HELP! I’ve been told I need to get a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment!
What is a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)?
Simply put, a Phase I ESA is a study of a property to identify potential or existing environmental liabilities. Although the ESA typically addresses both the underlying land as well as physical improvements to the property, the scope of work does not include actual collection of soil or groundwater samples or chemical analysis of any kind.
What’s Included in a Phase I ESA?
- Site Walk: The outdoor and indoor areas of the property are inspected for evidence of spills of hazardous substances or petroleum products, such as soil staining and petroleum odors, leaking containers, pipes or other evidence of underground storage tanks. The surrounding properties are also visually inspected from the property boundary or intervening streets.
- Regulatory Research: Federal, state, local and tribal environmental records are reviewed out to distances ranging from 1/8 to 1 mile, depending on the database.
- Historical Research: Interviews of past and present owners, occupants, and neighbors are conducted. In addition, a historical review is conducted via air photos, reverse phone books, fire insurance maps, and topographic maps.
- Records Review: Local building plans and permits, health department and fire department records, and tax and title information, including environmental liens are reviewed.
- Report: The findings of the research, including any recommendations for further investigation, are summarized in a report along with site photographs and other relevant documentation, in accordance with a standard set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Practice E 1527-05, Phase I Environmental Site Assessment.
What is a Transaction Screen Assessment?
A Transaction Screen Assessment is a more limited environmental assessment performed for sites that are perceived to exhibit a lower environmental risk, such as single-family and multifamily residential parcels and undeveloped sites.
What’s Included in a TSA?
- Site Walk: The outdoor and indoor areas of the property are inspected for evidence of spills of hazardous substances or petroleum products, such as soil staining and petroleum odors, leaking containers, pipes or other evidence of underground storage tanks.
- Regulatory Research: Federal, state, local and tribal environmental records are reviewed out to distances ranging from 1/8 to 1 mile, depending on the database.
- Limited Historical Research: Fire insurance maps and historical city directories are reviewed.
- Questionnaire: A TSA Questionnaire is administered to the site owner and occupant by the Environmental Professional.
- Report: The findings of the research, including any recommendations for further investigation, are summarized in a report along with site photographs and other relevant documentation, in accordance with a standard set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Practice E 1528-06, Limited Environmental Due Diligence: Transaction Screen Process.
The experience of the Environmental Professional is the most important factor in insuring that your Phase I ESA is conducted in accordance with the performance standards of ASTM E 1527-05.
Our staff at Assessment Associates, Inc. has a combined experience of over twenty years and 900 Phase I ESAs.
At AAI, we specialize in Phase I ESAs.
Unlike many large engineering and environmental firms that conduct all phases of environmental due diligence, we focus on Phase I ESAs. The advantages to our service model include:
- We make our recommendations based on our findings, not based on the need to keep soil sampling technicians busy.
- We can offer quick-turnaround reports at an affordable price.
- We provide our reports in a combination of digital pdf and hardcopy formats, saving paper and energy.
Assessment Associates, Inc.
(503) 233-8565
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