Postal News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 10, 2002
Contact: (202) 268-2155
FUMIGATION OF JOSEPH CURSEEN, JR., AND THOMAS MORRIS, JR., PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION CENTER ON BRENTWOOD ROAD
STATEMENT OF AZEEZALY JAFFER
VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND COMMUNICATIONS
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
DECEMBER 10, 2002
The U.S. Postal Service received a Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) crisis exemption from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Monday night which permits us to proceed with the fumigation of the Joseph Curseen, Jr. and Thomas Morris, Jr. Processing and Distribution Center on Brentwood Road, Northeast, in Washington, DC.
This has been a long and careful process that involved the best scientific minds from the public and private sectors as well as the cooperation and assistance of our partner agencies. We appreciate their help and guidance, and the Postal Service looks forward to rehabilitating the Joseph Curseen, Jr. and Thomas Morris, Jr. facility and making it a vital part of the Brentwood community once again
The crisis exemption authorizes the Postal Service to use chlorine dioxide (ClO2) to kill anthrax spores in the facility. Fumigation is scheduled to begin on December 14, 2002.
The facility has been closed since October 21, 2001 after it was determined that anthrax spores were released into the air from two letters processed there that were intended for Senators Daschle and Leahy. Since the facility's closure, the Postal Service has constructed an effective decontamination system based on the best available science and engineering from experts in both the public and private sectors.
This process is based on what was used to rehabilitate the Hart Senate Office Building where the Daschle letter was opened. Over the past year or so, the Postal Service has been adapting the decontamination process used in the Daschle suite at Hart to accommodate the scale of the Joseph Curseen, Jr. and Thomas Morris, Jr., Processing and Distribution Center, which is roughly 170 times larger than the Daschle suite.
The Postal Service will host a community meeting on Wednesday evening, December 11, 2002, at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium of Gallaudet University's Kellogg Conference Center to brief the community and answer questions before proceeding with the fumigation.
Additionally, the Postal Service has established a toll-free information line for community questions 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 under News and Events, then Security of the Mail for the latest fact sheet and answers to the most frequently asked questions.
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MEDIA ADVISORY
POSTAL SERVICE PARTNERS WITH FEDERAL AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICIALS FOR WARD 5 COMMUNITY MEETING
Where: Gallaudet University
800 Kellogg Conference Center
Florida Ave NE
Washington, DC
When: Wednesday,, December 11, 2002
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. – doors open at 6 p.m.
Who: Thomas Day
Vice President, Engineering
United States Postal Service
Councilmember Vincent Bernard Orange, Sr.
Council of the District of Columbia, Ward 5
Theodore J. Gordon
Senior Deputy Director for Environmental Health, Science and Regulations
District of Columbia Department of Health
Peter LaPorte
Director, District of Columbia Emergency Management Agency
Marcos A. Aquino
On-Scene Coordinator, Removal Response Team
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Elaine M. Papp
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
What: This meeting will provide an opportunity for the Brentwood residential and business community to get an update on the plans for decontaminating the Joseph Curseen, Jr. & Thomas Morris, Jr. Processing & Distribution Center. There will be a short presentation given by the United States Postal Service, followed by a question and answer period.
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