lundi 31 août 2015

A Brief Introduction To Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment

By Daphne Bowen


On many construction or demolition projects, conducting environmental assessments on a site has become common. Its purpose includes identifying any potentially hazardous material or to confirm whether abatement is needed or not. Most contractors have professionals whose training involves conducting such assessments. Their findings ultimately appear in Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment reports.

Environmental Site Assessments Phase One are commonplace reports prepared to expose proposed site histories. They form an important record within the industry of construction and arise from crucially valuable processes. Particulars differ when such reports are required with crucial information emerging about a site. This form of assessment, in different formats, dates back to the seventies. In those days, it enabled identification of risks arising during development of places suffering toxic substance exposure. Such studies enabled developers ascertain costs of establishing such a places safety and clean up.

As time went by ESA phase one saw development into standard reports required in numerous commercial transactions involving property. Information derived from these accounts cover tests on land on site. It covers crucial examinations of structures and physical improvements upon such a property. It involves interviewing site owners, government agents and neighbors. Such interviews establish clearly the history of a certain site.

Obtaining an ESA Phase One is crucial in a number of commercial transactions. Being an essential part of application for permits is a critical requirement. It quenches a thirst to understand the history of a property clearly. It forms a foundation for protecting buyers as new entities or individuals go about purchasing commercial property.

Environmental Site Assessments, Phase 1 feature as a base for evaluating property in loan application processes. The reason is such a report gives a clear understanding of true value of properties. Discretional usage permits for land, as a change of use requires an ESA. Whenever a particular site has queries regarding toxic histories, government agencies call for an ESA.

Initial steps in getting a phase one ESA involves engaging qualified and trained environmental professionals. AAI and ASTM standards describe what is needed in an assessment. This is beside other requirements based upon directives by State, local or Federal regulatory agencies. A professional visits a site to view the latest conditions and form a historical understanding of a site.

Such professionals will visit your neighboring sites to figure out risks such sites bring to yours and which yours metes out to them. They will hold discussions or interview people who have requisite information about your site. These shall include your neighbors, previous owners, government officers and employees. Various agencies will have their files perused regarding records of, among others, any soil contamination or water quality.

Environmental site assessments have diverse variations with Phase One being the most common. In this regard, professional firms proficient in offering such services abound in each State. What is called for is careful research to identify those a client deems fit for their project. Research online with specific industry forum concentration helps to pick candidates for vetting. Vetting should cover expertise, training, education, experience and costs for an assessment. Local, State and Federal licensing is another critical area to ascertain since assessment, at a point, will involve their regulating agencies.




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