The standard level of Due Diligence in the environmental industry is the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) conducted in accordance with ASTM E1527 “Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process” or ASTM E2247 “Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process for Forestland or Rural Property”.
All Phase I ESAs prepared by CCG are conducted in accordance with the most current versions of ASTM E1527 or E2247 and will satisfy the requirements of the United States, Environmental Protection Agency, All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) Final Rule. An AAI compliant report allows a User to obtain protection from potential liability under CERCLA as an innocent landowner, a contiguous property owner, or a bona fide prospective purchaser.
In addition to the considerations required to satisfy AAI requirements, CCG evaluates State specific legislation and regulatory programs, which may provide additional liability protection for the User of a Phase I ESA.
The following list summarizes the minimum requirements to be performed during the course of the Phase I ESA:
- Survey the subject property and observe the adjacent and surrounding properties for the purposes of identifying land use and activities that may potentially affect the environmental integrity of the subject property.
- Interview available present and past owners and occupants of the subject property to identify current/historic subject property uses
- Review available historical information for the subject property from first developed use to present
- Interview accessible local, city, county and state personnel to solicit pertinent environmental information regarding the subject property
- Review available federal, state and local regulatory database information as prescribed in ASTM 1527 Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process
- Provide findings, conclusions and recommendations to the Client as a result of the information gathered
Phase I ESA – Additional Services
In addition to the minimum requirements discussed above, at the Client’s preference, CCG will include an evaluation of the following “Additional Services” which may pose a business environmental risk to the subject property as defined by ASTM 1527.
- Asbestos, Lead-Based Paint, Lead in Water and/or Radon Testing
- Biological Agents
- Coastal Development Zone
- Compliance with Activity & Use Limitations
- Cultural and Historic Designations
- Endangered Species
- Indoor Air Quality
- Regulatory Compliance
- Suspect Microbial Growth
- Vapor Intrusion
- Wetlands Evaluation
Screening Services
CCG understands that based on the Client’s needs, not all transactions will require the full level of Due Diligence provided by a Phase I ESA. Therefore, CCG offers the following miscellaneous Environmental Services to satisfy the Clients specific needs:
Environmental Screening – Includes an evaluation of a regulatory database report to provide a general indication of the level of environmental risk associated with the subject property
SBA: Records Search with Risk Assessment (RSRA) – Includes an evaluation of a regulatory database report and multiple historical sources to develop a determination of the environmental risk associated with the subject property
ASTM Transaction Screen – Conducted in accordance with ASTM E1528-14 “Standard Practice for Limited Environmental Due Diligence: Transaction Screen Process”. Includes a site inspection, an evaluation of a regulatory database report and multiple historical sources to develop a determination of the environmental risk associated with the subject property