The following changes to the Domestic Mail Manual are incorporated into the online version available via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov.

Machinable Standard Mail Letters — Packaging Requirements

Effective March 6, 2003, DMM M610.2.1b is revised to correct a minor error introduced on June 30, 2002, with the publication of DMM 57, which contains the new preparation standards for machinable letter- size Standard Mail items. These preparation standards — partly derived from the standards for the former upgradable option for Standard Mail letter-size pieces - are tray- based rather than package-based. As a consequence, packaging for these machinable pieces is required only for trays containing card-size pieces and for less-than-full trays.

Current standards in DMM M610.2.1b mistakenly indicate that machinable letter-size Standard Mail pieces in less-than-full 3-digit trays are not packaged unless the trays are for 3-digit origin or 3-digit entry. The following Standard Mail machinable letter-size pieces must be packaged:

• Card-size pieces.
• All pieces in a less-than-full 3-digit, 3-digit origin, or 3-digit entry tray.
• All pieces in a less-than-full mixed automated area distribution center (AADC) tray.

Label Standards for Combined or Copalletized Periodicals Mailings

Effective March 6, 2003, DMM E230, M031.1.7, M031.4.11, M032.1.3, M045.8.2, and M230 are revised to clarify when it is permissible to use the designation “NEWS” rather than the designation “PER” on Line 2 (the content line) of labels that identify sacks, trays, and pallets containing copies of Periodicals publications prepared in combined mailings or in copalletized mailings.

Combined mailings and copalletized mailings often consist of copies that would be eligible for the designation “NEWS” on the container label and other copies that would be eligible only for the designation “PER” on the container label.

This revision allows mailers to prepare and consolidate more than one Periodicals publication or edition of a publication into a single production mailstream by providing the following standards for applying these two designations in such cases:

   1)If at least 51% of the total number of copies (not number of addressed pieces) in the combined mailing or in the copalletized mailing can qualify for “NEWS” treatment, then all containers or pallets in such a mailing are labeled “NEWS” on Line 2, unless the mailer chooses to use “PER.”

   2)If less than 51 percent of the total number of copies in the combined or in the copalletized mailing can qualify for “NEWS” treatment, then all containers or pallets in such a mailing are labeled “PER” on Line 2.

This revision also clarifies mailing standards for identifying the two different methods under which a Periodicals combined mailing may be prepared and notes the requirements for submitting postage statements under each method.

Precanceled Stamps — Mailer Precancelation Authorization

Effective March 6, 2003, DMM P023.3.1 and P023.3.2 are revised to clarify the approval process for mailer authorizations to preprint rate markings on precanceled stamps or to use a precancel postmark on adhesive stamps, stamped cards, and stamped envelopes. This additional information was derived from Handbook DM-701, Procedures for Mailer Applications.

With this DMM revision, Handbook DM-701 will be eliminated because the information included in that handbook - such as information on authorizations for permit imprints, precanceled postage, postage payment systems, plant-verified drop shipments, and Periodicals mailing privileges — has now been updated and transferred to other Postal Service handbooks and publications.

Five-Digit Scheme for Flats — Standard Mail Packaging

Effective March 6, 2003, DMM M820.5.1a is revised to clarify the packaging requirements for automation rate Standard Mail flat-size pieces sorted using the 5-digit scheme under DMM L007.

Postal Bulletin 22092 (12-26-02, pages 26-41) introduced the standards for 5-digit scheme preparation for automation rate Periodicals, Standard Mail, and Bound Printed Matter flat-size pieces. Only pieces meeting the criteria for the automated flat sorting machine (AFSM) 100 can qualify for this 5-digit scheme preparation option. As a consequence, the dimensions of such pieces must fall within the inclusive ranges specified in DMM C820.2.0:

• Length: From 6 to 15 inches.
• Height: From 5 to 12 inches.
• Thickness: From 0.009 to 3/4 inch.

The revision to DMM M820.5.1 published in Postal Bulletin 22092 correctly identified that 5-digit scheme packages required a minimum number of pieces that could range from 10 to 17 pieces, if a consistent minimum number of pieces is used throughout a mailing job.

Current online DMM M820.5.1a, however, inadvertently implies that 5-digit scheme flat-size pieces may exceed the maximum thickness of 3/4 inch by providing a 10-piece minimum packaging standard for pieces thicker than 3/4 inch. Although that particular standard can apply to 5-digit packages if the prepared pieces meet the criteria for the FSM 1000 (which allow pieces, in certain cases, to be as thick as 1.25 inches), that same standard is not permitted for pieces prepared in the optional 5-digit scheme packages (which must meet the criteria for the AFSM 100).