San Francisco Bay Area Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Company Geo Forward is a San Francisco Bay Area Phase I Environmental Site Assessment company with projects throughout Northern California. The Bay Area team includes historians, scientists, and seasoned professionals with expertise in local geology, hydrogeology, and commercial land use. The Bay Area Team applies its…
Houston Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Company Geo Forward is a preferred Houston Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment company. The Texas team is dedicated to preserving the industrial progress of the greater Houston area, with environmental compliance and sustainability. With highly efficient methods and technology, Geo Forward produces cost-effective environmental data, productive solutions, and action…
Vapor Intrusion Vapor Intrusion occurs when harmful soil contamination changes phase from liquid to vapor underground and moves upward through geologic layers and building foundations, accumulating within indoor air.
Leaking Underground Storage Tank (UST) Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST): A leaking underground storage tank (LUST) is a known case of hazardous liquid materials released into the environment, from within an underground storage tank (UST) source. The term “LUST” commonly applies to gasoline station soil contamination cases overseen by environmental regulatory agencies. Also See: Underground…
Underground Storage Tank Sizes & Volumes There are a variety of underground storage tank sizes and volumes. Usually, a UST size relates to the purpose, location, and content of the container. For instance, some underground diesel fuel tanks can have lengths up to 55 feet and hold as much as 30,000 gallons. Whereas waste oil…
ASTM E1527-21 Standard Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Quarter four of the year 2021 entails an update to the ASTM Standard for Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment reports. The current ASTM standard for a Phase 1 ESA is “E1527-13.” Per a mandatory revision cycle, version E1527-21 proposes modern strategies to assess new and existing human…
Bowser Underground Gasoline Storage Tank & Storage Outfit Sylvanus Freelove (S.F.) Bowser is credited with inventing the first gasoline pump and storage tank combination in 1885. Originally, he invented the pump to dispense kerosene, but as the popularity of gasoline increased with the rise of the automobile, so too did the application of the Bowser…
Phase 2 Environmental Recommendation In some cases, there may be a Phase 2 Environmental recommendation for a property, resulting from a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment. Typically, this occurs when one or more Recognizable Environmental Conditions indicate the possibility of subsurface contamination. For instance, a property with an in-place underground storage tank (UST) can likely…
Understanding the Underground Storage Tank Abandonment Process The underground storage tank abandonment process is a complex series of construction and demolition tasks that require intensive environmental regulation and oversight. An underground storage tank, or “UST,” is a large vessel, usually comprising steel or fiberglass, that serves to hold large volumes of liquid. These tanks typically…
Remediation after Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment Contamination Remediation refers to the process of cleaning up a property with contamination issues that are usually discovered during the Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and Phase 2 Subsurface Investigation process. Today, there are a variety of remediation methods and technologies to apply at a site. And…
How Long is a Phase 1 Environmental Assessment Good For? A Phase 1 Environmental Assessment is good for one year in most cases. However, expiration also depends on the purpose of the report, and events that take place on the property. For instance, changing industry standards, new environmental conditions, and the CERCLA statutes of limitations…
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process The Phase I Environmental Site Assessment process comprises a rigorous review of a property’s history, along with a physical inspection of the current conditions. And the end result is a lengthy report that follows regulation standards. For the convenience of Clients, environmental consultants usually provide executive summaries at the…
Phase 2 Environmental Screening Level Phase 2 Environmental Screening Level Numbers are comparative concentrations of chemicals in soil or soil-gas, which represent a threshold for human health concern. In a Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment, these numbers are tools to compare directly with the contaminant detection on site. As a result, a practical risk assessment…
Environmental Professional Definition Environmental Professional: As per the EPA’s All Appropriate Inquiries Rule, an environmental professional is an environmental consultant that has an accredited education in earth or natural science, at least five years of formal training under another environmental professional, a professional state license, and maintains expert knowledge in the environmental geology, sustainability, and…
All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) The term “All Appropriate Inquiries” (AAI) is defined as the official EPA and ASTM method to inquire about current or historical environmental conditions that may exist on a property, in relation to their legal and environmental liabilities during a commercial real estate transaction. The All Appropriate Inquiries “Final Rule” is 40 CFR…
Definition of Recognized Environmental Condition (REC) What is a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC)? A simplified definition of a recognized environmental condition (REC) is any occurrence whereby: 1). actual pollution of the environment is occurring; 2). the threat of pollution of the environment occurs; or 3). there is a preponderance of evidence suggesting possible pollution of…
Boyle Dayton Los Angeles The Boyle Dayton Los Angeles Company was a reputable manufacturer and seller of fueling pumps and standalone underground tanks, for automobiles in the early 1900s. Unlike modern gasoline service stations, the Boyle Dayton Company was a specialty manufacturer of curbside fuel station accessories. Curbside fueling stations were common in America before…
Environmental Questionnaire Sample & Example An environmental questionnaire is a preliminary task in the environmental due diligence process by lenders and other information-seekers. The questionnaire screens the environmental hazards of a property undergoing any transaction. It consolidates the known facts of a property upfront, for a basic level of contamination and health risk presumption. Typically,…
Phase 1 Reliance Letter Cost & Price A Phase 1 Reliance Letter cost can vary. However, typical prices for a Phase 1 ESA Reliance Letter range from $250 to $600. Moreover, prices for a Phase 1 ESA and Phase 2 ESA Reliance Letter together can range between $850 and $2,000. In addition to the time spent preparing…
De Minimis Condition in Phase 1 ESA Reports? A de minimis condition, as per the ASTM E1527 Standard for Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment reports, is a property condition that doesn’t pose a threat to human health or the environment. Although this is a notable concern to document, it does not warrant further action or…
What is the Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Cost As of the year 2024 a typical Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment cost ranges between $1,900 and $3,200. The price depends on the property size, location, and turnaround time. Sometimes, Phase 1 ESA prices can be as high as $6,500. For instance, a 3,000-sqft typical commercial…
Dry Cleaner Soil Contamination Dry cleaner soil contamination issues are no mystery to commercial property owners and investors. Even when landlords trust their dry cleaning tenants to run a clean shop, the process remains stressful. For instance, soil contamination cleanup can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Additionally, time and development opportunities may be impacted….
Reporting Results of Environmental Due Diligence Investigation “Are there requirements for reporting results of an Environmental Due Diligence Investigation to the government?” Each case is different. The answer is generally “no,” because ESA reports are typically proprietary. However, if there is any trace of danger or impact on the public’s health or well-being (in any…
Dry Cleaner Soil Testing Dry cleaner soil testing is an environmental engineering and geology service that aims to determine the presence of chemical contamination to the subsurface, resulting from dry cleaning operations. The primary contaminant of concern during dry cleaner soil testing is tetrachloroethylene (PCE), as well as its break-down products. PCE is a manufactured volatile…
What is a Brownfield Site (Brownfields)? A Brownfield site is real property with plans for redevelopment, that has the potential presence of pollution and subsurface hazardous substance contamination. And the Brownfields Revitalization and Environmental Restoration Act of 2001 (also known as the Brownfields Act) encourages environmental remediation when and where necessary. The act is a…
Superfund: CERCLA Innocent Landowner Defense Superfund is CERCLA which is an acronym for the “Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.” The CERCLA Innocent Landowner Defense policy was passed on December 11 in 1980, following the realization that historical hazardous waste disposal and materials handling practices were grossly negligent. The law grants Federal authorities to…
