ECA performs QUALITY Phase 1 environmental site assessments NATIONWIDE

Feedback from satisfied clients

"The summary report was extremely helpful and presented in an exemplary format. The final report was well prepared and thought out. It provided us with easy to read facts which allowed me to make a more intelligent decision on our business deal. Your company has become the barometer for other Phase 1 projects to be measured. The acquisition attorneys were also impressed and it is obvious that this was not the first Phase 1 assessment to cross their desk." ...
Angus DeWalt, Manager of Regulatory Affairs, Walco International Inc.

"I want to let you know that I’ve been very impressed with your whole process.   I think you’ve got something that definitely sets you apart from the other firms.  I look forward to working with you in the near future."
Tria L. Bullard, Columbia River Bank

WHY do I need a Phase 1 environmental site assessment?

Also known as a due diligence environmental assessment, Phase 1 Study, or Phase 1 Investigation, a Phase 1 ESA serves the following purposes:

Determines whether the Property complies with local, state, and federal environmental regulations
Identifies noncompliance issues regarding the Property
Recommends economical solutions that will achieve compliance with applicable regulations and reduce environmental liabilities

A properly performed Phase 1 ESA (for real estate transactions) consists of three parts:

A review of government records and interviews with appropriate officials, regarding the Property and adjacent properties
A site reconnaissance of the Property and all structures
An evaluation of acquired information and the presentation of findings and recommendations in a written report

The Department of Justice, in regard to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), recognizes the fact that Phase I environmental assessments (ESAs) benefit the environment and considers such proactive measures as significant factors towards mitigation of enforcement matters. In a time when regulators have little if any tolerance for noncompliance, the due diligence demonstrated in the form of a Phase 1 environmental site assessment can provide significant protection from liability for a relatively small cost.

So yes - a Phase 1 ESA is necessary, if you wish to minimize your exposure to environmental liabilities.

ECA performs all assessments according to ASTM Standard E 1527-05 and the latest All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) protocol. Mr. Smith is both a geologist and an engineer, with an undergraduate degree in environmental biology and a graduate degree in the earth sciences. With over 23 years experience in the earth science and environmental services disciplines, Mr. Smith has performed more than 150 Phase 1 environmental site assessments, as well as the more complicated Phase 2 assessments for clients representing interests ranging from agricultural to heavy industrial. Of the many "professionals" performing these assessments, few have the technical expertise to perform a comprehensive investigation that addresses potential / existing issues that a Phase 1 ESA is designed to find.

You should also ask how far back in time they search records, as MANY Phase 1 providers have the false notion that 50 years is sufficient, when in fact a proper search should go back to first development or 1940, whichever is earliest. You should also ask what constitutes a "data failure". A legitimate data failure, regarding standard historical sources, occurs when the source of information is not reasonably accessible (ie, tucked away in a back room within a pile of unlabelled boxes). An illegitimate data failure occurs when a stressed-out employee (of a large firm) has an hour left before (s)he must board the plane enroute to the next assignment and realizes that the city directory information (s)he still needs to get will have to become "not reasonably accessible" or (s)he has Hell to pay!

Amongst the full-service environmental firms, it is a common practice to delegate Phase 1 ESAs to less experienced staff, since Phase 1 ESAs are not big money-makers and because they are incorrectly perceived as simple boiler-plate assignments. Accordingly, many established firms perform Phase 1 ESAs that are oftentimes grossly inadequate in both content and scope!

When you're paying good money for inferior work that will later be scrutinized by high-paid attorneys, you're setting yourself up for some REAL STRESS later on!

Okay, I need a Phase 1 ESA - what should I be looking for?

Please keep in mind the following criteria, when selecting your next Phase 1 assessor:

 Do they follow all elements of ASTM Standard E 1527-05 and/or AAI (40 CFR 312)?
... do they go back to the property's FIRST USE or 1940, whichever is earliest ?

 Do they satisfy the recent AAI requirements (40 CFR 312.10) for an Environmental Professional?
... ECA EXCEEDS the AAI requirements!

Click HERE for the current EPA Standards for Conducting All Appropriate Inquiries.
Click HERE to download EDR's article on All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) - a MUST read for any due diligence professional!

 Do they perform environmental lien searches?
... ECA will diligently attempt to identify any outstanding environmental liens back to the property's first use.  

 Do they field-check, double-check Regulatory Database hits?
... "Regulatory Reports" often have numerous unmappable sites! ECA confirms all unmappable sites.

 Do they provide aerial photographs?
... a picture IS worth a thousand words!

 Do they have "field smarts"?

... ECA has excellent "on-site intuition", acquired from performing numerous Phase 2 site assessments and underground storage tank (UST) work!

 Do they check the regulatory status of the site?
... if the site requires a file review, ECA performs file reviews at no additional cost!

 Do they have sufficient environmental consulting experience?
... Brett D. Smith PE, PG (owner) has over 23 years experience working as a geologist / engineer / geophysicist.

 Do their final reports that typically comprise over 60 pages (no padding!) that include at least six appendices?

ECA writes comprehensive UN-padded reports. It's impossible to follow ASTM / AAI protocol and then produce skimpy 1/4-inch thick reports. Also be aware of "thick" reports that contain unnecessary additional pages (padding) that offset missing or minimal substantive content. Though time-efficient, reports written via the popular "Parcel" templates seem to lack the customized site-specific information found in our Phase 1 reports.

Some consultants do not provide specific media sampling (soil testing and/or water testing) recommendations for those occasional properties that require further (Phase 2) environmental assessment work. When necessary, ECA will recommend specific sampling protocols, so that you will know EXACTLY what needs to be done to properly assess the recognized environmental conditions (RECs) at your property. This allows you to intelligently bid out the Phase 2 work and thus secure the most cost-effective solution to your problem.

ECA is able to determine the regulatory and hydrogeological environment in which your property exists, so that we WILL NOT recommend further (Phase II) work, unless there is SUFFICIENT REASON to do so!

Partial List of Phase 1 ESAs Performed

Environmental Compliance Associates, LLC
8524 West Gage Boulevard, Bldg A-132
Kennewick, WA 99336
Fax: (509) 396-0805
Voice: (509) 628-9959
Cell: (509) 366-1205
ecabrett@charter.net