying and Labeling 

Instead of preparing overflow AADC 

trays with fewer than 150 pieces, 

mailers may include these pieces in 

mixed AADC trays when a tray of 150 

or more pieces can be made. Mailers 

must note these trays on standardized 

documentation (see 708.1.2). Pieces that 

are placed in the next tray level must be 

grouped by destination and placed in 

the front or back of that tray. 

Preparation sequence, tray size, and 

labeling: 

* * * * * 

[Revise first sentence of 5.3.2 b to 

allow optional preparation as follows:] 

b. AADC (optional, but required for 

AADC price); 150-piece minimum 

(overflow allowed); group pieces by 

AADC when overflow pieces from 

AADC trays are placed in mixed AADC 

trays; labeling: * * * 

* * * * * 

[Revise heading of 7.0 as follows:] 

7.0 Preparing Automation Letters 

* * * * * 

7.5 Tray Preparation 

* * * Preparation sequence, tray size, 

and Line 1 labeling: 

* * * * * 

[Revise items b through d to allow 

optional preparation and modify 

grouping requirement as follows:] 

b. 3-digit/scheme; optional, but 

required for 3-digit price (150-piece 

minimum, except no minimum for 

optional origin/entry 3-digit/scheme(s)); 

overflow allowed; for Line 1, use L002, 

Column B. 

c. AADC: optional, but required for 

AADC price (150-piece minimum); 

overflow allowed; group pieces by 3- 

digit (or 3-digit scheme) ZIP Code prefix 

when overflow pieces from 3-digit/ 

scheme trays are placed in AADC trays. 

For Line 1, use L801, Column B. 

d. Mixed AADC: required (no 

minimum); group pieces by AADC 

when overflow pieces from AADC trays 

are placed in mixed AADC trays. For 

Line 1 labeling: use L011, Column B. 

Use L010, Column B if entered at an 


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1Request of the United States Postal Service to 

Add Priority Mail Contract 5 to Competitive 

Product List and Notice of Establishment of Rates 

and Class Not of General Applicability, March 13, 

2009 (Request). 

ASF or BMC or for mail placed on an 

ASF, BMC, or SCF pallet under the 

option in 705.8.10.3. 

* * * * * 

300 Commercial Mail Flats 

301 Physical Standards 

* * * * * 

3.0 Physical Standards for 

Automation Flats 

* * * * * 

[Renumber 3.3 through 3.7 as new 3.4 

through 3.8, and add new 3.3 as 

follows:] 

3.3 Flats—Machine Compatibility 

Flat-size mailpieces meeting the 

standards in 1.0 and 3.0, but unable to 

meet the minimum flexibility standards 

described in 1.3, are not eligible for 

automation prices unless the mailpieces 

demonstrate flats-machine 

compatibility. Rigid flat-size mailpieces 

in paper, polywrap or similar packaging 

that allows for the pieces to be grasped 

and inducted into USPS flat-sorting 

equipment may qualify for automation 

prices when meeting the following 

standards: 

a. Mailpieces must be enclosed in 

envelopes or similar packaging capable 

of withstanding normal processing on 

USPS flat-sorting equipment. 

b. Mailpieces must be approved for 

automation flats pricing by the USPS. 

Mailers seeking approval for mailpieces 

under this standard must contact their 

local manager, business mail entry for 

instructions on submitting sample 

mailpieces to the Pricing and 

Classification Service Center (PCSC) 

(see 608.8.0 for address) for analysis and 

possible testing. Mailpieces having a 

previous approval from the PCSC for 

automation flats prices, granted after 

May 2007, are not required to be 

resubmitted for a new approval. These 

and all other approvals granted under 

3.3 expire in May 2010. 

c. Mailpieces approved for 

automation flats pricing under this 

standard must print the endorsement 

‘‘Automation Flat’’ directly under or to 

the left of the postage imprint. 

* * * * * 

302 Elements on the Face of a 

Mailpiece 

* * * * * 

4.0 Barcode Placement 

* * * * * 

4.6 Barcode in Address Block 

When the barcode is included as part 

of the address block: 

* * * * * 

[Revise 4.6d by adding a new last 

sentence as follows:] 

d. * * * Window envelopes also 

must meet the specifications in 601.6.3. 

* * * * * 

400 Commercial Parcels 

* * * * * 

460 Bound Printed Matter 

* * * * * 

465 Mail Preparation 

* * * * * 

5.0 Preparing Presorted Parcels 

5.1 Basic Standards 

5.1.1 General Preparation 

Requirements 

All mailings of Presorted Bound 

Printed Matter (BPM) are subject to 

these general standards: 

* * * * * 

[Revise item b as follows:] 

b. All pieces in a mailing must be 

within the same processing category. 

See 401.1.0 for definitions of 

machinable and irregular parcels. 

* * * * * 

470 Media Mail 

* * * * * 

475 Mail Preparation 

* * * * * 

5.0 Preparing Media Mail Parcels 

[Revise introductory paragraph of 5.1 

as follows:] 

5.1 Basic Standards 

All mailings of Presorted Media Mail 

are subject these general requirements: 

* * * * * 

[Revise item b as follows:] 

b. All parcels in a mailing must be 

within the same processing category. 

See 401.1.0 for definitions of 

machinable and irregular parcels. 

* * * * * 

480 Library Mail 

* * * * * 

485 Mail Preparation 

* * * * * 

5.0 Preparing Library Mail Parcels 

[Revise introductory paragraph of 5.1 

as follows:] 

5.1 Basic Standards 

All mailings of Presorted Library Mail 

are subject to these general standards: 

* * * * * 

[Revise item b as follows:] 

b. All pieces in a mailing must be 

within the same processing category. 

See 401.1.0 for definitions of 

machinable and irregular parcels. 

* * * * * 

Stanley F. Mires, 

Chief Counsel, Legislative. 

[FR Doc. E9–7570 Filed 4–3–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 7710–12–P 

POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION 

39 CFR Part 3020 

[Docket Nos. MC2009–21 and CP2009–26; 

Order No. 197] 

New Domestic Mail Product 

AGENCY: Postal Regulatory Commission. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The Commission is adding 

the Postal Service’s Priority Mail 

Contract 5 negotiated service agreement 

to the Competitive Product List. This 

action is consistent with changes in a 

recent law governing postal operations. 

Republication of the lists of market 

dominant and competitive products is 

also consistent with new requirements 

in the law. 

DATES: Effective April 6, 2009 and is 

applicable beginning March 30, 2009. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Stephen L. Sharfman, General Counsel, 

202–789–6820 and 

stephen.sharfman@prc.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Regulatory History, 74 FR 12406 

(March 24, 2009). 

I. Background 

The Postal Service seeks to add a new 

product identified as Priority Mail 

Contract 5 to the Competitive Product 

List. For the reasons discussed below, 

the Commission approves the Request. 

On March 13, 2009, the Postal Service 

filed a formal request pursuant to 39 

U.S.C. 3642 and 39 CFR 3020.30 et seq. 

to add Priority Mail Contract 5 to the 

Competitive Product List.1 The Postal 

Service asserts that the Priority Mail 

Contract 5 product is a competitive 

product ‘‘not of general applicability’’ 

within the meaning of 39 U.S.C. 

3632(b)(3). This Request has been 

assigned Docket No. MC2009–21. 

The Postal Service 

contemporaneously filed a contract 

related to the proposed new product 

pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3632(b)(3) and 39 

CFR 3015.5. The contract has been 

assigned Docket No. CP2009–26. 


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