Phase I Environmental Site Assessments

Environmental Professional Certified Commercial Property Evaluation

A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is an evaluation of a real estate holding, property, or site, that identifies potential or existing environmental contamination liabilities. Our Environmental Professionals will thoroughly assess the historical and current usages of the site and adjacent properties, perform a rigorous site inspection, review available regulatory databases, and conduct interviews with local regulators, owners, and occupants to gain a clear perspective on potential environmental risks.

Procuring an Environmental Site Assessment.

Requirements vary between lending institutions, but ESAs are typically required during the due diligence process to avoid potential environmental risk and liabilities. Each Phase I ESA report follows the guidelines set forth in American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) guidance document No. E1527-13. A Phase I ESA is essential for safeguarding a lender’s investment. Environmental due diligence is needed to ensure the lender is not inheriting someone else’s environmental legacy, should the borrower default.

From the forgotten historic corner gas station site, auto repair facility, industrial manufacturing sites, or dry-cleaner site, there are numerous past activities which could have affected groundwater and/or subsurface media at commercial sites. The Phase I ESA report is comparable to that of a title search performed before purchase or refinance. An ESA ensures the investment is sound and that there are no skeletons in the closet.

Mitigate Your Risk

Environmental Site Assessments are performed to evaluate environmental conditions at a property to mitigate the lender’s risk in a CRE transaction.

Competitive Rates

Time is valuable. Our site assessments are performed swiftly and with the highest quality to keep your CRE transaction moving forward. Our streamlined services and intuitive ordering platform optimize CRE due diligence and reduce costs for lenders and their borrowers.

Understand Your Site

Be prepared and knowledgeable about your investment. A Phase I ESA will give you a professional opinion on the environmental condition of your property.

Procurring an Environmental Site Assessment.

Mitigate Your Risk

Environmental Site Assessments are performed to evaluate environmental conditions at a property to mitigate the lender’s risk in a CRE transaction.

Competitive Rates

Understand Your Site

Be prepared and knowledgeable about your investment. A Phase I ESA will give you a professional opinion on the environmental condition of your property.

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Tips to help.

Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA): The gold standard of EDD reports. This tool has all the required features of our Environmental Transaction Screen (ETS), but also includes:

An EPA-certified EP’s personal review of adjacent properties’ historical use, including a review of historical aerial photographs, city directories, and Sanborn/fire insurance maps
Compatibility with Small Business Administration’s (SBA) EDD Guidelines and inclusion of insurance

Specifications

Meets and exceeds SBA requirements
Delivered within ten business days from site inspection
Meets EPA All-Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) requirements
Performed in general accordance with ASTM E1527-13
Performed and reviewed by Environmental Professionals
Title records, environmental liens, activity and use limitations are reviewed when provided by client
Review of tribal government records

Research/interview current and past owners/occupants where known
Full ASTM database search
Performed to identify Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs)
In-person on-site reconnaissance of subject and adjoining properties
Review of select physical setting sources (topographical maps, soil survey, etc.)
Review of available historical resource information, (aerial photographs, city directories, etc.)
Records review of all available local, state, and federal regulatory agency databases