BY HEIDI SANDERS
hsanders@kentreporter.com

Green River College’s administration building on its main campus in Auburn was under quarantine for several hours on Monday after an employee opened an envelope that contained white powder.

Firefighters from the Valley Regional Fire Authority and a hazardous materials team from the Kent Fire Regional Fire Authority responded to the college at about 11:30 a.m. and determined the substance was talcum powder.

No injuries or illnesses were reported.

Allison Friedly, the college’s director of college relations, said an employee in the business office opened the envelope, which had been mailed to the college. It contained a suspicious letter along with the white powder. Friedly said she didn’t know exactly what the letter said because she had not seen it and it had been turned over to a U.S. Postal Service inspector.

After the employee discovered the powder, Green River campus security was notified and the college put its emergency procedures in place.

About 25 employees work in the administration building, where the business office is located, Friedly said.

“We were using every precaution to make sure everyone was safe in the building,” Friedly said, adding that there was never an actual threat on campus.

Monday was the first day of winter quarter at the college, but Friedly said classes and students were not affected by the incident.

The Renton Fire Department and Auburn Police Department also responded to the incident.