FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 20, 2003
Contact: Burton St. John, 732-819-3662
or Diane Todd, 212-330-3167
www.usps.gov

POSTAL SERVICE TO BEGIN FUMIGATION OF TRENTON FACILITY OCTOBER 24

TRENTON - The Postal Service plans to begin fumigation of the Trenton 
Processing and Distribution Center on Friday, October 24.  

The facility, located in Hamilton Township, has been closed since October 
18, 2001 after it was it was contaminated by anthrax spores released by 
letters processed there for delivery in New York City and Washington, D.C.    

Since the facility's closure, the Postal Service successfully decontaminated 
Washington, DC's huge Curseen-Morris Processing and Distribution Center, 
which was similarly contaminated by two of the letters that moved through 
the Trenton facility. The same process used in Washington, which relies on 
chlorine dioxide gas to kill anthrax spores, will be used at the Trenton 
plant. 

"Our primary focus during this long and careful process has been 
the safety of our employees and the community," said Vito J. Cetta, the 
Postal Service's Central New Jersey District Manager. "Our efforts have 
involved the best scientific minds from the public and private sectors as 
well as the cooperation and assistance of our partner agencies," he added. 
"We appreciate their help and guidance, and we look forward to restoring the 
Trenton facility as a safe and vital part of the Hamilton Township community 
once again." 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today granted the 
Postal Service a crisis exemption under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, 
and Rodenticide Act, which authorizes the use of chlorine dioxide to 
fumigate the Trenton Processing and Distribution Center.   

Members of the community who have questions about the process can call our 
toll-free information line at 1-800-527-0741. The deaf and hearing impaired 
can access the information line through TTY 1-800-418-5301. For additional 
information, please visit our website, www.usps.com.  Click on "News and 
Events," then "Serving the Community," then "Security of the Mail" for the 
fact sheets and answers to the most frequently asked questions.

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