- TADCO ENGINEERING & ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
What is Phase I Environmental Assessment (ESA)?
A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is a rigorous investigation covering current and past commercial property usage. As the name indicates, it also looks for any hazardous environmental contaminants found in the air, soil or groundwater on or near the commercial site. These are also known as Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs).
If land contamination exists due to past operational or waste disposal activities, anyone in the chain of ownership may be liable for the cost of cleanup, regardless of when contamination occurred. This can significantly impair or eliminate the value of the affected property.
To ensure due diligence before offering a property loan, lending and financial institutions often require a Phase One ESA.
OUR SERVICES
Partner With Tadco for an Environmental Site Assessment
Our environmental professionals have conducted ESAs on hundreds of properties for over two decades in New Jersey and New York. Tadco offers clients an unparalleled perspective on every property type. We perform Phase One ESAs in accordance with the current ASTM standards E1527-13.
Every Phase I ESA will include a site reconnaissance as well as research with studies of records & history of the property, and regulatory compliance.
We do this by interviewing property owners and key facility personnel. We also review historical documentation including deeds, records of use of the site and surroundings, historical fire insurance maps, aerial photographs, and agency databases.
Current federal environmental laws maintain that the ownership, leasing or transfer of commercial real estate can result in a serious liability situation. Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act , or CERCLA. A site assessment can provide the basic supporting documentation to protect against corporate and/or personal liability.
What’s Included In A Phase I ESA:
Phase One ESA should include detailed information about the property, such as:
- Scope of work
- Environmental risk assessment
- Current use of the site
- Visual Inspection
- Site Inspection
- Interviews and user-provided information
- Records review (environmental records sources and historical uses)
- Site reconnaissance (limiting conditions, interior, and exterior observations)
- Conclusions and recommendations
- Qualifications