Texas EMS Officials Say Substance Found at Capitol not Dangerous

Aug. 06--2 p.m. update: Initial testing shows that the powdery substance in an envelope that was discovered in a Capitol office is not dangerous, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.

The envelope was addressed to a state legislator but the Texas Department of Public Safety has declined to release that person's name.

1:30 p.m. update: Authorities are investigating a powdery substance in an envelope that was discovered in the Capitol basement on Wednesday, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The east wing of the basement has been evacuated until the Austin Fire Department "can assess the situation," DPS spokesman Tom Vinger said. The rest of the Capitol has remained open.

The envelope was addressed to a state legislator, Vinger said, but the agency is not releasing that person's name.

Earlier: Authorities are investigating an unknown substance that was reportedly found at the Capitol on Wednesday, according to Austin-Travis County EMS.

Little information about about the incident was immediately available but EMS Capt. Darren Noak said "private" portions of the Capitol have been evacuated. He would not say exactly where the substance was found, or what areas of the Capitol are affected.

He also would not say what form the substance appears to be.

There were no reports of patients or exposures as of about noon, according to EMS.

"We have an investigation going on for an unknown substance and I would imagine that it's going to escalate and be involved for a while here," Noak said.

He said he expects the Texas Department of Public Safety will release more details about the investigation this afternoon.

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