The College Post Office resumed normal operation as of this morning. The Development Office Mail Room and offices in the Edwards Building will reopen at 1 p.m. today. The facilities had been closed pending test results.

According to the test report from the Kentucky State Police, the substance appears to be ashes, probably produced when the envelope was damaged and burned in a mail-handling machine.

The letter had been treated as suspicious mail after being opened because of the powdery substance found in it. The envelope was not suspicious in origin and the letter's contents were not threatening in nature.

The precautionary measures in place at the time of the incident and the College's subsequent response were taken to avoid any possible risk to the health and safety of members of the Berea College community and to the public until the substance was determined to be harmless.