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Chemical Scare Shuts Down Washington Subway Stop By Mike Nartker WASHINGTON — The Washington subway stop that serves the Pentagon in northern Virginia was briefly closed yesterday due to a chemical scare (see GSN, Aug. 5). The Pentagon Metrorail station was shut down at about 10 a.m. after a sensor detected the possible presence of chemical agents, said Lisa Farbstein, spokeswoman for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The shutdown prevented trains from passing through the station. Metro transit police, Pentagon security and local first responders responded to the incident, according to Farbstein, who said Metro was “pleased” with their response. After “extensive on-site trials,” she said, no harmful chemicals were found. She described the material that triggered the sensor as having test characteristics similar to some types of cleaning solvents. The station reopened around 12:20 p.m. There were no customers in the station at the time of the incident. Of the two Metro employees who were present, one complained of a runny nose and tight chest, Farbstein said. One person was transported to a nearby hospital and is now “fine,” she said. The chemical sensors were installed in the Washington subway system following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to Farbstein. She refused to say whether yesterday’s incident was the first time the sensor at the Pentagon stop, or at any subway station, had been activated. The fact that the incident occurred at a stop that serves the Pentagon did not cause additional concern, Farbstein said. “We treat every station with the same level of response,” she said.
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