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    Levia
    Two Questions - Possible Error with Sanborn Map? & Did WWII...
    Topic posted July 13, 2010 by LeviaMember, last edited January 19, 2012
    636 Views, 9 Comments
    Title:
    Two Questions - Possible Error with Sanborn Map? & Did WWII Era Grocery Stores Sell Gas?
    Content:

    Hello,

    I troll this forum from time to time, but this is my first post.

    I am conducting a Phase I ESA on a dental clinic.  The client ordered an Environmental Risk Review (before contacting me to conduct an ESA) and the Sanborn Map provided indicates that the property was once a filling station with gasoline tanks in at least 1948.  The current property owner does not believe this to be the case.  Further research (DEQ, County Assessor's Office, local historians, and neighbors) has not revealed any evidence of a filling station. In addition, the EDR Radius Map does not indicate any findings for the subject property.

    I am wondering if the Sanborn Map is incorrect.  Has anyone else had an error with a Sanborn Map? 

    Also, according to local historians and neighbors the site was once the location of a grocery store during and after WWII.  Is it possible that the grocery store was selling gasoline and that is why it is showing up? 

    Thanks in advance,

    Levi

    Comment

    • jessedphillips
      posted July 13, 2010 by jessedphillipsElite Contributor

      I'd go with the Sanborn data.  Current owners are generally biased, not to mention ignorant of the entire history of a site.  (that's not a dig, it's just a fact)  DEQ, County Assessor, and EDR are subject to the limitations of records.  Complete records certainly don't show up in many areas until relatively recently.  People don't remember everything.  I have EDR Radius Maps that are wrong about sites all the time. They are subject to the same limitations in databases. 

      I have never had something like that be wrong on a Sanborn map.  Have you been able to cross reference with City Directories?  An area with sanborns from 1948 will likely have decent coverage with CDs provided the library hasn't thrown them out (which I also see frequently; and then I plead with them not to do that).  Grocery stores from that era frequently included a filling station. 

      To be conservative, if I were you, I'd call that a REC because the tanks could have been leaking in the ground since 1948. There doesn't appear to be any contradictory evidence that there was a station, just incomplete information.   You could recommend borings, or a ground penetrating radar survey if the site is open. 

    • ZekeF
      posted July 13, 2010 by ZekeFContributor

      What evidence does the current property owner present to back his case?  Many property owners do not want to admit that their property could be contaminated.  I would value the Sanborn map over the property owner's desire that his property wasn't a gas station. 

      Like jessedphillips, I've never encountered something wrong like that on a Sanborn map and have seen grocery stores selling gasoline in that time period.  I'm also not surprised that the DEQ and assessor's office do not have any record of a gas station since it was there in 1948.  Same thing with the database search.  That just means its not a known site because no one has discovered a release there, or looked for it.  

      In my opinion, you have a preponderence of evidence that the site was a filling station.  If it was my site, I'd need to see a lot of evidence to prove that the Sanborn map was wrong. 

      Also, I agree with jessedphillips about checking the city directories (if available) to see if they list a filling station or grocery store. 

      One of the most difficult tasks of a consulting is telling a client or property owner something that they don't want to hear and don't want to believe.  Stick with what you know and can prove.  You'll be sorry if you cave into the pressure and someone else finds USTs and contamination a few years later.

    • Levia
      posted July 13, 2010 by LeviaMember

      Thanks for the replies. 

      The filling station was listed as another addess, but on the same lot.  The City Directory lists the current address as residential and there is no listing for the address listed as the 1948 filling station. 

      Thank you for indicating that grocery stores from the WWII era frequently included filling stations; when I was told that it was the site of a former grocery store I immediatley wondered about it due to rationing and the small size of the town (especially at that time), but I couldn't find any information regarding the topic. 

      I will have to look at the possiblity of where I can recommend borings as most of the unoccupied site was recently excavated to 10 feet bgl for an addition.

      Thanks again.

    • Matt Fox
      posted July 13, 2010 by Matt FoxElite Contributor

      You didn't mention whether or not aerial photos had been researched.  Seems like that would be a cheap way to confirm one way or the other, if aerials date back that far.

      Also, building department records might date back that far, and often include rough sketches that show the locations of buildings in relation to roads.  Don't forget to research the old address.

      I would do more historical research before jumping right into borings.  On the other hand, odds are pretty good that the Sanborn is accurate.

    • jessedphillips
      posted July 14, 2010 by jessedphillipsElite Contributor

      I would say that in this case, there is a definite potential that the addresses could have changed (as they often do; see the ) leaving the possibility that the subject site was, in fact, the gas station.  City Directories sometimes have holes too.  I'm not sure exactly how it works, but with all the "not verified " and "no return" listings, it's not unlikely that this is the case in your situation.

      As to the borings, I think a 10 excavation could be considered phase ii work.  It's too bad someone with an environmental background wasn't there to monitor the excavation (which I may have recommended had I know that the development was planned).  Tanks are rarely deeper than that in my experience and if, during the removal of soils for the addition, odor and staining was absent, I think that would get you pretty far in saying that the remnants of the gas station, if they exist, are possibly long gone. 

      Was the excavation downgradient of where the tanks likely were (based on the Sanborns)? 

      • PhilipZ
        posted July 16, 2010 by PhilipZContributor

        I agree, addresses and street names often change through time (sometimes multiple times).  If you haven't already done so, look at the addresses listed on the sanborn and compare it to your city directory research.  I usually have the sanborn maps within easy reach while I am doing the city directory research. 

    • Mark Johnson
      posted July 16, 2010 by Mark JohnsonMember

      Based on the pre-RCRA/environmental programs date of tanks, it is likely that the local Fire Marshall/Fire Department were the only "regulators" aware of the tank installation.   It is also likely that by the 1980s, if the tanks were unused, the property owner at the time (even if aware of tanks) may not have bothered to fill out the RCRA tank registration forms.  I've seen at all types of facilities large and small that tanks out of service at the start up of the tank program, not being registered.  I concur with others that I've typically not seen inaccurate Sanborns (insurance folks take risk seriously!). 

      I don't know that aerials will be all that helpful, as I have seen examples of this sort of town you describe where a central "general store" provided food, fuel, etc.  and it more likely that the dispensers and tanks were tucked up or near the building.  It is less likely that you would see an obvious dispenser island with canopies and large paved apron the way you would see at today's gas station.  Try again on local building department and fire department for sketches.  Also, have you contacted health department?  If they had a septic system with drain field, the site sketch for that design may show tank field.

    • akoperczak
      posted July 28, 2010 by akoperczakMember

      A research of historical leases on the property may indicate the presence of a filling station.  Some leases for filling stations at small town grocery stores were originated as early as the 20's and 30's. 

      Another source could be a local library or historical society.  They like to collect historical pictures of  stores and other public buildings in the town throught the history of the town.  I had  a similar site where the  only hard evidence of a filing station onsite at the store was an actual picture showing the pump next to the front door under a small overhang. 

    • AreaManOnline
      posted July 28, 2010 by AreaManOnlineContributor

      I recently had the exact opposite problem for a court case. A gas station owner was certain there was another gas station across the street in the 1960s-70s. However, the sanborns, air photos, assessor records, neighbor interviews indicated no proof that a gas station. I have found owners are often wrong about past use and dates (or they are fibbing). I'd go with the Sanborn anyday.