1. Today’s Lecture Announcements Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
Phase II Environmental Site Assessment

2. Announcements Lecture Lab Tuesday: Environmental site assessments
Thursday: HAZWOP (Bruce Renz)
Lab
Wednesday: HAZWOP, 2 pm, ECCE 1B47
Wednesday, Sept 9: Phase I ESA (Jack Webster)
meet in ECCE 1B47
walk to site
proper attire for site inspection
Wednesday, Sept 16: Report Writing Workshop (Jack Webster) Tchobanoglous and Leverenz, A Guidance Manual on the Preparation of Technical Reports, Papers, and Presentations, 2nd Edition.

3. Environmental Site Assessments
Phase I ESA
ASTM E

4. Environmental Site Assessment
Phase I ESA steps
client-provided information
historical research
regulatory agency research
interviews
property owners
site personnel
site reconnaissance
subject property and adjacent properties
assess topography, drainage, groundwater flow direction
report

5. Environmental Site Assessment
Client-provided information
title records
known environmental liens
activity and use limitations (AULs)
“specialized knowledge” about environmental problems
“commonly known” information
“reasonably ascertainable” information
valuation reduction for environmental issues
owner, occupant, lessee, property manager information
reason for performing Phase I ESA

6. Environmental Site Assessment
Historical research
search of records regarding contamination
required distances based on site type, contaminant type
adjacent to property  1 mile
up-gradient sources
back to “first developed use or 1940, whichever is earlier”
database research companies
historical aerial photos and topographic maps
fire insurance maps
land titles; zoning and building permit records
mining claims
time resolution of about 5-year intervals

7. Environmental Site Assessment
Interviews
conducted by Environmental Professional
must include key personnel
current site owner
current site manager
current occupants and lessees
abandoned properties
must interview adjacent property owners
questions
current use, chemicals on site
knowledge of previous use
knowledge of environmental investigations

8. Environmental Site Assessment
Site reconnaissance
should be done by Environmental Professional
entire property (to extent practical)
interior
maintenance areas
chemical storage and use areas
boiler rooms
exterior
document any access limitations
locked rooms, gases, dangerous access
snow cover
identify RECs
document with photographs

9. Environmental Site Assessment
Report
describe purpose and scope of services
document all findings
list RECs identified
identify information gaps
were standards met?
assess significance of gaps relative to RECs
provide opinions regarding RECs
recommend additional investigation for RECs
list environmental concerns outside of Phase I scope
ASTM section has partial list
declare certification as Environmental Professional

10. Environmental Site Assessment
Pitfalls
Phase I ESAs often regarded as a commodity
lowest bidder regardless of quality
example: Argo Mine, Boulder County
clients may not prioritize delivery of information
potentially different opinions about RECs
caution regarding “reliance letters”
letter from one party to another allowing reliance on previous Phase I ESA report

11. Environmental Site Assessment
Phase I ESA
example: Valmont Butte, Boulder, Colorado report

12. Environmental Site Assessment
Brownfield sites CERCLA
property where re-use or re-development is complicated by the presence or perceived presence of environmental contamination
potential liability limits remediation of under- used or abandoned properties
neighborhood blight
reduced value of surrounding property

13. Environmental Site Assessment
Brownfields Redevelopment – Small Business Liability Relief and Revitalization Act, 2002
liability protection for purchasers and owners of contaminated property
must conduct “all appropriate inquiry” to qualify for liability protection
other versions of innocent landowners
bona fide prospective purchaser
purchaser unaware of another’s claim to property title
contiguous property owner
owner unaware of contamination from adjacent property
ability to apply for grants to pay for property remediation and re-development

17. Environmental Site Assessment
Brownfields grant
example: Elysian Park, Jamestown, Colorado proposal

23. Environmental Site Assessments
Example from consulting firm
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
Phase II Environmental Site Assessment

24. Environmental Site Assessments
Phase II ESA
assessment of expected environmental liabilities (RECs) of a site
sampling and analysis
type, distribution, and extent of hazardous substances
components
Sampling and Analysis Plan
Quality Assurance Project Plan
Health and Safety Plan
Report – purpose, summary of sampling and analysis, health risk assessment, data validation, results and recommendations
ASTM E

25. Environmental Site Assessments
Phase II ESA
example: RTD FasTracks Gold Line Corridor Olde Town Station Denver, Colorado report