Phase II Environmental Site Assessments
Ensure Your Property’s Environmental Safety with a Comprehensive Phase II ESA
When a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) identifies potential environmental concerns, a Phase II ESA is the next critical step. This detailed investigation confirms the presence or absence of contamination and assesses the nature and extent of any environmental hazards.
Altamira’s staff of expert engineers and consultants are experienced in administering Phase I and II ESAs. Learn more about what they are and why you may need one with us today.
Why Choose Our Phase II ESA and Soil Testing Services?
The engineers and consultants at Altamira are proud to offer Phase II ESAs throughout the United States. We set ourselves apart through our history of:
- Thorough Investigation: Our team conducts extensive soil and groundwater sampling, building material testing, and other necessary evaluations to identify contaminants.
- Customized Solutions: Based on the findings, we provide tailored recommendations for further investigation or remediation.
- Regulatory Compliance: Our assessments help you meet all local, state, and federal environmental regulations, minimizing legal risks and liabilities.
Our Process
The team at Altamira makes our Phase II ESA assessments as streamlined as possible, minimizing your downtime. We’ll guide you through each of these steps as efficiently as possible:
- Initial Consultation: We discuss your specific needs and review the Phase I ESA findings.
- Site Investigation: Our experts perform on-site sampling and testing to gather data.
- Laboratory Analysis: Samples are analyzed in certified labs to detect contaminants.
- Reporting: We compile a detailed report with findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
- Follow-Up: If necessary, we assist with remediation planning and implementation.
What Are the Benefits of a Phase II ESA?
Aside from being a requirement in many situations, a Phase II ESA can enable:
- Informed Decision-Making: Gain a clear understanding of environmental risks before property transactions.
- Risk Mitigation: Identify and address potential hazards early to avoid costly surprises.
- Peace of Mind: Ensure the safety and compliance of your property for future development.
What Is a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment?
A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment involves scientific testing of soil, water, and air, to determine the presence of recognizable environmental conditions (RECs) and other potential challenges on a property. RECs indicate the presence or likely presence of hazardous materials or petroleum products on, in, or at a property.
A Phase II evaluation can reduce liability and give banks and insurance companies more confidence in working with the property owner.
When Do I Need a Phase II ESA?
- Land transfer: Any time commercial land changes ownership, the prospective owners should request an ESA to get a comprehensive picture of how its past may influence future use.
- Loan approval: Many banks require an ESA before approving the potential buyer for a loan to reduce their liability.
What Does a Phase II ESA Include?
Every property is different, and so is each Phase II assessment. However, most evaluations will go through these steps.
Phase I ESA
While Phase I and Phase II ESAs are entirely separate assessments, a Phase I ESA occurs before a Phase II. Phase I ESAs are more concerned with building a historical account of a property and its past and current uses. This information can tell an environmental professional whether the site is at risk of contamination. If it is, the environmental professional will likely recommend the potential buyer move forward with a Phase II inspection.
Whether your property needs a Phase II ESA is entirely dependent on the findings of the Phase I ESA.
Consultation and Planning
Even though most properties have just undergone a Phase I ESA, Phase II requires a lot of hands-on testing, so it requires a comprehensive plan informed by research. Depending on the site’s history, this round of assessment may involve drilling into the ground, collecting soil samples from multiple locations, testing water and a variety of other procedures. Furthermore, different cities and states have their own regulations involving contamination standards, so before we can complete testing, we must ensure we’re following all standards set forth by each body governing your area.
Using all this information, we can construct a health and safety plan (HASP) outlining potential hazards to look out for during the assessment and how we plan to mitigate such risks. This environmental HASP is mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Site Investigation
Once everything is prepared and permitted, the inspection team can return to the site and begin the fieldwork. Our on-site processes include:
- Site inspection and detailed map creation.
- Utility clearance marking.
- Sample collection for lab analysis.
This fieldwork can take multiple days to complete and must be supervised by a state-certified senior geologist to be in accordance with Phase II regulations. Altamira’s consultants and engineers work closely with certified professionals who can ensure our collections are done safely and effectively.
Laboratory Analysis
Following the fieldwork collection processes, we will take all the samples we have and complete a laboratory analysis of our findings. During this analysis, we’ll be looking for contaminants in the soil, water and air and determining whether the presence of these contaminants is harmful to people or the environment.
Review Data and Reporting
After gathering all the information and analyzing the samples, you are left with an extensive amount of data that needs confirmation and organization. The final part of our assessment involves reviewing all data and drawing conclusions about the state of the property in question. We will prepare a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Report that summarizes our work and provides recommendations, if necessary.
The final report should detail the entire ESA process, including research, information about the sample collection process and conclusions based on current industry, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. Once approved by our professional geologist, the report is ready for submission.
Follow-Up Support
Even after your assessment is complete, Altamira remains your trusted surveyor. We take action on any issues that occur during our assessment, helping you plan for potential remediation and implement new changes that keep you compliant and efficient far into the future.
Request Your Phase II Assessment Today
If you need a company capable of handling all your environmental site assessments, Altamira is ready to get started. Our professionals will guide you through every step of the assessments and make sure your property is safe and prepared for your next big plan. Connect with us today and start moving your project forward, one step at a time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Phase II Environmental Site Assessments
If contamination is confirmed, the Phase II report documents the findings and typically recommends next steps, which may include additional delineation sampling, risk assessment or development of a remediation plan. In many states, confirmed contamination at levels exceeding standards must be reported to the state environmental agency, which may require corrective action under the state’s voluntary cleanup or regulatory program.
A Phase II ESA typically takes four to twelve weeks from mobilization to final report, depending on the scope of investigation, laboratory turnaround times and whether additional sampling rounds are needed based on initial results. Complex sites or those requiring regulatory agency coordination may take longer.
Phase II sampling typically includes advancing soil borings and monitoring wells, collecting soil and groundwater samples at targeted locations identified by the Phase I findings and analyzing samples for site-specific contaminants such as petroleum hydrocarbons, chlorinated solvents, heavy metals and PFAS. Results are compared to applicable regulatory cleanup standards to determine if further action is needed.
A Phase II ESA is conducted when a Phase I ESA identifies recognized environmental conditions (RECs) that require further investigation, when a property has a known history of chemical storage or spills or when a lender or regulatory agency requires confirmation of site conditions before a transaction or permit approval. It is not always required after every Phase I, but is warranted when specific concerns are identified.
A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is an investigation involving physical sampling of soil, groundwater, soil vapor or building materials to determine whether contamination identified as a concern in a Phase I ESA is actually present. Laboratory analysis of collected samples characterizes the nature, extent and concentration of any contamination, forming the basis for risk assessment and remediation planning.
For more details, download our Environmental Health and Safety brochure.
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