Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment

A Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment or a Phase II Environmental report is a scientific test whereby geologists drill and sample soil, soil-vapor, and groundwater to test for pollution.

The Phase II ESA, also referred to as a “subsurface investigation” or more commonly “site investigation,” typically consists of collecting a series of soil, soil gas, which includes sampling for vapor intrusion, and groundwater samples and sending the samples to a laboratory to determine

What is a limited Phase II ESA?

A Phase II ESA is a limited subsurface investigation that is performed when you have reason to believe there may be contamination on the site and need to establish how likely it is that contamination occurs. Typically, this means there was a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC) discovered during the Phase I ESA.

 This is a follow-up sampling called a Phase II ESA. While this common terminology is not accurate, it does convey a step further in the process of determining whether a dry cleaner has affected a piece of property. The Phase II ESA, also referred to as a “subsurface investigation” or more commonly “site investigation,” typically consists of collecting a series of soil, soil gas, which includes sampling for Vapor Intrusion , and groundwater samples and sending the samples to a laboratory to determine if dry cleaning operations have impacted the property negatively through environmental contamination.

Phase II ESAs initial soil and groundwater samples are collected at a few locations where the highest likelihood of releases has likely occurred. These samples can be collected by hand using hand-held equipment, or by small to large drilling rigs. The type of equipment used depends on the types of soil and depth of groundwater at the site, and whether the samples are collected from underneath the building or outside. These areas are typically current and former dry cleaning machine locations and/or dry cleaner solvent transfer locations. Once collected, the samples are then sent to a laboratory to determine how much, if any, dry cleaner solvents are present in the soil and groundwater. If impacts are present, additional soil and groundwater samples are collected at more locations until the entire area of soil and groundwater contamination has been determined. This process may take several months. Once the extent of soil and groundwater contamination has been determined with Phase II ESA activities, remediation activities can begin.

A Phase II typically includes drilling at the site, collecting water and soil samples from the surface and at depth, and analyzing the samples for a range of chemicals which may be present at the site.

Drill rig, hydraulic push, hand auger or backhoe, depending on site specific conditions

 

 

What is the purpose of a Phase II investigation?

The purpose of a Phase II Environmental Report is to determine the presence, or absence of, petroleum products or hazardous waste in the subsurface of the site.

What is a Phase II in real estate?

A Phase II environmental site assessment, also called a Phase 2 ESA, a second-level assessment, or a Phase 2 investigation, is an environmental study of real property in which soil, soil vapor, groundwater, air, building materials, products, wastes, or other materials are measured, sampled, or otherwise characterized

What triggers a Phase II ESA?

A Phase II ESA is a limited subsurface investigation that is performed when you have reason to believe there may be contamination on the site and need to establish how likely it is that contamination occurs. Typically, this means there was a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC) discovered during the Phase I ESA.

 

Phase 2 Process

 

Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment reports are sometimes required when a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC) is found during the Phase 1 Environmental Assessment process. These investigations consist of collecting soil samples, and sometimes groundwater, surface water and soil vapor samples, to screen for chemical or metal contamination. This sampling is conducted by drill rig, hydraulic push, hand auger or backhoe, depending on site specific conditions.

RSK conducts Phase 2 ESAs at sites where there is known or significantly-potential soil and/or groundwater contamination. These reports are typically limited in nature and are usually the result of a Recognized Environmental Condition being found in a Phase I report during a real estate transaction, or prior to an owner listing a property for sale. The soil and/or groundwater testing is only an initial screen of soil and/or groundwater, in order to determine if there is contamination.  

Once contamination is found to be significant and/or to exceed federal, state or local cleanup or human-health risk standards, a further site characterization is required, in order to help establish the vertical and lateral extent of a contamination plume. In these situations, agency consultation is required in order to pursue closure from an oversight agency. A "no further action" letter is pursued for a site, in order to make the property "sellable." In some cases, among sophisticated buyers, a liability transfer is negotiated and executed contractually. For regulatory-mandated cleanup and/or monitoring, the client can apply to available cleanup funds, when available, in order to recover moneys spent.

Hydrogeologic studies are conducted at a site to determine the properties, parameters and characteristics of a groundwater-containing aquifer. These investigations are typically conducted to determine if there is significant contamination or potential contamination in a water-bearing zone. These studies are also associated with determining if an aquifer has the characteristics and properties to be useful as a water supply.

The most common reasons for conducting hydrogeologic investigations are:

  1. As part of a Phase 2 ESA for a real estate transaction

  2. To determine if an aquifer can be used as a supply and for optimal well design

  3. Monitoring of groundwater at contaminated sites

  4. Feasibility studies for remediation design

  5. To determine if off-site sources are impacting groundwater in civil liability cases

  6. Due to regulatory-mandated cleanup or monitoring

 

Typical methods for determining groundwater characteristics:

  1. Drilling of pilot borings

  2. Installation of monitoring wells

  3. Installation of extraction and injection wells

  4. Pump tests

  5. Groundwater modeling

  6. Geophysical surveys, logging, wireline tools and sieve-analysis for engineered sandpacks, perforated casing and screening

Phase 2 environmental site assessment report

Groundwater measurements determined groundwater flow gradient and direction, which resulted in accurate groundwater contour maps. After subsequent monitoring, the contaminant plume was delineated and monitored. Based on the site characterization, our client was able to make a good business decision in regard to going forward with the transaction.

Soils investigations that are part of an environmental study, typically a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment, are conducted to establish the chemical makeup of the soil in order to determine if there are significant amounts of contaminants that will require remediation or monitoring, or create land use limitations. These contaminants are sometimes present due to current or previous storage and use of hazardous chemicals at a property.

These investigations are usually associated with real estate transactions, where a significant potential for contamination was determined in a Phase 1 report. Geotechnical soil studies are conducted to determine physical characteristics and properties of soil for construction projects. These soils studies are conducted by licensed professional geologists with extensive experience.

 

Here are some of the typical methods that we utilize for collecting soil samples for environmental and geotechnical investigations:

  1. Hand auger

  2. Test pits by shovel for shallow sampling

  3. Hydraulic push that minimizes waste-soil cuttings and is good for shallow sampling

  4. Backhoe for trenching

  5. Truck-mounted open-flight hollow-stem auger

  6. Mud-rotary drilling

  7. Air-rotary drilling

  8. Directional and horizontal drilling

  9. Geophysical surveys, such as: ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and magnetometer are utilized to locate underground storage tanks and utilities.

 

We design and install groundwater monitoring wells at locations where known or potential environmental impact occurs. These wells are provided for real estate transactions or agency-oversight projects and for legal cases.

Our company conducts soil vapor/gas sampling by utilizing the most appropriate methods for specific sites, based on known and unknown contamination, as well as, physical constraints and previous uses. Due to potential vapor intrusion from soil and/or groundwater contamination, AAI screens the subsurface to determine if there is a significant potential for vapor intrusion into a structure per regulatory standards.

When does it go to phase 3?

If the lab results from the soil, water or groundwater samples indicate a significant problem, need further delineation or if cleanup is required by an agency or by the responsible party, a site characterization, risk assessment or remediation may be required.

The remediation or cleanup typically has to occur until verification samples are less than federal, state or local cleanup standards. In some cases the owner or occupant wants to completely remove all contaminants to non-detectable, if it is feasible.

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