What Are Environmental Site Assessments And How Are They Prepared?
In order for a company or an individual to develop property in the United States an environmental site assessment report must be prepared. This report identifies existing or potential environmental contamination liabilities that may be present on the property.
This analysis, which is also known as an ESA, typically takes a look at the physical improvements that may have been done to the property over the years as well as the underlying land. Some sites that are contaminated are known as "brownfield sites." If the situation is severe enough a brownfield site could be added to the National Priorities List.
If a site is added to the National Priorities List it will be subject to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund program.
There are two possible phases to an environmental site assessment. The first is a Phase I ESA. In this phase the air, soil, groundwater and/or building materials usually are not sampled. Instead, this phase is looked at as the first part of the environmental due diligence process.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has announced the standards for performing a Phase I site assessment. Some of the requirements for a Phase I ESA are based on ASTM E1527-05.
One of these requirements is that radius maps need to be submitted.
Some things that are common to all Phase I ESAs are:
• An on-site visit to attempt to determine the present conditions of the site. This includes any chemical spill residues, hazardous substances, underground or above ground storage tanks for substances such as petroleum products or acids, and the evaluation of any likely history that indicates that the site is likely to be environmentally hazardous.
• An evaluation of the risks that the neighboring properties might incur.
• Interviews of people who are knowledgeable about the history of the property. The interviews usually include the present as well as past owners of the property, the present tenants, neighbors, and the key manager of the site.
• Municipal, county, and public agency files are examined.
• Historic aerial photos of the area are examined
• Current USGS maps are examined to determine the topography and to see if there are any drainage patterns.
• The chain-of-title for Land Use Limitations (AULs) and Environmental Liens are examined.
If, upon analysis of the Phase I ESA it is determined that the side is contaminated, then a Phase II environmental site assessment will need to be conducted. The Phase II ESA involves chemical analysis for petroleum hydrocarbons and/or hazardous substances.
This analysis, which is also known as an ESA, typically takes a look at the physical improvements that may have been done to the property over the years as well as the underlying land. Some sites that are contaminated are known as "brownfield sites." If the situation is severe enough a brownfield site could be added to the National Priorities List.
If a site is added to the National Priorities List it will be subject to the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund program.
There are two possible phases to an environmental site assessment. The first is a Phase I ESA. In this phase the air, soil, groundwater and/or building materials usually are not sampled. Instead, this phase is looked at as the first part of the environmental due diligence process.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has announced the standards for performing a Phase I site assessment. Some of the requirements for a Phase I ESA are based on ASTM E1527-05.
One of these requirements is that radius maps need to be submitted.
Some things that are common to all Phase I ESAs are:
• An on-site visit to attempt to determine the present conditions of the site. This includes any chemical spill residues, hazardous substances, underground or above ground storage tanks for substances such as petroleum products or acids, and the evaluation of any likely history that indicates that the site is likely to be environmentally hazardous.
• An evaluation of the risks that the neighboring properties might incur.
• Interviews of people who are knowledgeable about the history of the property. The interviews usually include the present as well as past owners of the property, the present tenants, neighbors, and the key manager of the site.
• Municipal, county, and public agency files are examined.
• Historic aerial photos of the area are examined
• Current USGS maps are examined to determine the topography and to see if there are any drainage patterns.
• The chain-of-title for Land Use Limitations (AULs) and Environmental Liens are examined.
If, upon analysis of the Phase I ESA it is determined that the side is contaminated, then a Phase II environmental site assessment will need to be conducted. The Phase II ESA involves chemical analysis for petroleum hydrocarbons and/or hazardous substances.
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