In the United States, an Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is a specialized report crafted to evaluate a property’s potential exposure to environmental hazards. This assessment not only looks at the land itself but also considers any physical structures or developments on the site. Its primary purpose is to identify and assess any existing or potential environmental liabilities, offering valuable insight into the property’s environmental health and risks. Understanding the Basics: Since the 1980s, the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) has been a vital tool in protecting landowners under The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA’s) “innocent landowner Read More »
Separation Systems Consultants, Inc. (SSCI) has worked extensively with various owners, contractors, and transportation agencies to resolve issues encountered during the construction of new roads. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy— the book and subsequent movies and broadcasts — is a satire (1981) making light of right-of-way (ROW) issues. In the original book, an alien wrecking crew destroys Earth to make way for a new intergalactic bypass. In the movie, a human construction crew knocks down the main character’s house with all his belongings still inside because the home is in a newly “declared” ROW. In real life, however, ROW Read More »
Environmental services SSCI history
Throw Back Thursday to SSCI’s With Pollution Experts, Look Before You Leap
With pollution experts, look before you leap. Experience counts; bargains can prove costly. Here are some common fallacies: A limited asbestos survey is sufficient to determine the presence of asbestos. Environmental regulations are the same in every state. A consultant who has identified an environmental problem with a Phase I assessment can then just clean it up; there is no need to pay for a Phase II assessment. Historical use of the property is not a source of concern. If the environmental consultant makes no recommendations for further study or cleanup, there are no problems. This article appeared in the Read More »
Since the passage of the Superfund Cleanup Acceleration Act of 1998, anyone interested in selling, buying or financing a commercial property is encouraged or required to have an environmental site assessment (ESA) performed to uncover evidence of environmental site contamination. To obtain Innocent Landowner status, the buyer must assure that the Phase I ESA meets the specific requirements of ASTM E1527-13: Standard Practice for Environmental Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process. If there’s indication of contamination, a Phase II environmental investigation is used to determine the presence, or absence of, petroleum products or hazardous waste in the subsurface of Read More »