​We Provide Environmental Site Assessments

An environmental site assessment is a report prepared for a real estate holding that identifies potential or existing environmental contamination liabilities.  The analysis, often called an ESA, typically addresses both the underlying land as well as physical improvements to the property. A proportion of contaminated sites are "brownfield sites."  In severe cases, brownfield sites may be added to the National Priorities List where they will be subject to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund program.

Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments

​The actual sampling of soil, air, groundwater and/or building materials is typically not conducted during a Phase 1 ESA. The Phase 1 ESA is generally considered the first step in the process of environmental due diligence.  Standards for performing a Phase 1 site assessment have been promulgated by the US EPA and are based in part on ASTM in Standard E1528.

We Provide the Due Diligence You're Looking For

Contact Us Today

There are a number of variations in the scope of a Phase 1 study. The tasks listed here are performed:

• Performance of an on-site visit to view present conditions (chemical spill residue, die-back of vegetation, etc.); hazardous substances or petroleum products usage (presence of above ground or underground storage tanks, storage of acids, etc.); and evaluate any likely environmentally hazardous site history.
• Evaluation of risks of neighboring properties upon the subject property
• Review of Federal, State, Local and Tribal Records out to distances specified by the ASTM 1528 and AAI Standards (ranging from 1/8 to 1 mile depending on the database)
• Interview of persons knowledgeable regarding the property history (past owners, present owner, key site manager, present tenants, neighbors).
• Examine municipal or county planning files to check prior land usage and permits granted
• Conduct file searches with public agencies (State water board, fire department, county health department, etc.) having oversight relative to water quality and soil contamination issues.
• Examine historic aerial photography of the vicinity.
• Examine current and historical USGS maps to scrutinize drainage patterns and topography.  
• Examine chain-of-title for Environmental Liens and/or Activity and Land Use Limitations (AULs).

Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessments

If a site is considered contaminated, a Phase 2 environmental site assessment may be conducted, ASTM test E1903, a more detailed investigation involving chemical analysis for hazardous substances and/or petroleum hydrocarbons.

​Scrutiny of the land includes examination of potential soil contamination, groundwater quality, surface water quality and sometimes issues related to hazardous substance uptake. The examination of a site may include: definition of any chemical residues within structures; inventory of hazardous substances stored or used on site; assessment of aboveground and underground storage tanks and much more. ​

Our staff has been performing Environmental Site Assessments since 2001 and we have been in the environmental consulting industry for more than 30 years.  If you are in need of an assessment, contact us for an estimate.