We routinely perform Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments (ESAs) for a wide range of clients to help them minimize their environmental risk. Phase I Environmental Assessments are a study conducted on a property in order to determine how likely it is that environmental contamination could occur. This usually requires a review of the past history of the land’s usage, a site walk, interviews with both people at the site and with local agencies, and a final submittal of a completed report to a client.
Many properties might be flagged for certain conditions noted in a Phase I assessment that require a closer look. This deeper investigation is known as a Phase II Environmental Assessment.
Here’s an overview of what to expect if a Phase II assessment will be necessary on your property.
What is a Phase II Environmental Assessment?
Basically, a Phase II Environmental Assessment is a more in-depth version of the process described above. In an effort to determine more information about a site’s history, more hands-on work is usually necessary. This usually entails performing a “subsurface investigation” or a “site investigation,” meaning that samples of soil and soil gas may be collected.
This process also includes taking samples of the groundwater and evaluating for vapor intrusion. These samples are collected from areas where assessors believe the chances for contamination were the greatest. If elevated contaminant concentrations are discovered as a result of this study, remediation efforts may be necessary to help bring the site up to standards.
What Does a Phase II Environmental Assessment Cost?
Phase II assessments will typically cost more than the Phase I for a variety of reasons.
For starters, it just takes longer. It takes time to collect and analyze a diverse array of samples, and strict criteria must be followed in doing so. So, logically, it follows that a Phase II assessment is going to cost more than a Phase I as well.
These costs are not one size fits all, as one might imagine, and depend on factors including the initial assessment, the size and location of the site and the number of samples that are needed.
Will I Need One at My Site?
The good news is that Phase II Environmental Assessments are not needed as often as Phase I assessments, which is helpful from a planning and budgeting standpoint.
The challenge is that it can be difficult to discern the need for a Phase II assessment early on, as there may not be enough information in the early stages of the environmental assessment process to determine the need. This is what makes the performance of a Phase I assessment so critical, as it provides that information.
A Phase II Environmental Assessment is sometimes a necessary step to determine the viability and environmental risk of a site. Our team is well-versed in these types of assessments, and we are fully capable of helping you meet your goals for your project.
Leaaf Environmental provides landowners, real estate developers, engineers, and architects with in-depth environmental assessments done to the satisfaction of the most current ASTM standards. Contact our experts today to learn more.
