Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
What is a Phase I Environmental Assessment (ESA)?
A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is a comprehensive evaluation of a commercial property’s environmental history and current conditions. It includes an inspection of the property’s air, soil, and groundwater to identify potential contamination risks. Key findings are referred to as Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs).
A Phase I ESA helps identify environmental issues such as hazardous waste, underground storage tanks, and potential site contamination due to past operations or waste disposal. Since anyone in the ownership or transaction chain may be held liable for cleanup, regardless of when contamination occurred, this assessment helps protect property owners and buyers from unforeseen liabilities.
Lenders, insurance companies, and investors often require a Phase I ESA to ensure due diligence before proceeding with property transactions. This assessment helps protect property value and provides the necessary documentation to avoid liabilities under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
Phase One ESA: What’s Included
Our Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is a detailed investigation that includes:
- Scope of Work: Overview of the assessment’s purpose and methodologies.
- Environmental Risk Assessment: Identification and evaluation of potential contamination risks on-site.
- Current Use of the Site: Review of the current property operations and land use.
- Visual Site Inspection: On-the-ground observation of the property and surrounding areas.
- Site Reconnaissance: Interior and exterior inspection, noting any environmental hazards.
- Interviews and User-Provided Information: Discussions with property owners, tenants, and relevant personnel.
- Historical Records Review: Inspection of historical documents, including property deeds, past uses, fire insurance maps, and regulatory databases.
- Conclusions and Recommendations: Summary of findings with recommendations for addressing identified issues.
Our environmental professionals have conducted ESAs on hundreds of properties for over two decades in New Jersey and New York. We perform Phase One ESAs in accordance with the current ASTM standards E1527-13.
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