2010-14493. International Mail Manual; Incorporation by Reference

AGENCY:

Postal Service^TM.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Postal Service announces the issuance of Issue 36 of the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, International Mail Manual (IMM®) and its incorporation by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations.

DATES:

Effective Date: This final rule is effective on June 16, 2010. The incorporation by reference of Issue 36 of the IMM is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of June 16, 2010.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Lizbeth Dobbins, [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Issue 36 of the International Mail Manual was issued on May 11, 2009. It replaced all previous editions. Issue 36 of the IMM continues to serve the objectives of the Postal Service's Transformation Plans, the 2004-2008 Five-Year Strategic Plan, the Strategic Transformation Plan 2006-2010, and Vision 2013, Plan for 2009-2013 to enable the Postal Service to fulfill its long-standing mission of providing affordable, universal mail service. The Plans' key strategies include improving operational efficiency, supporting growth through added value to customers, and enhancing the Postal Service's performance-based culture.

In addition, Issue 36 sets forth specific changes such as: new mailing standards for authorized shipments of small packets to Cuba to align USPS® with U.S. Department of Commerce regulations; to expand the use of Priority Mail International® Flat Rate Envelopes and Boxes to Ascension and the Falkland Islands; reorganization of sections 260, 290, and 310 to clarify eligibility for M-bags; and, to codify the Postal Service Sure Money® (DineroSeguro®) service as one of its international money transfer services. Issue 36 also corrects various printing and format errors and omissions in the previous Issue.

The International Mail Manual is available to the public on a subscription basis only from: U.S. Government Printing Office, P.O. Box 979050, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000. The subscription price for one issue is currently $50 to addresses in the United States, and $70 to all foreign addresses. The IMM is also published and available to all users on the Internet at http://pe.usps.com.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 20

• Foreign relations
• Incorporation by reference

In view of the considerations discussed above, the Postal Service hereby amends 39 CFR part 20 as follows:

PART 20—INTERNATIONAL POSTAL SERVICE

1. The authority citation for part 20 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 407, 414, 416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3632, 3633, and 5001.

2. Section 20.1 is revised to read as follows:

§ 20.1

International Mail Manual; incorporation by reference.

(a) Section 552(a) of Title 5, U.S.C., relating to the public information requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act, provides in pertinent part that matter reasonably available to the class of persons affected thereby is deemed published in the Federal Register when incorporated by reference therein with the approval of the Director of the Federal Register. In conformity with that provision, with 39 U.S.C. 410(b)(1), and as provided in this part, the U.S. Postal Service hereby incorporates by reference its International Mail Manual (IMM), Issue 36, dated May 11, 2009. The Director of the Federal Register approves this incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(b) The current Issue of the IMM is incorporated by reference in paragraph (a) of this section. Successive Issues of the IMM are listed in the following table:

International mail manual	Date of issuance
Issue 1	November 13, 1981.
Issue 2	March 1, 1983.
Issue 3	July 4, 1985.
Issue 4	September 18, 1986.
Issue 5	April 21, 1988.
Issue 6	October 5, 1988.
Issue 7	July 20, 1989.
Issue 8	June 28, 1990.
Issue 9	February 3, 1991.
Issue 10	June 25, 1992.
Issue 11	December 24, 1992.
Issue 12	July 8, 1993.
Issue 13	February 3, 1994.
Issue 14	August 4, 1994.
Issue 15	July 9, 1995.
Issue 16	January 4, 1996.
Issue 17	September 12, 1996.
Issue 18	June 9, 1997.
Issue 19	October 9, 1997.
Issue 20	July 2, 1998.
Issue 21	May 3, 1999.
Issue 22	January 1, 2000.
Issue 23	July 1, 2000.
Issue 24	January 1, 2001.
Issue 25	July 1, 2001.
Issue 26	January 1, 2002.
Issue 27	June 30, 2002.
Issue 28	January 1, 2003.
Issue 29	July 1, 2003.
Issue 30	August 1, 2004.
Issue 31	May 31, 2005.
Issue 35	May 12, 2008.
Issue 36	May 11, 2009.

3. Section 20.2 is revised to read as follows:

§ 20.2

Effective date of the International Mail Manual.

The provisions of the International Mail Manual Issue 36, effective May 11, 2009, are applicable with respect to the international mail services of the Postal Service.

Neva R. Watson,

Attorney, Legislative.