Phase I Environmental Site Assessment

The purpose of a Phase I ESA is to identify, to the extent feasible, recognized environmental concerns in connection with the property. This assessment included a site reconnaissance as well as research and interviews with representatives of the public, property management, and regulatory agencies.

From Wikipedia:

A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is a report prepared for a real estate holding which identifies potential or existing environmental contamination liabilities. The analysis, often called a Phase I ESA, typically addresses both the underlying land as well as physical improvements to the property; however, techniques applied in a Phase I ESA never include actual collection of physical samples or chemical analyses of any kind. Scrutiny of the land includes examination of potential soil contamination, groundwater quality, surface water quality and sometimes issues related to hazardous substance uptake by biota. The examination of a site may include: definition of any chemical residues within structures; identification of possible asbestos containing building materials; inventory of hazardous substances stored or used on site; assessment of mold and mildew; and evaluation of other indoor air quality parameters^[1].

Actual sampling of soil, air, groundwater and/or building materials is typically not conducted during a Phase I ESA. The Phase I ESA is generally considered the first step in the process of environmental Due Diligence.

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We have partnered with Amazon.com to open an online store featuring products that are relevant to environmental engineers and others who may be working on Phase I or II Environmental Site Assessments or similar commercial real estate projects. We will be adding new items on a regular basis and are open to feedback. Please let us know what you think and and what kind of products you would like to see. Also, be assured that the checkout and payment will go through Amazon.com so it will be 100% secure.

Here are some examples of products we are offering:

• Environmental Site Assessment Phase I: Fundamentals, Guidelines, Regulations
• Commercial Landowner CERCLA Liability Protection
• ASTM Standards on Environmental Assessments
• ASTM Standards Related to Phase II Environmental Site Assessments
• ASTM Standards on Assessment and Remediation
• A Technical Guide for Performing and Writing Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
  By Thomas Socha
• Site Assessment and Remediation Handbook, Second Edition
  By Martin N. Sara
• Handbook of Environmental Contaminants: A Guide for Site Assessment
  By Chris Shineldecker
• Innovative Approaches to the On-Site Assessment and Remediation of Contaminated Sites (Nato Science Series: IV: Earth and Environmental Sciences)
  From Springer
• MiniRAE 2000 PID Kit - With Data Logging
  From RAE Systems
• CST/Berger 82-10080B 100ft Nylon-Clad Steel Zip-Line, 82-Series Open Reel Tape in FEET/8THS
  From CST/Berger
• Conbar Environmental 1-1/2″ X 3′ Non-Weighted Polyethylene Bailer
  From Conbar Environmental Products
• Many more books on All Appropriate Inquiry, ASTM 1527 standards, CERCLA, Recognized Environmental Conditions, Brownfield Sites, Superfund Sites, etc

As you can see, we already have many items that will prove useful to environmental professionals.  Please contact us with suggestions!

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Whether your business is focused on commercial real estate, Phase I environmental site assessments, environmental remediation,  environmental engineering, or other related industries, you should strongly consider joining the Green Business Alliance.  The Green Business Alliance helps business leaders improve their environmental stewardship and improve their company’s image and environmental impact.  In addition to improving business practices and reducing your negative impact on the environment, you will improve your company’s perception in the eyes of your clients and customers.  More information can be found at GreenBusinessAlliance.com.  Some reasons for joining the Green Business Alliance:

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(Dallas, Texas - May 8, 2008) An Arkansas nanotechnology company has been awarded $224,997 from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program to develop a green alternative to fluorescent lighting.

Nanomaterials and Nanofabrication Laboratories, LLC (NN-Labs) of Fayetteville is one of seven small businesses to receive a total of $1.6 million in funding to commercialize green technologies that promise to deliver BIG results.

“These companies are showing how innovative ideas can translate into both economic and environmental success,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene. “Together, EPA and small businesses are advancing research, creating jobs, and protecting the environment at the same time.”

NN-Labs was awarded a Phase II SBIR contract, which is given to small businesses that successfully complete Phase I contracts. The company received a Phase I award for $69,988 in 2007.
Approximately 25 million small businesses in the United States employ more than 50 percent of the American workforce and develop most of the country’s new technologies. SBIR was established to ensure that new technologies are developed to solve priority environmental problems, and is just one example of EPA’s commitment to achieving real world environmental results through the use of innovative technology.

Since its inception in 1982, EPA’s SBIR program has helped fund more than 600 small businesses through its two-phased approach. Phase I awards are used to investigate the scientific merit and technical feasibility of a proposed concept. If the results of this phase are successful, businesses can submit proposals for Phase II contracts, which can reach amounts up to $225,000.
EPA will be accepting submissions for the next year’s Phase I SBIR awards until May 21, 2008. To participate in SBIR, a small business must have fewer than 500 employees, and at least 51 percent of the business must be owned by U.S. citizens.

Additional information on the SBIR program is available at http://www.epa.gov/ncer/sbir.

More on the Phase II projects: http://es.epa.gov/ncer/sbir/08awards/index_state.html

About activities in EPA Region 6: http://www.epa.gov/region6.

