Records Review
Historical use, regulatory databases, and prior reports are examined to flag potential environmental concerns tied to the subject and adjoining sites.
What Is a Phase I ESA?
A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is the standard early-stage review used to identify recognized environmental conditions at a property. It combines a records review, a site reconnaissance, and interviews to evaluate past and present use of the land and nearby properties before a transaction or redevelopment.
Key Components
Site Reconnaissance
A visual inspection notes current conditions, structures, storage, staining, stressed vegetation, and other indicators of contamination.
Interviews & Reporting
Owners, occupants, and local officials are interviewed; findings are summarized in a report that supports user reliance and decision-making.
All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI)
All Appropriate Inquiries is the regulatory framework that must be met for a Phase I ESA to support certain landowner liability protections under CERCLA. AAI establishes the minimum inquiry steps and timing that a user must complete before acquiring a property.
- Interviews with past and present owners and operators
- Reviews of historical sources and standard environmental databases
- Visual site inspection and identification of uses and activities
- Documentation of the inquiry, qualifications of the environmental professional, and the conclusions reached
ASTM 1527 Standard Practice
ASTM E1527 is the recognized standard practice for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments in the United States. It defines the scope, terminology, and methodology of the assessment and is consistent with the EPA’s All Appropriate Inquiries rule. Reports prepared in accordance with ASTM 1527 are widely relied upon by lenders, buyers, and their counsel in commercial real estate transactions.
Continue Exploring
For related reading, see the News archive for recent agency releases and regulatory updates, or visit Sampling for field methods used to support ESA findings.