BECKLEY, W.Va. – U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) Friday announced that the hours of operation will not be changing at the Bluefield Federal Street Post Office, and that the hours at the East Beckley Post Office will soon return to normal.

“I appreciate the Postal Service fixing this problem but it should have never happened, and there is no guarantee the Postal Service will not try again to shorten hours. I think that such moves are incredibly misguided. Reduced window hours can have a terrible effect on our local economy, hurting our small businesses and inconveniencing our residents. We must stay vigilant in protecting our postal operations and facilities,” said Rahall.

Rahall was informed by constituents about a move by the U.S. Postal Service to reduce the window hours at the Bluefield Federal Street and East Beckley Post Offices. After contacting Postal officials, he was informed that the Postal Service’s full analysis and approval process had not been followed and some important steps were missed when analyzing adjustments to window hours.

The hours of the East Beckley Post Office were changed, effective January 13th, from 8:30am-4:30 pm to 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday through Friday. The hours of the Bluefield Federal Street Post Office were proposed to be changed, effective February 8, from 9 a.m. -2 p.m. to 9 a.m.-11 a.m., Monday through Friday.

Rahall has been informed that the new shortened hours for the Bluefield Federal Street Post Office will not take effect, and that the hours for the East Beckley Post Office will return to the previous schedule on February 17.