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For more information, media may contact Dave Bary or Tressa Tillman at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov
Note: If a link above doesn’t work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.

View all Region 6 News Releases

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We have started a new page that will list definitions of environmental terms.  We will keep adding to it regularly so please keep check back.  Also, if you have any requests or have some more information you would like included, please contact me. 

The ‘Definitions Page’ is linked to from the upper right hand side bar or you can click here to access it.

The definitions page will contain or currently contains definitions related to all appropriate inquiry, astm 1527, brownsfield sites, due diligence, cercla, phase i, phase ii, phase ii, phase one, environmental site assessment, environmental remediation, epa standards, contamination, groundwater, UST, underground storage tanks, vapor, hydrocarbons, superfund, and more.

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I have published a new sitemap for our website. This should make it easier to get around and find relevant articles and pages. You can view the sitemap by clicking here or by clicking on the “Phase I ESA Sitemap” link in the right hand sidebar.

Our sitemap will show pages, articles, and news on various items relating to Phase I (one) Environmental Site Assessments (ESA’s), Brownsfield Sites, CERCLA Liability, All Appropriate Inquiry, AAI, Due Diligence, Environmental Remediation, DEQ News, EPA News, Commercial Real Estate Risk Assessment, ASTM 1527 Standards, and much more.

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Environmental Data Resources (EDR) is a company that provides a multitude of services related to environmental site assessments and research. They provide database searches which identify UST sites, groundwater contamination, contaminated soils, superfund sites brownsfield sites, etc. In fact, almost every Phase I Environmental Site Assessment in the industry is going to have some information that was provided by EDR. They also own the country’s largest collection of Sanborn maps (aka fire insurance maps).

In 2005, the rules for Phase I ESA’s and due diligence changed. ASTM responded by publishing a new set of standards, ASTM-1527. EDR has been instrumental in getting the word out about the new changes. Amazingly though, many companies and environmental technicians or engineers are not fully up to speed on the new changes and are not performing adequate due diligence (all appropriate inquiry). Below is a portion of a report release by EDR:

Source: Environmental Data Resources, Inc. Published Feb. 7, 2005 PROPOSED FEDERAL RULE IS DRIVING CHANGE IN ENVIRONMENTAL DUE DILIGENCE, ACCORDING TO EDR’S 2005 ENVIRONMENTAL INDUSTRY BENCHMARK REPORT Milford, Conn., February 3, 2005—Purchasers of commercial real estate who seek environmental liability protection under CERCLA will, for the first time, be required to follow federal guidelines for property screening or risk losing liability protection—perhaps as early as year-end 2005. EPA’s impending “All Appropriate Inquires” rule not only specifies how a Phase I environmental site assessment (ESA) must be conducted, but who is qualified to conduct one. With implications for every commercial real estate transaction, the proposed AAI rule has environmental professionals who conduct ESAs gearing up for change. According to Environmental Data Resources’ 2005 Environmental Site Assessment Industry Benchmark Report, three out of four environmental consultants predict that the AAI rule will require a greater level of effort compared to current Phase I ESA practices. One in seven consultants, according to the report, falls short of EPA’s definition of “environmental professional.” By shrinking the pool of qualified consultants and adding new research and documentation requirements, the AAI rule, if finalized in its draft form, will drive up prices for Phase I ESAs… Report Also Reveals: • One in seven consultants is unqualified to perform site assessments under proposed AAI rule • Requests for add-on assessment services are on the rise • Environmental consultants are embracing new technologies to meet growing demands • SOX casts environmental due diligence in new light, creating opportunity for environmental consultants

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Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment News:

From the JournalPress.com:

Anne Congdon 23.APR.08
Monday night, April 21 was the first community meeting with LandStudio, the professional planning and landscape architecture corporation that has been retained by the Town Council to examine possible uses for the soon to be vacated Public Works site located at 700 Colonial Avenue. A detailed site analysis, including a Phase I (One) Environmental Site Assessment, has been completed and the purpose of the workshop was to share that information and garner feedback from the community. The project goals of the future use site planning process are “gaining a solid understanding of the site and its inherent opportunities and constraints; Looking holistically at the town and its future needs in determining potential future uses of the site; and Opening up a dialogue and building consensus on the future use of the site with all the various stakeholders and interested citizens.”

Read the Entire Story.

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From CBC News:

A controversial affordable housing project in Fredericton has been scrapped after the costs for environmental studies became too high for the non-profit developer.

In November, Fredericton city council approved Fredericton Non-Profit Housing Corp.’s plan to convert a building on Dundonald Street into a six-unit apartment complex.

Residents along Dundonald Street had argued the building was only zoned for a two-unit complex and that the conversion would bring more traffic to the neighbourhood and destroy its family ambience.

Developer Eldon Toner told CBC News he decided to back out of creating the affordable housing when he learned he’d have to pay more than $30,000 for environmental studies on the site.

“We did a phase one and then a phase two and the phase two was to recommend a phase three environmental study on it and we decided at that time not to because of the cost and the money we had already invested,” Toner said.

The environmental report is required because the building used to be used as a commercial site.

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