FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	
 Contact: Media Relations
October 23, 2003	202-268-2155
	www.usps.com

STATEMENT OF AZEEZALY S. JAFFER
VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS & COMMUNICATIONS

SUSPICIOUS ENVELOPE IN GREENVILLE, SC

WASHINGTON - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has 
notified the Postal Service that results of environmental testing 
conducted Wednesday night at the Greenville, SC Airport Mail Facility are 
negative for the presence of ricin.  The CDC also told the Postal Service 
that there are no indications of employee exposure or adverse health 
effects as a result of the incident. The sampling was conducted by the 
CDC using 75 wet swab surface samples and five vacuum samples. 

Early last Wednesday morning, a suspicious envelope was discovered by an 
employee processing mail at the Greenville Facility.  The supervisor on 
duty took immediate action to isolate the item from the mailstream.  
Local U.S. Postal Service Inspection Service officials, local hazardous 
materials officials and the FBI were notified. 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.  Operations at the Greenville Air Mail 
Facility, which were closed as a precautionary measure, are now in the 
process of returning to normal.  The facility will reopen at 4 p.m. 
Friday.  There was no disruption of mail service during this time.

The Postal Service greatly appreciates the help and cooperation of CDC 
and South Carolina Department of Health Officials.

- 30 -