Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (Phase I ESA) evaluates a property’s current and historical uses to identify recognized environmental conditions associated with potential contamination.
Buyers, lenders and their advisors rely on a Phase I ESA to understand a property’s environmental history before a transaction moves forward.
1CADSource provides complete Phase I ESAs for commercial properties through our established collaboration with GreenSpec Energy. We conduct the site visits, field observations, photography and property-condition documentation, coordinate the historical and environmental due diligence each assessment requires, and carry that information through a structured reporting workflow in Quire. Evaluation, findings and final report responsibility rest with the qualified Environmental Professional on each engagement.
We also provide field documentation and assessment support to energy and environmental consulting firms that need additional field capacity.
Phase I ESAs for commercial real estate
A Phase I ESA is commonly used during property due diligence to look for evidence of past or present environmental concerns. It’s often requested for:
- Commercial property acquisitions
- Refinancing and lender due diligence
- Development and redevelopment planning
- Industrial, warehouse, retail and office property transactions
Purchasers, lenders, investors, brokers, developers and transaction attorneys may all rely on the timing and scope of this work, so we start by understanding the property, the transaction and who needs the report.
Field documentation and assessment support for consulting firms
Energy and environmental consulting firms sometimes need more field capacity than their staff can cover. 1CADSource can support those teams with:
- Site reconnaissance support and property walkthroughs
- Site photography and organized photo documentation
- Field notes and site observations
- Documentation prepared for your team’s review and reporting
Your firm directs the work and keeps responsibility for its findings, opinions and reports. We provide organized field information your team can use, and our CAD background supports clear site and property documentation. You can explore our other services as well.
What a complete assessment generally includes
The scope is set for each property, and a complete Phase I ESA generally brings together:
- Records review
- Federal, state, tribal and local government environmental records
- Historical research
- Sources showing how the property has been used over time
- Site reconnaissance
- A visual inspection of the property and adjoining properties
- Interviews
- Conversations with past and present owners, operators and occupants
- Evaluation and reporting
- A written report with an environmental professional’s findings and opinions, including any significant data gaps
How 1CADSource and GreenSpec Energy work together
This offering is delivered through an established, active working relationship on commercial Phase I ESA engagements. Each party’s role is clear from the start:
- 1CADSource
- Inquiries and project coordination, commercial property site visits, field observations, site photography, property-condition documentation and field data entered directly into the report workflow
- GreenSpec Energy
- Our collaborating partner for environmental due diligence and Phase I ESA report preparation
- Qualified Environmental Professional
- Evaluation of the information gathered, findings and conclusions, and professional responsibility for the final report
Each proposal defines the project scope, the team involved and each party’s responsibilities, so you know who’s doing what before work begins.
Structured environmental reporting with Quire
Our Phase I ESA reports are prepared in Quire, the environmental reporting platform we use as our standard workflow with GreenSpec Energy. It brings field observations, site photographs, property information and report documentation into one structured workflow, helping us deliver organized, consistent reports for commercial real estate due diligence.
Because observations and photographs are entered into Quire from the field, the information collected on site carries directly into the report. Environmental evaluations, conclusions and final professional responsibility remain with the qualified Environmental Professional.
ASTM E1527-21 and All Appropriate Inquiries
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) rule, 40 CFR Part 312, sets the federal requirements for evaluating a property’s environmental conditions before acquisition. EPA recognizes ASTM E1527-21, the current Phase I ESA standard practice, as a way to satisfy those requirements.
Timing matters. Under the AAI rule, the inquiry must be conducted or updated within one year before acquisition, and key components, including interviews, government records review, the site inspection and cleanup lien searches, must be conducted or updated within 180 days. If you have a closing date, tell us when you first reach out.
The applicable standard and scope for your project are confirmed in the proposal. Your attorney can advise on how an assessment fits your transaction and liability position.
What to send for a proposal
Pricing and turnaround are defined on each proposal. To help us prepare one, send:
- The property address, type and approximate size
- Your role and the purpose of the assessment
- The expected closing or decision date
- Any lender or investor report requirements
- Prior environmental reports, if available
- A site access contact
Consulting firms should also include the project location, the field documentation required and the deliverable format.
Standards and regulatory references
The standards and federal regulations discussed on this page are available from their publishers:
- ASTM E1527-21, Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process (ASTM International)
- 40 CFR Part 312, Innocent Landowners, Standards for Conducting All Appropriate Inquiries (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations)
- 40 CFR 312.20, All appropriate inquiries, including the one-year and 180-day timing requirements
- 40 CFR 312.21, Results of inquiry by an environmental professional
- EPA Brownfields: All Appropriate Inquiries (US Environmental Protection Agency)
- EPA All Appropriate Inquiries Final Rule fact sheet (PDF)
- EPA Superfund landowner liability protections (US Environmental Protection Agency)
Frequently asked questions
What affects the cost of a Phase I ESA?
Cost depends on the property’s size, location, history and complexity, the records involved, site access and the required schedule. We don’t publish standard rates, because each proposal is based on the property and scope.
What’s the difference between a Phase I and a Phase II ESA?
A Phase I ESA relies on records, site observation and interviews to identify potential environmental concerns. A Phase II ESA is a separate investigation that may follow when testing is warranted. Phase II work isn’t part of this service.
Does a Phase I ESA include soil or groundwater sampling?
No. A Phase I ESA doesn’t normally involve sampling or laboratory testing. Subsurface sampling, laboratory analysis and remediation aren’t included in this service.
Does a Phase I ESA guarantee liability protection?
No. Federal landowner liability protections have their own requirements, including continuing obligations after acquisition. An assessment is one part of that process, and your attorney should advise on your specific situation.
Do you serve all locations?
Our Phase I ESA work is focused on Southern California, primarily San Diego, Orange and Los Angeles counties and the corridor between San Diego and Los Angeles. Availability depends on the property’s location and scope. Send the address, and we’ll confirm whether we can support the assessment.
Ready to discuss a property?
Tell us about the property, the transaction or project, and your target date. We’ll follow up with next steps.