Gas station that sparked MTBE debate closes

WINDHAM – The gas station that sparked a statewide controversy over the gasoline additive MTBE has quietly shut its doors.

Christy’s Market on Route 302 in Windham was the source of the additive methyl tertiary-butyl ether that contaminated underground drinking-water supplies for 3,000 people in 1998.

When the pollution was discovered, it ignited a movement to reduce and ultimately ban MTBE as a gasoline additive in the state. The concentration of MTBE in Maine gasoline supplies had been increased dramatically in 1995 as a way to reduce pollution and allow Maine to meet federal pollution standards.

After the controversy, Christy’s stayed open for the next four years as a convenience store, but never again sold gas. A company spokesman said it was no longer profitable enough to remain open.

Brad Hahn, a geologist with the state Department of Environmental Protection, said the problem was not with the company, which voluntarily shut down its pumps after MTBE was first detected.

“More than anything, it was a bad location. You don’t put gas stations near public water supplies,” he said. “There’s no person who at one time in their life didn’t fill up a gas tank without spilling a little.”

The ordeal began in March 1998, when MTBE was found in wells near the gas station at levels 100 times greater than the state limits for drinking water.

The discovery exposed the dangers of MTBE, a possible carcinogen that leaches quickly into groundwater. It also set off the statewide debate over the use of MTBE, and later whether the station should be able to sell gasoline again.

When Christy’s asked for guidelines to resume its gasoline sales, the state said the store would need to install spill-recovery devices, develop a plan for what to do in case of spills, train employees and monitor all fuel deliveries.

Ronald Glantz, a co-owner of the property leased by Christy’s, said he has not been notified by Christy’s that it plans to give up the lease and the company continues to send him monthly lease checks.

He already has received phone calls from people interested in using the property for lawyer or doctor offices, a car dealership and other uses. Nobody has asked to open a gas station there.