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Increased public awareness and potential environmental liability have greatly impacted the real estate transaction process. Property ranging from manufacturing plants to raw land and single family residences have potential environmental risks. Professional evaluation of sites prior to purchase or refinance is imperative and often required by lenders. Let our experience in performing Environmental Site Assessments help you make fully informed financial decisions. Determine the true value of a property and defend against potential catastrophic environmental and third party liability mandated by a USEPA cleanup.
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Our Environmental Services
- Environmental Transaction Screens
are prepared in accordance with ASTM standard 1528-00. These assessments are useful in areas where information suggests that few recognized environmental conditions will be identified. The basic format includes a research of historical records relating to the subject and nearby properties, a site visit and completion of an environmental questionnaire. If conditions are identified, the standard requires that the preparer detemine if the condition requires further investigation. If so, a Phase I ESA may be required.
- Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
are prepared in accordance with ASTM Standard E-1527-00 and all other lender / client requirements. The assessments are more complete and provide a full written description of conditions and potential liabilities identified. The main difference between the Transaction Screen and The Phase I ESA is that the standard requires the preparer to be an environmental professional and to quantify the type and extent of the risk posed by each condition identified.
- Phase II and III ESAs are prepared in accordance with standard environmental and professional practices. Typical Phase II ESAs outline an approach to quantify the extent and type of risks identified in the Phase I. Phase III ESAs are often referred to as corrective action plans which implement activities to remedy conditions identified in the Phase I and quantifed by the Phase II.
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What is an Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)?
The overall objective of the Environmental Site Assessment Process is to identify recognized environmental conditions. These are the presence or likely presence of any hazardous substances or petroleum products on "The Property" under conditions that indicate an existing release, a past release or a material threat of a release into structures, ground, groundwater or surface water of "The Property" even under conditions in compliance with laws.
The definition does not include de-minimis conditions that generally do not present a material risk of harm to public health or the environment and that generally would not be the subject of an enforcement action if brought to the attention of appropriate governmental agencies.
Environmental Assessments were developed to specifically satisfy one of the requirements for the innocent landowner defense to CERCLA liability. Users and Lenders also use the assessments to identify business risks that may interfere with the continued or planned use of a property. Things such as Asbestos Containing Materials, Radon, Lead Based Paint, Lead in Drinking Water, Wetlands and Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act issues have no potential CERCLA lability but could surely slow or restrict use or development of a site. Addressing these additional concerns is evaluated on a site by site basis considering your needs.
If recognized environmental conditions are identified, SES can apply its environmental experience to determine the risk posed and devlop several alternative remedies.
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How are ESAs related to our other services?
Environmental Site Assessments are generally tailored to the specific property, the requirements of the client and their lender. For example a single family residence with an underground heating oil tank would require a completely different approach than a downtown parcel adjacent to a dry cleaner or print shop. Environmental Site Assessments are used to identify potential risks and the liability associated with each risk.
SES can perform an environmental site assessment in conjunction with a soil study for onsite disposal, a wetland study or apart from other studies. Our expertise in evaluating soils and landscapes are a great advantage when completing a field reconnaissance. Different types of vegetation, unusual slopes and other clues may go undetected by the untrained eye. These subtle diffences often lead to the discovery of fill dirt, buried debris and other environmental liabilities.
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