BEAUMONT — An unknown white, powdery substance was discovered during a routine mail screening of inmate mail at the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) Beaumont on Tuesday according to a news release.
The mail room was secured and the substance was contained according to the release. The U.S. Postal Inspector, local HAZMAT and fire department arrived and conducted tests on the substance according to FCC Beaumont. The initial tests showed the powder did not contain a biological type substance according to the release.
Three mail room staff members are being medically evaluated, no other staff or inmates were exposed according to the release.
From a FCC Beaumont news release:
Beaumont, TX: On Tuesday, December 18, 2018, during the routine screening of inmate mail,
staff at the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) Beaumont discovered an unknown, white,
powdery substance. The mail room was promptly secured and the substance was contained. The
U.S. Postal Inspector, local HAZMAT and fire department were immediately notified and upon
arrival, conducted tests on the substance. Initial tests determined the powder did not contain a
biological type substance.
Three staff members in the institution’s mail room are being medically evaluated. No other staff
or inmates were exposed.
FCC Beaumont includes United States Penitentiary (USP) Beaumont, Federal Correctional
Institution (FCI) Beaumont Medium, and FCI Beaumont Low. USP Beaumont is a high security
facility that currently houses 1,229 inmates. FCI Beaumont Medium is a medium security
facility that currently houses 1,469. FCI Beaumont Low is a low security facility that currently
houses 1,938. FCI Beaumont Low has an adjacent minimum security satellite camp that
currently houses 562 inmates in Beaumont, Texas.
Additional information about the Federal Bureau of Prisons can be found at www.bop.gov.
