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[GWL]: FW: URGENT - Changes in mail handling/shipping

Here is a letter from another list that is VERY applicable to the GWL.
-Lon
----------
From: James Bruce <jimbruce@lamar.colostate.edu>
To: "Grape Breeders (E-mail)" <GrapeBreeders@topica.com>
Subject: [GrapeBreeders] FW: URGENT - Changes in mail handling/shipping
Date: Wed, Nov 7, 2001, 7:44 AM


As some of you may know, I work at the National Seed Storage Laboratory and
we just received this message about sending seed in the mail.  I thought I
should pass it on to the group as we've been discussing this subject in
recent e-mails:

-----Original Message-----
From: Wiesner, Loren 
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2001 8:03 AM
To: Preservation
Cc: Skogerboe, Dianne
Subject: FW: URGENT - Changes in mail handling/shipping


FYI

-----Original Message-----
From: Maryann Loftus [p*@ars-grin.gov] 
Sent: Tuesday, November 06, 2001 11:34 AM
To: curators@ars-grin.gov; Sherri Tennies; Lee Ann Chalkley; Jesse
Schartner; nc7lm@ars-grin.gov; Julie Fleming; Dave Stout;
mjohnson@ag.arizona.edu
Subject: URGENT - Changes in mail handling/shipping

Hello All,

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY we are requesting that ALL seed shipments be sent
by FedEx, UPS, or DHL, NOT via the US Postal System.  This applies
to all shipments sent within the continental US as well as overseas.

Because of the anthrax contamination of postal facilities/equipment many
Government agencies are now contracting to have ALL mail opened by non-
goverment personnel at off-site locations.  After this screening and
determination that the materials are safe, the mail will be
delivered to the agency mail facilities for distribution.  The USPS is now
holding mail for irradiation in several areas on the East Coast, and
more irradiation equipment will be utilized in other parts of the US as
soon as the equipment can be purchased and installed.

The Beltsville Area will begin having its incoming mail screened off-site
within the next few days.  We have no idea of what kind of delays we will
be experiencing in on-site deliveries.  The contractors will be instructed
not to open any packages from outside the US bearing green/gold quarantine
mailing labels for the Plant Germplasm Quarantine Center, but we are not
sure about the handling procedures of any other type of mail.

We have checked with the commercial carriers and have been assured that
because they have a good tracking history of each of their shipments and
deliveries they do not plan to subject their packages to any form of
irradiation/fumigation; therefore, FedEx, UPS, and DHL would be safe for
sending seeds and plant materials.

This will definitely increase your sites' shipping expenses and processing
times.  The Plant Exchange Office will be setting up Blanket Purchase
Agreements with FedEx and UPS so that the charges for shipments from
the Plant Germplasm Quarantine Center will not be handled through the
Government credit card system.  This may be an option for many of your
sites to persue through your Purchasing Departments.

Until we know more of how this new off-site screening will actually work
(or not) and have more information on the irradiation program of the
Postal System we believe this is the safest and most reliable way to move
germplasm.

We will be providing you with updates on these procedures and any new
information which will impact on NPGS' ability to provide germplasm to its
requestors.

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