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ABOUTAPPLIED ENVIRONMENTAL conducts Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E-1527 13 standard. It is a report that is prepared for the purpose of identifying potential or existing environmental contamination liabilities. The E-1527 13 scope of work requires review of past and present site uses, a site reconnaissance, and research of federal, state and local environmental databases. The objective of a Phase I ESA is to identify any Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) in connection with the property, if any exist.
why?Besides being a typical requirement of lending institutions, an accurate assessment of the environmental condition of a property is critical in order to identifying and quantifying the potential environmental risks involved in a transaction. The Phase I ESA provides information for a solid business decision relating to a property acquisition. It also permits a user to satisfy one of the requirements to qualify for the innocent landowner defense to Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) liability.
A commercial or industrial property owner may also wish to conduct a Phase I ESA, prior to placing the property on the market for sale, prior to refinancing, making changes to the legal ownership, etc. In this manner, the owner can begin to resolve environmental issues at their own pace and not be surprised with adverse findings during a short due diligence period. |
