Phase I Environmental Site Assessment

Purpose:

Research and document the historical uses of the property to uncover potential environmental conditions.

Description of Service:

This is the first step in the environmental due diligence process. In this phase, research is completed to determine the historical uses of the property to identify if there might be any recognized environmental conditions (RECs), like the use of an underground fuel storage tank that might have leaked or other historical uses that have potentially resulted in a release to the environment or caused environmental impact to the property.

A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is conducted that includes a review of records about the property; a regulatory database and historical document review, a site visit; and interviews with current/former owners, employees and/or occupants of the property, and with government officials. 

Phase I ESAs are conducted in general conformance with methods outlined by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard E 1527-21, Standard for Environmental Site Assessment. We are also a Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) "Group A" consultant, which indicates we are prequalified to provide such services as Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments with MSHDA "non-scope" items, Baseline Environmental Assessments, Documentation of Due Care Compliance, peer-review services, and, through their own qualifications or those of a qualified subcontractor, lead-based paint Risk Assessments and Inspections, NESHAP-compliant asbestos inspections, AARST-compliant multi-family radon testing, etc.

The term REC, means the presence or likely presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products in, on, or at the subject property: (1) due to a release to the environment (such as a previously identified release that has not yet been addressed, or a visible spill of petroleum products or hazardous materials observed during the ESA site reconnaissance); (2) the likely presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products in, on, or at the subject property due to a release or likely release to the environment; or (3) the presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products in, on, or at the subject property under conditions that pose a material threat of a future release to the environment.