ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENTS

Phase I ESAs  

Phase I ESAs are a non-intrusive and economical method of establishing the actual, potential, or perceived liabilities associated with a real property.  Phase I ESAs are typically required and performed during commercial or industrial real property transactions.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the standards for conducting Phase I ESAs to meet the “All Appropriate Inquiries Rule” (AAI rule).  It is critical to perform Phase I ESAs in accordance with the AAI rule as part of your due diligence required to qualify landowners for liability protection under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).  The goal of the AAI rule is to ensure that the regulatory shield or exemption is afforded only to those parties who can show that they had no reason to know of a release or threatened release of hazardous substances prior to acquiring the real property.  The AAI rule mandates that the Phase I ESA inquiry be performed by an Environmental Professional.  To be considered and Environmental Professional, the EPA mandates individuals possess certain education, training, an experience to ensure they can exercise professional judgment concerning historical and existing site conditions. EnviroProbe’s team is comprised of personnel that meet and exceed the EPA’s definition for an Environmental Professional.

Phase II ESAs

Phase II ESAs are intrusive and occur after a Phase I ESA which identified recognized environmental conditions (RECs) with the real property.  Phase II ESAs typically involve sampling of various media (i.e., soil, groundwater, surface water, wastes) that were the subject of the RECs identified during the Phase I ESA.  There are various techniques, tools, and equipment used to collect environmental samples.  EnviroProbe is one of very few firms that possess both the equipment (i.e., Geoprobe® Direct-Push Technology and drill rigs) and personnel (Certified Drillers, Environmental Professionals, Licensed Remediation Specialists) to carry out the Phase II ESA.  EnviroProbe’s Environmental Professionals use the information and data (field and laboratory) from the Phase I and II ESAs to establish the actual and potential environmental liabilities associated with a property.

Phase III ESAs – Remediation of Contaminants

Phase II ESAs often result in verification that a real property has regulated constituents or chemicals present at concentrations that exceed regulatory levels.  In those situations, EnviroProbe will prepare a corrective action or remedial action plan to mitigate the contamination.  EnviroProbe’s personnel have performed remediation of soil and groundwater at a wide variety of residential, commercial, and industrial properties.  In most situations, the planning and implementation of the remediation project involves discussion and negotiations with the regulatory agencies.  Our team of Project Managers, Environmental Professionals, and Licensed Remediation Specialists has performed Phase III ESA and remediation and regulatory negotiations throughout the region.