Congressman Chris Smith, whose district includes the Hamilton Post Office that has been closed since October 2001 because of anthrax contamination, made the following statement today regarding the Postal Service’s plans for decontaminating and reopening the building.

    “I am encouraged that the USPS continues to make the safety of its employees, the environmental workers, and local residents  the chief priority in the anthrax decontamination process.

    “Today’s meeting is the first of hopefully many to keep residents, postal consumers, and postal employees fully informed about the sophisticated, unique, complex, and somewhat dangerous fumigation process.  The anthrax attacks have been a burden on postal customers and workers and timely information about the cleaning process will go a long way to help our residents with the many questions and concerns they have.

    “The Hamilton Post Office serves a growing, thriving region that includes our capital city.  The residents and businesses deserve the return of their full-service quality postal operation.

    “In addition to making sure Hamilton is thoroughly cleaned in a manner that is safe to township residents, emergency responders, and postal employees, I will continue working to ensure that the same jobs and functions carried out at the facility prior to its closure will be there when we reopen it for business.”