Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
At NY Engineering, our Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) are designed to help clients understand potential environmental risks before acquiring or developing a property. Whether you’re planning a real estate transaction, redevelopment project, or financing deal, a Phase I ESA is a critical step to reduce liability and make informed decisions.
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What Is a Phase I ESA?
A Phase I ESA is a standardized evaluation that investigates the current and historical use of a property to determine whether there may be environmental concerns—such as soil or groundwater contamination—that could affect property value, pose health risks, or result in legal liabilities.
This assessment follows the ASTM E1527-13 standard and meets the requirements for the All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) rule under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). In some cases—such as undeveloped or forested land—ASTM E2247-16 may be used instead.
Why It Matters
Conducting a Phase I ESA can help:
- Identify potential environmental liabilities before purchase or development.
- Comply with federal and state environmental regulations.
- Support eligibility for the innocent landowner defense under CERCLA.
- Avoid costly surprises in future remediation or development phases.
What We Look For
Based on the findings, the report will identify:
- HREC (Historical Recognized Environmental Condition) – Past contamination that has been properly cleaned up and poses no current risk.
- REC (Recognized Environmental Condition) – Indicates known or likely contamination.
- CREC (Controlled Recognized Environmental Condition) – Contamination exists but is managed through regulatory controls.
Our Process
01
Site Visit
A walk-through of the property and adjacent areas to observe any visible signs of environmental issues and assess site use history.
02
Records Review
Examination of historical documents (e.g., aerial photos, fire insurance maps, city directories) and government databases for known or suspected environmental concerns like underground storage tanks, hazardous material use, and cleanup sites.
03
Regulatory Research
Review of state and local environmental records, including building permits, fire department files, and health department reports.
04
Interviews
Discussions with current and past owners, occupants, and site managers—plus the report user—to gather relevant information such as known environmental liens, previous site uses, or unusual purchase prices.
05
Professional Evaluation
Our EPs analyze the data to determine whether environmental issues are present or likely. Common concerns include properties formerly used as gas stations, dry cleaners, auto repair shops, or industrial facilities.
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Email: MichaelH@NYengineering.com
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