The nearby Hamilton, N.J. postal plant that was contaminated and closed by anthrax spores nearly 18 months ago announced on April 10 that it is nearing the end of its cleaning process, but New Jersey Democratic Rep. Rush Holt — whose offices received contaminated mail — has criticized the F.B.I.'s lengthy investigation.
The postal office announced it will undergo fumigation this fall with chlorine gas, and installation of new equipment will probably finish in the spring of next year.
The Hamilton postal facility, located in a Trenton suburb, processed at least four anthrax-laced letters in September and October 2001, according to a Times of Trenton article. Five people died and 13 others fell ill.
In a letter to F.B.I. director Robert S. Mueller written in August of last year, Holt expressed "deep concern over the anthrax investigation that affects [his] central New Jersey district."
In the letter, Holt criticized the fact that the FBI had taken over a year to test all the mailboxes in his district for anthrax.
Holt met with the FBI two weeks ago to discuss the case, according to his Communications Director Jim Kapsis. Kapsis said said in an email that the representative now feels "pretty positive" about the situation.
The FBI has been looking for suspects, and Holt believes the "FBI has narrowed its search," according to the Times of Trenton article.
According to Kapsis, while Holt has begun to feel more optimistic about the FBI's investigation, he continues to believe that authorities have taken "an inexcusable amount of time to begin the cleanup process at the Hamilton facility."
In order to ensure that the cleanup process is not delayed any longer, Holt has asked for a schedule of the clean–up from Vito Cetta, Division Manager for Central New Jersey, U.S. Postal Service, Kapsis said.
The CDC and the Environmental Protection Agency officials found traces of anthrax in Holt's office a year and a half ago and quarantined it for further examination, according to Holt's website.
According to Kapsis, Holt had been "very critical" in the past about the FBI's progress. Time and again Holt had asked for updates on the FBI's investigation.
Chlorine dioxide, the only proven way to eliminate anthrax, is neither flammable nor explosive in the form used for fumigation. When fumigation is complete, the gas is converted into fresh water, saltwater and oxygen, which will be disposed of properly.
Still, many citizens are concerned with their safety when the Hamilton facility reopens, Kapsis said, and some people may have allergic reactions to the chlorine gas.
While postal workers have the most urgent reasons to worry, Postmaster for Carnegie Center Princeton Post Office, Mary Anne Soto, said she believes that "everyone came up to the plate" to start postal progress again in the area.
Bacterial anthrax is caused by Bacillus anthracis and can take three forms: inhaled, cutaneous, and gastrointestinal. Symptoms include nausea, difficulty breathing, and effects similar to those of the common cold. All forms are potentially fatal.
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