Phase I Environmental Assessments

The Eckland Phase I site assessment is a detailed report, based upon ASTM standards and Client requirements, that evaluates the environmental conditions and concerns of a property and adjoining properties using the following:

• A historical review of records pertaining to the subject property and surrounding area uses over the past 50 years. Records such as aerial photographs, city directories, fire insurance maps and historical maps are reviewed if they are available.
• A regulatory review covering federal and state environmental databases, as well as local agency information, identifying area properties with known environmental concerns.
• Visual site observations to attempt to identify environmental concerns, such as underground storage tanks or spills. Limited sampling for asbestos radon, lead-based paint and lead in water can be performed.
• Interviews with persons who are knowledgeable about the site and familiar with its past use and history. 

  Pre-Phase II Remediation Cost Analysis

  Phase II Exploration 

Should the Phase I site assessment indicate that further investigation is warranted, Phase II work can be performed as follows:

• The extent and severity of the identified environmental concerns are determined through testing to characterize site conditions.

If requested, a Remediation Cost Analysis is prepared. This is a business decision tool that quantifies potential environmental remediation costs on a property by modeling site conditions and applying engineering judgement. Results of this analysis can be used in purchase negotiations or to establish an escrow reserve account.

Phase III Remediation

Our Phase III Remediation Services are designed to mitigate the environmental conditions identified during Phase II work and to achieve regulatory site closure.

• We provide a means of restoring the marketability of the property by evaluating remedial alternatives, preparing a work plan, designing the remedial system and seeing the remediation process through to closure.
• Our remedial capabilities include construction management, environmental 
  sampling, system operation and maintenance and preparation of closure reports.

Environmental Desktop Reviews and Report Updates

Eckland is frequently called upon to review environmental reports prepared by others. Through this service, we provide a current, third party evaluation of a property's environmental conditions. Our reviews focus on identifying environmental concerns, as well as evaluating report quality and conformance to ASTM and/or Client standards. Report updates on recently completed environmental assessments are often conducted where a new Phase I is not deemed necessary.

Compliance Reviews

Eckland's environmental professionals assist our Clients in documenting whether activities at environmentally regulated tenant locations are conducted in accordance with current regulatory standards. These services provide property owners and lenders with periodic environmental observations to reduce the environmental liabilities associated with the tenant's operations. They are typically performed outside a real estate transaction and allow any necessary corrective action to be taken without constraining the transaction. These services are also performed as follow-up monitoring programs for environmentally active tenants during the term of a loan or lease.

Transaction Screens

A Transaction Screen is performed for small cap loans and on sites perceived to represent a low environmental concerns. The Transaction Screen consists of a visual site reconnaissance, a government records search and completion a site history checklist.