Whether for commercial or industrial use, property development requires an environmental site assessment to take place before purchase. These assessments provide vital information on the property’s state to determine if it is fit for building and whether any current structures are safe. Environmental site assessments are ultimately preventative measures that save business owners from a wide variety of costly problems, and the following guide outlines how they are performed. 

Phase I

Phase I of an environmental site assessment reviews every document connected to the property, including transfer, deed, and government environmental records. Any maps are also reviewed, including fire insurance maps. The property and any buildings within its perimeter undergo a thorough inspection as well. Environmental site assessment agents interview all persons associated with the property, including former owners and renters, neighbors, and local government officials. Interviews provide details about any issues the property has, such as frequent water main breaks or site contamination from hazardous waste. They also offer information on what the property was used for.

Phase II

Phase II delves deeper into potential contamination issues based on information provided in Phase I. Environmental site assessment agents devise a testing schedule to take samples from the property for laboratory analysis. Typical tests include those for groundwater, surface soil, subsurface soil, mold, lead, indoor air quality, and asbestos. Samples are also taken of any buried drums and tanks on the property, including underground storage tanks, as well as those from catch basins, floor drains, and dry wells. Phase II costs more than Phase I assessments due to the testing and laboratory time involved; however, it saves money on a larger scale because you can renegotiate the price of the property, require the current owner to commission decontamination services, or forgo the site entirely.

Schedule environmental site assessments with the experienced team at Shield Environmental Associates to make informed purchase decisions. The renowned environmental consulting firm established in 1983 serves commercial, industrial, and municipal organizations throughout Lexington, KY, and the surrounding areas. Air testing, wastewater treatment, and mold remediation are among the many services available in addition to site assessments. Call (859) 294-5155 (Lexington) or (502) 493-0305 (Louisville) to schedule an appointment, or visit the website for more information.