[Federal Register: October 31, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 210)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 61522-61523]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31oc07-9]
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POSTAL SERVICE
39 CFR Part 20
International Mail Service to the Republic of the Marshall
Islands and Federated States of Micronesia Reverted to Domestic Mail
Service
AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is amending the Mailing Standards of the
United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM[supreg])
to remove references to the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the
Federated States of Micronesia. Mail to the Republic of the Marshall
Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia is no longer treated as
international mail.
DATES: Effective Date: November 19, 2007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Randall F. Sobol, 808-423-3883.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service, after high-level
discussions with the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated
States of Micronesia and consultation with the U.S. Department of
State, is returning these countries to domestic published prices and
mailing standards.
On September 15, 2005, the Postal Service published in the Federal
Register (70 FR 54510) a notice proposing use of the international
price schedules for the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the
Federated States of Micronesia. The application of international rate
schedules to these former Trust Territories of the United States was
permissible, in conformity with, and in furtherance of the terms of the
Compact of Free Association between the United States Government and
the governments of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the
Federated
[[Page 61523]]
States of Micronesia. After considering comments on its proposal to
move these nations to international postal prices, fees, and mail
classifications, the Postal Service published, on November 23, 2005, in
the Federal Register (70 FR 70976), a notice implementing the new
published prices and mailing standards. That notice amended the Mailing
Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail
Manual (IMM[supreg]) to include the Republic of the Marshall Islands
and the Federated States of Micronesia in most international products
and services, and added them to the individual country listings. A
subsequent article removed all references to these countries from the
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail
Manual (DMM[supreg]).
This final rule rescinds the final rule published on November 23,
2005. Effective November 19, 2007, the Republic of the Marshall Islands
and the Federated States of Micronesia will revert to the domestic mail
classification schedule that was in effect prior to January 8, 2006,
the effective date of the original article. The application of
international rates to these Freely Associated States had observable
effects on the economy and business correspondence of the Republic of
the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. The Postal
Service had considered a number of business solutions to lessen that
impact. Technological and other obstacles currently make other
solutions impracticable. Therefore, to allow the governments of the
Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia
to continue to pursue appropriate long term solutions to this problem
without adversely impacting the economies of the parties and the lives
of their people, the Postal Service takes this step to return the
parties and their people to the position they held prior to the
application of the international mail schedule to them. An additional
article will be published to add references to these countries to the
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail
Manual (DMM[supreg]).
List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20
Foreign relations, International postal services.
0
For the reasons discussed above, the Postal Service hereby adopts the
following amendments to the International Mail Manual which is
incorporated by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations (see 39
CFR part 20).
PART 20--[AMENDED]
0
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.
0
2. Amend the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service,
International Mail Manual (IMM) as follows.
* * * * *
2 Conditions for Mailing
210 Global Express Guaranteed
* * * * *
213 Service Areas
* * * * *
213.2 Destinating Countries and Rate Groups
* * * * *
[Revise the Destinating Countries and Rate Groups table by deleting
``Marshall Islands, Republic of'' and ``Micronesia, Federated States
of.'']
* * * * *
230 Priority Mail International
* * * * *
233 Priority Mail International Parcels
* * * * *
233.2 Exclusions
Ordinary indemnity coverage is not paid for:
* * * * *
[Delete item c in its entirety.]
* * * * *
235 Weight and Size Limits
* * * * *
235.23 Exceptional Size Limits
* * * * *
[Revise item b by deleting ``Marshall Islands, Republic of the'',
and ``Micronesia, Federated States of'']
* * * * *
240 First-Class Mail International
* * * * *
242 Postage
242.1 Rates
The country-specific rate group designations that apply to First-
Class Mail International and M-Bags (see 260) are as follows:
* * * * *
[Revise third bullet, ``Rate Group 3'', by removing the reference
to Marshall Islands and Micronesia.]
* * * * *
[Delete sixth bullet, ``Rate Group 6'', in its entirety.]
* * * * *
250 Postcards and Postal Cards
* * * * *
252 Postage Rates and Fees
* * * * *
[Delete item b in its entirety.]
* * * * *
290 Commercial Services
* * * * *
292 International Priority Airmail Service
* * * * *
292.4 Mail Preparation for Individual Items
* * * * *
292.44 Sortation Requirements for IPA
* * * * *
292.442 Presorted Mail
* * * * *
Exhibit 292.442 Foreign Exchange Office and Country Rate Groups
[Revise the Foreign Exchange Office and Country Rate Groups table
by deleting ``Marshall Islands, Republic of the'' and ``Micronesia,
Federated States of.'']
* * * * *
World Map
[Delete the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated
States of Micronesia from map reference M5.]
* * * * *
World Map Index
[Delete references for ``Marshall Islands, Republic of the'' and
``Micronesia, Federated States of'' from the world map index.]
Index of Countries and Localities
[Revise the references for ``Marshall Islands, Republic of the''
and ``Micronesia, Federated States of'' by adding the note ``See DMM
608'' and removing the IMM page number.]
* * * * *
Individual Country Listings
[Delete the individual country listings for the Republic of the
Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.]
* * * * *
Neva R. Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
[FR Doc. E7-21486 Filed 10-30-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P