Richmond-area post offices taken off closure list

The U.S. Postal Service has narrowed the number of offices facing possible closure to 413, and six Richmond-area branches that had been on the list now appear safe.

The service is struggling with a sharp decline in mail volume caused by the recession and people's use of e-mail and the Internet for communication and bill-paying. Postal officials say the agency could have a deficit as large as $7 billion this year.

Being on the list doesn't guarantee closing, but the list of offices selected for a closer look had neared 700 at one point.

That list in early August included 19 in Virginia. Six of those branches were in either Richmond or Henrico County.

But yesterday's revised list shows only four branches in Virginia -- two in Roanoke and one each in Hampton and Norfolk.

The Richmond-area branches and the others on last month's list of nearly 700 were sent to the independent Postal Regulatory Commission for review.

The commission said yesterday that the pared-down list "should not be regarded as final." An updated list will be posted in early October, the commission said.

The Postal Service has about 37,000 retail outlets across the country, and Postmaster General John Potter has said he wants to keep as many open as possible.

Contact Joe Macenka at (804) 649-6804 or .

The Associated Press contributed to this report.