Glacier evacuates headquarters building

Glacier National Park closed its headquarters building last week due to the possible threat of asbestos contamination in the building. Contractors are installing a new heating and ventilation system in the building. Some of the original building materials the contractors had to work through to install the new system may contain asbestos.

“We discovered we hadn’t tested for (asbestos),” Park spokesman Bill Hayden said last week.

Rather than keep people in the building while tests are being done, Glacier officials decided to close the structure.

Tests are being done on some of the old building materials. Those tests haven’t come back yet. Hayden said it could be up to two weeks. Glacier will keep the building closed until it’s safe to re-occupy the structure.

Employees left the building last Thursday and they’re being housed in temporary offices in Glacier’s headquarters area. The headquarters closure has little impact on visitors. Park staffers will man the Apgar visitor center seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with the exception of the Thanksgiving Day holiday, when it will be closed.