Environmental Site Assessments - Phase 1 - The Investigation

In the last post we learned that an Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is an industry-recognized tool that seeks to answer two questions:

1. What is the "likelihood" of contamination on, in or under the property?
2. If it is likely, then what is the “location and concentration” of the contamination?

To answer these questions we use different types of ESA’s.  A Phase I ESA answers the first question, while a Phase II ESA answers the second question.

So how does a Phase I determine that a property is “likely” to be contaminated?

Every ESA is performed by a “Qualified Person” or “QP” (usually with training in a science or engineering).  You can think of a QP as a kind of CSI detective. But instead of examining a body, a QP examines a property.  And instead of looking for evidence of a crime, a QP looks for evidence of environmental contamination.  

The investigative procedures used in CSI and an ESA are remarkably similar. The QP does the following to prepare the Phase I.

1. Review Records (surveys, deeds, aerial photos, reports of spills)
2. Conduct Interviews (owners, neighbours, employees, tenants)
3. Do Site Reconnaissance (look for physical evidence of contamination).

The QP evaluates all the evidence and then writes the Phase I report.  If the QP suspects that contamination exists on the property, then the Phase 1 ESA will recommend performing a Phase II ESA,  to validate those suspicions.  

Next Blog: Environmental Site Assessments - Phase II - 'The Burden of Proof'