The American Society for Testing and Materials, now known as ASTM, developed the original Phase I standard in 1993. The current ASTM standard (E 1527-05) was revised effective November, 2006 to make it consistent with the USEPA's All Appropriate Inquiry regulations.
The Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is a screening tool intended to determine whether hazardous substances or petroleum products may have impacted the environmental quality of real property. Where suspect sources of contamination have been identified, the Phase I assessment narrows the scope of a follow-up Phase II Environmental Site Assessment.
A typical Phase I Environmental Site Assessment takes between 2 and 3 weeks to complete. This time period can be shortened significantly to accommodate the needs of a particular transaction. The following tasks comprise ACT's Phase I Environmental Site Assessment:
Site Inspection
ACT personnel inspect a property for evidence of petroleum storage tanks, chemical handling and disposal practices, areas of staining or stressed vegetation, the presence of drainage structures and hazardous substances such as PCBs or radon. Exteriors of adjacent properties are inspected for evidence of ongoing environmental investigations or remedial activities. Screening for asbestos containing materials, lead-based paint and mold is included in our Phase I Environmental Site Assessment even though it is not an integral part of the ASTM standard.
Historical Property Information
Municipal records are sought from Building, Zoning, Health, Fire and Environmental departments. Available fire insurance maps and aerial photographs are also utilized. Interviews are conducted with representatives of the property and in some cases adjacent properties. The site's physical setting is also evaluated through topographic, hydrogeologic and soil survey maps.
Database Review
Federal and State databases are reviewed for the property and nearby sites that could impact the subject property, including known hazardous waste sites, landfills, chemical or oil spills and environmental liens or easements. Companies generating, storing and disposing hazardous wastes are also evaluated.
Report Preparation
The results of the Phase I assessment are summarized in a concise, easy-to-read report. ACT's Phase I reports also include recommended investigative or remedial tasks and their estimated costs. These costs are useful towards negotiations over purchase prices or escrow amounts.
