Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments
Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) are typically performed to identify potential or existing environmental contamination liabilities related to a tract of land, business, loan, lease, or other type of property transaction. A Phase 1 Environmental report is typically requested lenders and is highly recommended prior to property or land acquisitions. This assessment would help identify potential contamination in the land or water surrounding the site or help identify potential liabilities related to the property. The assessment typically addresses both the underlying land as well as physical improvements to the property. We can perform Phase 1 desktop assessments or a full Phase 1 Assessments which includes an on-site visit to verify the background information. The desktop assessment would include review of historic aerial maps, environmental database searches and current property owner questionnaires. The full Phase 1 would include an on-site visit and is usually recommended to help verify the findings of the desktop review.
A BSC desktop review would include the following:
1. Review of an environmental database
2. Review of readily available historical records for the subject property
3. A file search with local environmental oversight agencies
4. Submittal of environmental questionnaire to owner or occupant, if they are available.
5. Issuance of a Letter Report with conclusions and recommendations.
If the need for a full Phase 1 Environmental report is determined during the Desktop Review, then the desktop review information can be used for the full Phase 1 report. To get a quote for an Environmental Desktop Review, please submit a quote request.
“In defining a standard of good commercial and customary practice for conducting an environmental site assessment of a parcel of property, the goal of the processes established by this practice is to identify recognized environmental conditions. The term recognized environmental conditions per the ASTM Standard E-1527-05 means the presence or likely presence of any hazardous substances or petroleum products on a property under conditions that indicate an existing release, a past release, or a material threat of a release of any hazardous substances or petroleum products into structures on the property or into the ground, ground water, or surface water of the property. The term includes hazardous substances or petroleum products even under conditions in compliance with laws. The term is not intended to include de minimis conditions that generally do not present a threat to human health or the environment and that generally would not be the subject of an enforcement action if brought to the attention of appropriate governmental agencies. Conditions determined to be de minimis are not recognized environmental conditions.”
