Duluth federal building's indoor smoking area is legal

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) The basement of the federal building in Duluth contains one of the last public indoor smoking areas in Minnesota, but it won't be there for long.

Because the statewide smoking ban does not apply to buildings occupied by the federal government, the smoking area in the Gerald W. Heaney (HAY'-nee) Federal Building is legal.

Smoking rooms in federal buildings must be enclosed and have a ventilation system that will draw out the smoky air. The former coffee shop in the Heaney building meets the requirements.

The building's manager, however, has started moving smoking outside to go along with the state's Freedom to Breathe Act. The federal policy is to comply with local laws whenever possible, and the spirit of federal regulations is against smoking.

Information from: Duluth News Tribune, http://www.duluthsuperior.com (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 12-14-07 0230CST | save this article / add to your favorites list