FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 Contact: Media Relations	202-268-2155
October 22, 2003
	www.usps.com

STATEMENT BY AZEEZALY JAFFER
VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS
SUSPICIOUS ENVELOPE IN GREENVILE, SC
OCTOBER 22, 2003

WASHINGTON -- Early last Wednesday morning, a suspicious envelope 
was discovered by an employee processing mail at the Greenville, SC 
Airport Mail Facility.  The supervisor on duty took immediate action 
to isolate the item from the mailstream.  Local hazardous materials 
officials and the FBI were notified and the envelope was removed 
from the building that afternoon.  

The Department of Homeland Security does not believe this incident 
is an act of terrorism.  Both the FBI and the Postal Inspection 
Service are aggressively investigating.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention  tested the 
envelope's contents and found that it contained a poison called 
ricin (RICE-in).  Additional tests are underway.

The Postal Service is being assured by the federal health officials 
at the CDC that there are no indications of employee exposure or 
health effects as a result of this incident. 

Out of an abundance of caution, however, the Postal Service has 
closed the facility, sent employees home and has taken steps to 
conduct environmental testing. Before leaving, the postal employees 
were briefed by supervisors and CDC and South Carolina state health 
officials were available to answer employees' health questions. 

- 30 -