Nov 14, 2009 9:16 pm US/Eastern
Ellis Island Museum Evacuated After Powder Found
Official: Mystery Substance Immigration Museum Harmless
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
A white powder that was found at Ellis Island and caused a brief evacuation at the immigration landmark in New York Harbor has been deemed harmless.
Jersey City, N.J., fire official Armando Roman says a hazardous-materials team responded to a call about the powder at the island's immigration museum on Saturday afternoon. The museum was evacuated for about 90 minutes, but visitors didn't have to leave the island.
Spokespeople for the National Park Service haven't returned phone calls seeking comment.
The director of Jersey City's Fire and Emergency Services Department says it hasn't been determined what the powder is.
Letters containing white anthrax powder killed five people in the fall of 2001.
Just days ago some foreign missions to the United Nations received envelopes with white powder inside. Tests showed the powder was flour.
From 1892 to 1954, more than 12 million immigrants entered the U.S. through Ellis Island.
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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