Phase I & Phase II
Environmental Site Assessment
ASTM E1527-21 compliant assessments for due diligence, property transactions, lending, and regulatory compliance throughout Southern California.
Phase I ESA
Records review, site reconnaissance, and interviews — no subsurface investigation required.
Phase II ESA
Subsurface investigation including soil and groundwater sampling to confirm or characterize contamination.
What is a
Phase I ESA?
A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is a non-invasive investigation of a property's history and current conditions to identify any recognized environmental conditions (RECs) — past or present uses that may have resulted in contamination.
It is the industry standard for environmental due diligence in real estate transactions, required by most lenders, and is the first step toward qualifying for CERCLA liability protection under the Innocent Landowner Defense.
All Phase I ESAs completed by Ecoscope Environmental follow ASTM Standard E1527-21 and the EPA's All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) Rule (40 CFR Part 312), ensuring lender and regulatory acceptance.
Liability Protection
A compliant Phase I is the foundation for CERCLA's Innocent Landowner, Contiguous Property Owner, and Bona Fide Prospective Purchaser defenses.
Lender Required
Banks, credit unions, SBA lenders, and commercial lenders almost universally require a Phase I ESA before financing a commercial real estate transaction.
Fast Turnaround
Standard Phase I reports delivered within 10–15 business days. Rush service available to meet tight transaction timelines.
Records Review
Review of federal, state, and local environmental databases, historical aerial photographs, Sanborn fire insurance maps, city directories, and regulatory agency files.
Site Reconnaissance
Physical inspection of the property and surrounding area to observe current conditions, potential hazards, stressed vegetation, staining, and other visual indicators of contamination.
Interviews
Interviews with the property owner, key site manager, occupants, and local government officials to gather information about current and historical property use.
Adjoining Properties
Assessment of neighboring and surrounding properties for potential off-site sources of contamination, including underground storage tanks, dry cleaners, and industrial operations.
Historical Research
Review of topographic maps, historic aerial photography, and other historical sources dating back to first developed use of the property to trace land use over time.
Written Report
A comprehensive report identifying any RECs, controlled RECs, or historical RECs with professional conclusions and recommendations, formatted for lender and regulatory acceptance.
How it works
Phase I process
From authorization to delivered report — here is what to expect.
Authorization & Info Gathering
We collect property details, execute the work authorization, and begin database and records research.
Database Research
Review of federal and state environmental databases, regulatory agency files, and historical records.
Site Visit
Our environmental professional visits the property to conduct a visual site reconnaissance and interviews.
Report Preparation
Findings are compiled into a comprehensive written report with conclusions and recommendations.
Report Delivery
The final report is delivered digitally, ready for lender submission and due diligence files.
Phase I deliverables
Everything included in your final Phase I ESA report package.
What is a
Phase II ESA?
A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment is a subsurface investigation performed when a Phase I ESA identifies one or more Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) that require further evaluation. It involves physical sampling of soil, groundwater, soil vapor, or building materials to confirm or rule out contamination.
Phase II investigations are also conducted proactively for high-value acquisitions, brownfield redevelopment projects, and situations where a buyer or lender wants quantitative data to support decision-making.
A Phase II ESA does not automatically mean a property is contaminated — it means the data exists to make an informed, defensible decision. Knowing the facts protects all parties in a transaction.
Confirms or Rules Out RECs
Subsurface sampling provides the scientific data needed to determine whether recognized environmental conditions represent actual contamination.
Supports Risk & Cost Assessment
Results allow buyers, sellers, and lenders to accurately assess remediation costs and negotiate transaction terms with confidence.
Brownfield & Redevelopment
Essential for brownfield projects, voluntary cleanup programs, and redevelopment of former industrial or commercial sites.
Soil Sampling
Soil borings and/or test pits are advanced at strategic locations to collect samples for laboratory analysis of petroleum hydrocarbons, metals, VOCs, SVOCs, and other target analytes.
Groundwater Sampling
Installation of temporary or permanent monitoring wells to collect groundwater samples for analysis of dissolved contaminants and assessment of plume extent.
Soil Vapor Sampling
Sub-slab and near-surface soil vapor sampling to evaluate vapor intrusion potential — a critical pathway for volatile contaminants migrating into occupied buildings.
Building Material Sampling
Sampling of suspect building materials such as underground storage tank contents, sumps, clarifiers, or other structures identified during the Phase I investigation.
Laboratory Analysis
All samples are submitted to a California-certified analytical laboratory under strict chain-of-custody protocols for accurate, legally defensible results.
Phase II Report
A detailed report presenting sampling methodology, laboratory results, comparison to applicable regulatory screening levels, and professional risk-based conclusions and recommendations.
How it works
Phase II process
A structured, science-based approach to subsurface investigation.
Work Plan Development
We develop a site-specific sampling plan identifying target locations, depths, analytes, and laboratory methods.
Permitting & Utilities
Required drilling permits are obtained and underground utility clearance (USA/811) is completed prior to field work.
Field Sampling
Our team advances borings, collects samples using proper field protocols, and documents all field observations.
Laboratory Analysis
Samples are submitted under chain-of-custody to a state-certified lab for analysis against applicable regulatory standards.
Report & Recommendations
Results are interpreted in context of regulatory screening levels with clear conclusions and next-step recommendations.
Phase II deliverables
Everything included in your final Phase II ESA report package.
Who needs an ESA?
- Commercial real estate buyers and sellers conducting transaction due diligence
- Banks, credit unions, and commercial lenders financing property acquisitions
- SBA 7(a) and 504 loan applicants — Phase I ESA is federally required
- Property developers and investors evaluating acquisition risk
- Attorneys and title companies managing environmental liability exposure
- Government agencies and municipalities evaluating public land
- Brownfield redevelopment projects seeking grant funding or regulatory closure
- Property owners seeking to understand and document site conditions
Licensed & Insured
Ecoscope carries full professional liability and general liability insurance on all projects throughout California.
Lender-Ready Reports
Our reports are formatted and written to meet the requirements of national and regional lenders, SBA, and institutional investors.
Reliance Letters Available
We issue reliance letters to lenders and third parties so they can rely on our reports for financing and transaction purposes.
Ready to order your Phase I or Phase II ESA?
Contact Ecoscope Environmental today for a quote. We serve commercial and residential clients throughout Southern California with fast, lender-accepted reports.