What Are Phase II Environmental Site Assessments?

As a one-stop environmental services provider, Environmental Works offers a wide range of environmental assessments. Those include Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments. Phase I Assessments identify any hazardous substances in a designated site – but what are Phase II Environmental Site Assessments? Read on to find out how these assessments can make or break your property values.

What Are Phase II Environmental Site Assessments?

The Difference Between Phase I and Phase II Assessments

Phase I Environmental Site Assessments are a risk management tool frequently employed during commercial real estate transactions. Take, for example, a former gas station site being converted into a bank. A Phase I assessment would identify all historical uses of the property and establish the presence of any remaining hazardous substances, including tainted soil or groundwater. Phase II assessments only follow Phase I assessments when Phase I assessments identify hazardous substances at the site. In these cases, an environmental expert would perform a Phase II Assessment using standards outlined in the ASTM E1903-11 Standard Guide.

When Are Phase II Assessments Necessary?

As mentioned above, Phase II assessments are only necessary on a case-by-case basis; specifically, when a Phase I assessment identifies what is known as a recognized environmental condition (REC). RECs can greatly reduce a property’s value, limiting the potential uses of a property and posing hazards to individuals and the environment. A Phase II assessment occurs when RECs are identified, allowing stakeholders to test the soil and groundwater in an affected site. By determining the severity of the site’s RECs, stakeholders can make decisions involving potential remediation.

What Do These Assessments Involve?

During a Phase II assessment, environmental experts typically begin by taking soil and groundwater samples at a few locations throughout the site. After collecting the samples, the environmental experts send the samples to a laboratory for analysis. For example, if a team conducts a Phase II assessment at a former dry cleaning site, they would then analyze samples to determine if dry cleaner solvents are present in the site’s soil and groundwater. The team then works to collect samples at more locations until the entire site has been analyzed, often over the course of a month or two. Once contamination levels are determined, remediation can begin. Only after remediation can stakeholders move forward with commercial transactions.

Choosing an Environmental Expert

Phase II assessments are guided by standards outlined in ASTM E1903-11. There is, however, a fair amount of professional judgement necessary to compile a final Phase II report. Before engaging an environmental expert to conduct an assessment, you’ll want to ensure that the consultant in question has full grasp of the types of drilling and sample collection necessary for your specific site. When in doubt, opt for an experienced consultant with a team of experts available to offer all-in-one support for sites of all sizes. This includes on-site support and in-house laboratory analysis for faster results.

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Phase II Environmental Site Assessments are a crucial aspect of many environmental regulatory decisions, as well as everyday commercial real estate transactions. Improperly conducted assessments can reduce the effectiveness of remedial actions, negatively impacting property values. When in doubt, opt for an experienced consulting company like Environmental Works to complete your necessary assessments.

Do you need assistance with Phase II Environmental Site Assessments? Give Environmental Works a call. We have in-house experts ready to help. We will walk you through the specifics of your organization’s planning and compliance needs; additionally, we can explore the ways you can be prepared as you advance through the stages of environmental assessment. When you’re ready, you can contact EWI online or call 877-827-9500 for more information.