Asbestos forces U.S. Capitol to Shut Down - ReadNews
A portion of the United States Capitol, the House side, shut down early this morning after an accidental spill occurred during an ongoing asbestos removal project. A few hours later, however, the House side it re-opened its doors.
According to news reports, an industrial accident that happened at around 2:30 a.m. Thursday morning prompted officials to shut down entry to the House side of the Capitol on the 4th floor. Shortly after, the Architect of the Capitol�s office (ACO) released a statement, informing the public of the incident.
�During ongoing asbestos abatement work there was a potential release affecting the House side of the Capitol. Samples have been collected to determine whether there was potential exposure,� read the statement.
After maintenance and a cleaning crew mopped up the area affected by the asbestos spill, most people were allowed back in the building; aides, lawmakers, and other professionals returned for their workday and a scheduled debate was resumed. Visitor tours were not affected as they are conducted in an area that wasn�t affected by the accident. However, several samples were collected to determine if there is a risk for widespread exposure.
Along with the House side, other parts of the Capitol have been undergoing an asbestos abatement project. Although the House side opened back up at around 9:00 a.m. EST, a third-floor room and the East Grand Staircase are still closed for inspection.
�All other areas of the House side of the Capitol will return to normal operations, including tours,� the ACO stated.
An ABC news reporter who was at the Capitol used Twitter as means to reach out to employees and others.
�Red caution tape blocks access to the US House from Statuary Hall. Potential release of asbestos cited,� radio correspodent Steve Portnoy tweeted.
So far, there is no word as to the test results, but officials say it may take a while to determine if the problem is widespread. For now, however, most activities, although delayed, have resumed as normal at the Capitol.
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