Phase II ESAs require detailed physical testing.
Making a smart, sound business decision, particularly in real estate, requires research and as much useful, reliable information as possible. Phase II environmental site assessments (ESAs) are an important part of that research; they provide data and recommendations indicating the environmental risk of a given piece of property. The Phase II ESA is a collection of sampling data, analysis and recommendations performed by an environmental professional.
Information Collected
The kinds of information gathered in a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment depend largely on the specific site. Tests can include soil sampling, groundwater and surface water testing, air quality assessment, asbestos testing and waste materials/storage tank investigation. Any potential hazard noted in the Phase I ESA should be further investigated and evaluated in the Phase II ESA.
Procedure
Protocol for performing a Phase II ESA is outlined by the ASTM standard ASTM E-1903-97 Standard Guide for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Process. This guide is the industry standard. Appropriate site testing is performed in a series of iterations as necessary and the results are analyzed by an environmental consultant. These rounds of testing and analysis continue until the user is satisfied with the degree of certainty in the consultant's conclusions and can use the results to make a decision.
Findings
The Phase II ESA includes results of site testing; these data are included in the Sample and Analysis Review and Field Sampling and Analytical Results Review sections. In the Phase II Report Review section, the environmental consultant performing the ESA concludes one of two possible findings: there is no reasonable risk of contaminants being present at the site, or the ESA findings have confirmed the presence of hazardous materials. If the site is contaminated and remediation is necessary, the environmental professional can provide suggestions and recommendations specific to that site.
Necessity
When a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment indicates that a property contains environmentally hazardous materials or has in the past, a Phase II ESA becomes necessary to properly evaluate the recognized environmental conditions (REC) at the site. Liability is a major consideration, especially since remediation costs can grow quickly, so performing environmental due diligence is paramount when property changes hands. Phase II ESAs are often performed to gather required information to satisfy the "innocent purchaser defense" under CERCLA (the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act).
Cost
The fees for a Phase II ESA can vary widely, but most cost between $10,000 and $20,000. Reasons for this variability are site-specific; costs increase with the amount of testing and analysis to be performed, difficulty accessing the site or subsurface, groundwater testing and project overhead.
Limitations
Phase IIs do not quantify the extent of the environmental risk; no action is taken with the goal of describing the scope of the contamination. According to the ASTM 1903-97, a Phase II is done solely to investigate the presence of RECs on the property. In fact, the ASTM guidelines recommend completing only as many rounds of testing and analysis as are necessary; the process is designed to allow the consumer to halt the assessment as soon as sufficient data is gathered for the consumer to make an informed decision.
Tags: Environmental Site, Environmental Site Assessment, Phase Environmental, Phase Environmental Site, Site Assessment, testing analysis
