Details On Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Procedure

By Brenda Warner


Inspection of a land involves the examination of any potential soil contamination, surface water quality, groundwater quality, and issues relating to hazardous components uptake by the biota. The valuation of a property includes the definition of chemical residues found in the structures, inventory of harmful substances used or stored on the property, identification of any possible asbestos contained in the building materials, evaluation of indoor air quality, and the study of the mildew and mold. The phase 1 environmental site assessment allows for the usage of different protocols.

This plan changes depending on the state and the country. In Japan, for instance, the government established the law in 2003 that allows for regular conducting of this process. In Canada and Europe, the provisions are different. Make sure you familiarize yourself with these rules and provisions. Hire a private consultant to guide you in all these procedures. Some experts will prefer to work and bring you the results while others will involve you in the research process.

Interviewing any person who has knowledge about the land will help you acquire the information that will determine the decision you will make. The past owners, managers, present owners, tenants, and the neighbors are the reliable people who will give you the details you are want. List down all the information you receive from them and compare the results to come up with a sound judgment.

In the 1980s, the demand for these studies increased dramatically in the USA following the judicial decisions that related to liability of investors to effect the site cleanup. The CERCLA Act of 1980 outlined that a lessor, buyer, or a lender will be held responsible for the remediation of hazardous components.

Make sure you examine the historic aerial photos of land to acquire more understanding of the vicinity. Survey the current USGS maps to identify the topography and drainage patterns of real estate site. Hire a professional consultant to handle the historical research, file searches, and the examinations of chain-of-title.

Experts have knowledge of the best tools and methods to use to get to a solution. Using a report that was previously conducted by the financial firm about the property could save you the cost of the research. Mostly the private developers prefer a report from a skilled and experienced individual.

The chemistry, geology, physics, microbiology, botany, and atmospheric skills are often required at this stage. The process involves a non-detailed study to obtain details. Scientists will determine the level of research needed at this stage and the tools to use. They integrate these disciplines during the research processes and derive at a sound judgment.

The due diligence of a property depends on its nature and value. Procedures used in researching for residential properties are different from those used in commercial real estate. The due diligence requirements are differ depending on the state and use of real estate. The usage duration of a property will determine the research method use.




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