Environmental Site Assessments

environmental site assessments

Whether you're looking to transfer ownership, refinance, or change the land use of a commercial property, an environmental site assessment is critical for avoiding environmental contamination liabilities. Our team of licensed, professional engineers specializes in conducting Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments. For each client site, we assess current environmental and historical conditions, and estimate the potential for future release of contaminants. We also assess neighboring properties (1/8 to one mile) to gauge their potential impact on a site.

Hazardous Substances + Petroluem

Phase 1 ESA's target 800 hazardous substances as defined by The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) in reference to:

—Clean Water Act (CWA) section 311 “CWA Hazardous Substances”
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—CWA section 307(a) “CWA Toxic Pollutants”
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—Clean Air Act (CAA) section 112 “CAA Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs)”
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—Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) section 3001 “RCRA Hazardous Wastes”
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—Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) section 7 (currently no substances are designated under this authority)

Other Hazards

While not part of American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) requirements, Phase 1 ESA's often contain information and recommendations pertaining to "non-scope" hazards. Non-scope hazards do not constitute recognized environmental conditions. They include asbestos-containing building materials, lead-based paint, mold, and radon.

Assessment Process

Visual Inspection. Our team documents the current condition of the site, and adjacent property, with special attention to the presence, or likely presence, of hazardous materials or petroleum products. Inspections include the entirety of the grounds as well as the insides of every structure. We pay special attention to storage tanks, equipment, stockpiles of raw or refined materials, vegetation (or lack thereof), wells, and bodies of water.
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Research. We conduct research on the history of the site and neighboring sites. Research is gathered from sources including, but not limited to, aerial photos, building permits, title information, planning records, fire insurance maps, topographical maps, construction documents and local, state and federal regulatory agencies.
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Interviews. Our team will conduct interviews of current and previous tenants and property owners, as well as and local and state regulatory personnel (if available).

Reporting

We provide a through written report of environmental findings with clear recommendations for additional action. Reports meet the standards of ASTM E1527-21. They are customized per client and/or lender requirements with special attention to Florida's geology and topography. Reports include addendums of supporting documents including current and past site photography, USGS maps, public agency reports (e.g., water, fire), building permits, etc.