Services - Environmental Site Assessments

ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT SERVICES - RTP ENVIRONMENTAL

ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT SERVICES

Introduction : The purpose of a site assessment is to review past and present land use practices, site operations, site conditions, and to evaluate the potential for areas of environmental and regulatory concern. Site assessments include evaluations of the potential for soil, surface water, groundwater and air quality contamination resulting from past and/or present operations and nearby off-site operations. The evaluation of the potential issues of concern relating to hazardous materials and wastes at a facility are often conducted in general accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM-1527) standards.

Scope of Services: Site Assessments include the following tasks:

Collection and review of available historical information regarding the site and site vicinity

Review of federal, state, and local regulatory agencies' information regarding the site and off-site potential concerns

Visual site reconnaissance

Review of aerial photographs, topographic maps, and fire insurance maps to gather information on past land usage

Development of specific investigation plans

Quality assurance review

Report on findings including site conditions with specific conclusions and recommendations

Physical sampling and analysis of sampling data, if warranted as part of a Phase II assessment

Environmental Assessment: Each assessment is typically performed in a phased approach which begins with a preliminary physical site reconnaissance, including an evaluation of past and present land uses, commonly known as a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. Potential environmental problems identified during this phase can be further investigated to the extent required by applicable regulations as part of a Phase II assessment. Based on the investigative result, mitigation and/or remediation plans may be initiated.

When is a Site Assessment Necessary: A site assessment of a property or business may be performed either voluntarily or may be required by regulation. The scope and objective of site assessments are specifically designed for the site and parties involved. Situations that may trigger an environmental site assessment include, but are not limited to:

	Spills of regulated materials
	Discovery of imminent health or environmental hazards
	Visible disposal of regulated materials
	Property transfer and/or purchase agreements
	State and federal regulations
	Potential for leaking underground storage tanks
	Liability protection (innocent purchaser exemption)
	Facility closure plan development
	Potential damage to sensitive environmental settings

Why are Site Assessments Necessary: Site assessments are usually performed to evaluate the potential for environmental contamination as well as other potential environmental liabilities that may be associated with a property. An environmental site assessment of a commercial or industrial property is often required by applicable federal and state regulations (CERCLA, RCRA, ECRA, etc.). Regulations and court decisions have established that liability may exist for all associated parties of a contaminated property. Liability can vary, and responsible parties can be subject to severe penalties and costly cleanups.

In certain situations, the site assessment is independent of regulatory factors, and is done as a matter of sound business judgement by business owners or property sellers or purchasers. For example, real estate transactions can often be expedited if potential site contamination issues are investigated and resolved well in advance of a closing date. Currently, many lending institutions are requiring environmental assessments prior to finalizing financing to significantly reduce their potential for risks and liabilities associated with properties containing environmental contamination.

The RTP Approach: RTP considers the initial stages of a site assessment to be the most crucial. RTP works closely with its clients and, when appropriate, the regulatory agencies, to define a timely, phased work plan based on the ASTM standard or other applicable criteria. That plan addresses potential problem areas while remaining focused to specific objectives, thereby limiting analyses and costs. Although risk can seldom be completely eliminated, RTP seeks to minimize potential risk within the budgetary limitations of the specific project. RTP strives to provide frequent project status reports to the parties involved in all site assessments.

Our staff have performed numerous environmental site assessment projects. These projects have included small, vacant lot assessments to large scale assessments, such as downtown Toms River, New Jersey where were reviewed approximately 185 separate sites. RTP personnel have been involved in the assessment of sites including former landfills, discharge lagoons, industrial developments, golf courses, institutional facilities, thermal power generating facilities, and many others.

RTP is dedicated to developing cost-effective solutions for environmental problems. Our philosophy is to provide high quality, experienced professional consulting services. We are available to assist you in preparing a site assessment that is responsive to your needs.