Chemical fumes force closure of Carlsbad Caverns

Carlsbad Caverns National Park remained closed Tuesday after heavy chemical fumes caused several employees to become sick.

The park closed Monday afternoon and offered refunds to visitors.

Park Superintendent John Benjamin tells the Carlsbad Current-Argus (http://bit.ly/QhcKQM ) that a contractor apparently had used a solvent to clean newly installed rails in the elevator shaft that produced heavy fumes. The elevator takes visitors 750 feet below ground to view cave formations.

He says employees had reported having bad headaches and other illnesses earlier this week.

Benjamin says it’s unclear when the park will reopen.

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Information from: Carlsbad Current-Argus, http://www.currentargus.com/