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A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment – sometimes referred to as a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment, Phase I Environmental Assessment, Phase I ESA, or Phase 1 ESA – is performed according to guidelines set forth in ASTM E1527-05 that thoroughly dives into previous investigations and historical uses of a property, as well as adjacent properties, to determine the likelihood or continued presence of surface, soil, or groundwater contamination from hazardous substances or petroleum products. Adjacent property investigation is essential by virtue of groundwater nature and soil profiles. Contamination migration is not uncommon and discovering the potential for it sets the stage for educated and informed business decision making. According to the ASTM method:
The purpose of this practice is to define good commercial and customary practice in the United States of America for conducting an environmental site assessment of a parcel of commercial real estate with respect to the range of contaminants within the scope of Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and petroleum products. As such, this practice is intended to permit the user to satisfy one of the requirements to qualify for the innocent landowner, contiguous property owner, or bona fide prospective purchaser limitations on CERCLA liability (landowner liability protections or LLPs)…
As opposed to the TSA, a Phase I Environmental Assessment constitutes “All Appropriate Inquiry into the previous ownership and uses of the property…” Apex professionals have the tools, credentials, and know-how to make environmental determinations a reality with turnaround times and quality at the peak of industry-standard. When gathering property-specific information, Apex uses the term “Reasonably Ascertainable” as a benchmark, the more relevant information we can uncover, the clearer a picture we can paint for the client. For nearly two decades Apex has been providing timely and quality Phase I ESAs to a broad range of clientele that includes large and small lending institutions, commercial developers, private real estate developers and mining companies. For all clients the end result will be the same, environmental determinations that can be counted on. In the event a determination is made, as a result of Phase I ESA due diligence, confirming the potential or actual presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products, the user can either confirm or reasonably disprove the findings by initiating sampling and testing of the suspect soil and/or groundwater in the second phase of investigation.