Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)

Real estate and business transactions

 

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) reports are prepared for real estate and business transactions such as: land purchases, building purchases, leases, business purchases, new residential developments and bank loans.

Our Phase 1 ESA reports are in compliance with American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard E-1527-13. This ASTM standard adheres to the Environmental Protection Agency All Appropriate Inquiries Rule, codified into the federal regulations by the EPA (40 CFR Part 312).

This type of report is the one typically required by lenders and is highly recommended prior to purchasing commercial or industrial real estate, or prior to starting new residential developments.

 

Phase I ESA Scope

Site Visit

  • Inspection of the Site by an Experienced Inspector

  • Catalog the Presence of Hazardous Materials or Petroleum Products

Historical Research

  • Historical Aerial Photographs

  • Reverse Street Directories / City Directories

  • Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps

  • Topographical Maps

  • Building Permits

  • Planning Records

  • Department of Oil and Gas Maps

  • Interviews

Geology and Hydrogeology

  • Soil Type

  • Geological Setting

  • Groundwater Depth

Regulatory Research

  • Fire Departments

  • State Environmental Agencies

  • Federal Environmental Agencies

Interviews and Document Review

  • Interview Tenants and Owners

  • Interview State and Local Regulators

  • Review Provided Reports

Common uses where Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) are found include:

  • Service stations

  • Manufacturing facilities

  • Dry cleaners

  • Industrial sites

  • Long-term auto repair

  • Oil and gas well drilling and production

  • Former agricultural crops

  • Refineries

  • Underground storage tanks

  • Other sites with releases of chemicals into the subsurface.

What is performed in Phase I environmental Assessment by RSK

  • Historical building permits review

  • Historical aerial photograph review

  • Historical sanborn fire insurance map review

  • Historical topo map review

  • Environmental agency file reviews

  • Review groundwater conditions

  • Government environmental database review

  • Inspection of property

  • Interview neighbors at abandoned properties

  • A detailed professional site plan

  • Digital photographs with descriptions

  • Owner/occupant questionnaire

  • Review of previous environmental reports

  • Inclusion of the statement of qualifications

  • Conclusions

  • Recommendations

These uses don't necessarily always create Recognized Environmental Conditions, as it depends on how long they have been in operation, secondary containments, housekeeping, proper monitoring, and other factors. A general rule of thumb is if these types of facilities have been in operation for long periods of times, the more likely will RECs be found during a real estate transaction.

When a REC is found, it will typically trigger a Phase 2 Study, which requires soil and/or groundwater sampling to determine if there is a significant environmental liability in the subsurface. We have completed thousands of projects nationwide. We regularly complete reports on time and within budget

Who can conduct Phase I reports?

It is essential that the company you hire for these reports are highly qualified environmental geologists, engineers or scientists, with extensive experience in conducting these studies.

A comprehensive understanding of soil and groundwater science is required in order to make correct conclusions and recommendations in regard to potential significant environmental liabilities in the subsurface.