ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS

  • Phase I Environmental Site Assessments

  • Phase II Environmental Site Assessments

  • Subsurface Investigations

    • Vapor Intrusion Investigations (Sub-Slab, Soil Gas, Ambient Air)

    • Soil Sampling & Characterization

    • Groundwater Sampling & Characterization

  • Hazardous Material Facility Audits

In response to the increased awareness of environmental liability, ECI is working with property owners, lenders, property managers, developers and others to develop specific, case by case procedures for evaluating environmental risk and assisting when environmental liability has been identified. The correct assessment of these potential risks and liabilities is crucial to the long-term utilization of the property. 

 The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) Rule, as well as the National Association for Environmental Professionals, have established guidelines and standards for conducting environmental assessments including the completion of Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments.  These guidelines establish customary practice, standardizing the environmental site assessments procedures. 

One particular function of these assessments, arguably the most important, is to demonstrate the innocent landowner defense (due diligence) allowed by CERCLA[1].  Our initial assessment of a property always allows for the perspective purchaser and/or lender to better ascertain in a timely manner any associated liability prior to property acquisition. 

ECI and its associates have completed thousands of Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, including soil vapor, sub-surface soil and groundwater investigations, underground storage tank decommissioning projects and many subsequent soil and groundwater investigation and remediation projects.

[1]  CERCLA is the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, amended in 1984 (42 USC 9601 et. seq.) to include the innocent purchaser defense generally similar to the language in MTCA.