Environmental Site Assessments
New Standard ASTM E1527-21 Approved by EPA
​on March 14, 2022

Do Your Due Diligence:
ASTM E1527-21
GEOTERREN produces high quality  Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
(Phase I ESAs), Environmental Transaction Screen Reports (ETSs), and Desktop Review Reports (DRRs)  for purchasers of commercial real estate, financing institutions, and developers. Are you certain your Environmental Professional is up-to-date on the Standard?

​As of December 2021, the Phase I ESA Standard ASTM E1527-21 (EPA-approved on March 14, 2022) established new guidelines for Phase I ESAs. New definitions were established in the Standard to clarify decisions for the Environmental Professional. 

The Standard includes evaluation of :

Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs). Historical Recognized Environmental Conditions (HRECs), Controlled Recognized Environmental Conditions (CRECs), and Vapor Encroachment Conditions (VECs).  
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With over 30 years of experience in environmental consulting, GEOTERREN's expertise ensures your Subject Property's environmental history will be evaluated by an Environmental Professional with superior knowledge of Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, Phase II and III Site Assessments, geology, hydrogeology, and remediation. Unfortunately, many Phase I ESA companies utilize junior staff with little to no Phase I or II ESA experience to perform your site visit, review the Subject Property history, and prepare your report. Senior level personnel may only perform a cursory review of the final results..

         Don't be caught with a poorly researched and poorly written report! Your liability is on the line.
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​Phase I Environmental Site Assessments

For sites where environmental risk may be encountered and a higher level of confidence is required for environmental risk business decisions, and legal protection under All Appropriate Inquiries is required,

​GEOTERREN will perform a Phase I ESA using the ASTM E-1527-21 Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process..  Geoterren’s Phase I ESA includes an evaluation if the Subject Property is:
  • Listed on major local and national environmental databases, as required by the ASTM Standard for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments.
  • Surrounded by listed environmental sites within up to a one-mile radius of the Subject Property that may pose environmental risk to the property.

​​The Phase I ESA report includes:
  • Review of a Radius Map Report (RMR) for your Property.  
  • A site visit to visually evaluate Property conditions and nearby sites.
  • Interviews with available site personnel (environmental questionnaire submitted to owner and/or Property Manager).
  • Review of available historical information, such as Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, historical aerial photographs, and/or city directories.
  • Review of available files from regulatory agencies (e.g., local fire and building departments, county health department).
  • Limited review of user-provided chemical data for the Subject Property, if available.
  • A Vapor Encroachment Screen.
  • 10- and 15-business day turnaround time is available.
  • Cost Range: dependent on location and parcel size.  Typical charge ranges from $2,300 to $3,000 depending on site location and preliminary evaluation of site history.
  • Multiple site parcels may be charged extra, depending on site conditions.
  • An Environmental lien and Activity Use Limitation (AUL) report extending back to 1980 is included as a requirement in the new Standard and is to be supplied by the User. For an extra charge, GEOTERREN will order the report as part of the a Premium Package to 1980.  

Environmental Transaction Screens

For sites where some environmental risk may be encountered and a higher level of confidence is required than a desktop review, but no legal protection under All Appropriate Inquiries is required,

​GEOTERREN will perform an Environmental Transaction Screen (ETS).  In such cases, ASTM E-1528 Standard Practice for Limited Environmental Due Diligence: Environmental Transaction Screen Guidelines are utilized.  The ETS includes:
  • Review of an Identified Radius Map Report (RMR) for your Property.
  • Evaluation of the hydrogeologic location of the Property, relative to the expected flow of groundwater in the Property vicinity, and an assessment of the potential for surrounding sites to pose environmental risk to groundwater beneath the Property.
  • A site visit to visually evaluate Property conditions and nearby sites.
  • Interviews with available site personnel (environmental questionnaire submitted to owner and/or Property Manager).
  • Review of available historical information, such as Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, historical aerial photographs, and/or city directories.
  • Limited review of user-provided chemical data for the Property, if available.
  • An ETS Report signed by an experienced Environmental Professional.
  • 7- to -10-business day turnaround time is available.
  • Cost Range: $600-1,000, depending on location and parcel size.  Multiple parcels may be charged extra, depending on site conditions.

Desktop Review Report

For properties where minimal environmental risk is expected and no legal protection under All Appropriate Inquiries is required, GEOTERREN will prepare a Desktop Review Report (DRR) which includes evaluation of a Radius Map Report (RMR) for your Property.  

​The RMR identifies if the Subject Property is:
  • Listed on major local and national environmental databases required by the ASTM Standard for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments.
  • Surrounded by environmental sites within up to a one-mile radius of the Property.

The DRR deliverable includes a letter report summarizing the results of the evaluation and the RMR, and recommendations for further action, if deemed appropriate.  Turnaround time on a DRR is usually between 3 and 5 business days.  Under the desktop assessment, no site visit is performed.

Cost Range: $300 to $500

Information Required for Phase I ESA Preparation - User Responsibility

Information required for Phase I ESAs include: Assessor's Parcel Number(s), street address(es), owner of Subject Property, purpose of Phase I ESA, Reliant Parties (i.e., who is authorized to utilize the report), and site contact information (name and phone number)..

Under ASTM E1527-21, the User is to provide the Environmental Professional all previous investigation and/or remediation reports for the Subject Property, a preliminary title indicating ownership, specialized knowledge regarding the history of the Subject Property, environmental liens, environmental deeds, or Activity Land Use Limitations (AULs), and any devaluation of the Subject Property for environmental reasons.   
GEOTERRENEnvironmental Services - Experienced and Expeditious  - providing you the best possible product, On time and on budget.