Environmental Site Assessments
Phase 1 and Phase 2
The purpose of the Phase
I ESA is to identify
Recognized Environmental Conditions as defined in
ASTM E 1527-05, Standard
Practice for Environmental Site Assessments. By performing a
Phase I ESA the user meets in part the requirements for innocent
landowner defense to CERCLA liability. In addition, the Phase I ESA
identifies potential threats of environmental contamination from
petroleum products used or stored on the property and adjoining
properties.
The Phase I ESA Report includes the following elements:
Executive Summary
Scope of Work
Review of historical land
use through aerial photographs, city directories, fire insurance
maps and interviews with people with actual knowledge of the
property
Description of physical
features of the site by review of topographic maps, geologic and
hydro-geologic data, and surveys
Obtaining and reviewing
local, state, and federal environmental records
Physical inspection of the
property and surrounding properties
Review of onsite
documentation pertaining to the use, storage, and disposition of
hazardous material(s)
Photo documentation of the
conditions observed on the property and surrounding properties
Personal interviews with
regulating agencies having jurisdiction
Review of prior
environmental reports
References
Conclusion and
recommendations
A Phase II
Environmental Site Assessment may be required to establish
the presence or absence of soil and/or groundwater contamination at
a property. The results
of the Phase I ESA are used to devise a program with a scope of work
comprehensive enough to prevent a false negative result and yet be
cost effective for the user. The scope of work of a Phase II ESA is
not to determine the full extent of contamination, rather to
determine whether or not the suspected contamination is present.
Confidentiality: WGSA
understands the importance of limiting communications about the work
and results to those parties specifically agreed upon in the
engagement documents, and our obligation is to report only to our
client and his designees.