Anthrax removal at Senate office building continues

WASHINGTON -- The latest effort to remove residual anthrax spores from the heating and ventilation system of a Senate office building entered its second day Saturday.

Capitol Police Lt. Dan Nichols said the fumigation of the Hart Senate Office Building should be completed late Saturday evening.

The building has been closed since Oct. 17, two days after an anthrax-laced letter was opened in the office of Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle.

On Friday, technicians began pumping steam into the ventilation system to raise humidity. At first, as in a past attempt, the humidity remained below optimum levels.

Anthrax-killing chlorine dioxide was added at 5:30 p.m., Environmental Protection Agency spokeswoman Jennifer Browne said.

"They've got the humidity where they need it," she said. "Everything is going as expected."

To test the effectiveness of the gas, technicians have placed strips in the building that contain a bacteria more resistant to the chlorine dioxide than this strain of anthrax, Browne said. If the gas kills those bacteria, it is a good indicator that the anthrax is dead as well.

Nichols said the fumigation work was not being rushed.