Environmental Site Assessment Checklist (Phase 1)

Environmental Site Assessment Checklist (Phase 1)

Assessment Checklists
100 Items
Comprehensive Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment checklist for property due diligence and environmental risk evaluation.

Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment

This comprehensive Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment checklist provides a systematic approach to evaluating environmental conditions and potential contamination risks at a property. The assessment includes site identification, historical records review, regulatory database searches, stakeholder interviews, visual site reconnaissance, geological evaluation, identification of recognized environmental conditions, data gap analysis, and detailed documentation. Use this checklist to conduct thorough environmental due diligence and identify potential environmental liabilities before property acquisition or development.

1. Site & Project Identification

1Property address, parcel or lot number, and boundary description
2Ownership history and names of current owner(s)
3Site size (acreage or square meters) and topography
4Current land use and zoning designation
5Present buildings, structures, and infrastructure footprints
6Adjacent land uses and properties (up to a buffer zone)
7Access roads, rail lines, utilities, easements
8Floodplain, wetlands, water bodies nearby
9Known environmental constraints (e.g., protected areas)
10Intended use(s) after acquisition or development

2. Historical Records Review

1Historical aerial photographs / satellite images (old to recent)
2Historical topographic maps
3Historic land use maps, fire insurance maps (e.g. Sanborn)
4City directories, telephone directories, business registries
5Historic building permits and planning archives
6Past environmental reports, prior ESAs
7Past contamination / remediation reports
8Past storage/use of hazardous substances or petroleum products
9Historical utility maps (e.g. fuel lines, sewer, stormwater)
10Past regulatory orders, violations, spill records

3. Regulatory & Government Records Review

1Federal / national environmental databases for spills, sites, listings
2State / provincial environmental agency records (leaks, remedial actions)
3Local government environmental or health department files
4Permit records (air, water, waste, storage, discharge)
5Underground Storage Tank (UST) / Aboveground Storage Tank (AST) registries
6Waste disposal and hazardous waste generator records
7Environmental liens, activity and use limitations (AULs)
8Zoning, land-use, and planning department records
9Building permits and historic use permits
10Enforcement actions, notices of violation

4. Interviews & Stakeholder Inquiry

1Interview current property owner(s) regarding usage history
2Interview past owners, if feasible
3Interview current occupants, tenants, facility managers
4Interview former occupants or operators (if known)
5Interview neighboring property owners about past spills or odors
6Interview local government officials (e.g. health, fire, planning)
7Ask about known spills, releases, dumping, petroleum use
8Inquire about underground tanks, storage, remediation efforts
9Ask about landfill, waste disposal practices historically
10Document interview dates, names, contact info, and responses

5. Site Reconnaissance & Visual Inspection

1Walkover of entire property to observe surface signs of contamination
2Photograph structures, storage areas, suspect staining, drums, spills
3Inspect building exterior, foundations, drainage paths
4Check for tanks (aboveground, underground) or drum storage
5Check condition of pavements, sumps, storm drains
6Observe vegetation anomalies, distressed plants or bare patches
7Check historical fill areas, fill changes, grading cuts
8Inspect adjacent properties for potential offsite sources
9Observe groundwater seeps, surface water, ponds, wetlands
10Note odor, unusual coloration, stressed vegetation

6. Geology, Hydrogeology & Soil / Groundwater Setting

1Regional geology and soil types
2Depth to groundwater, seasonal fluctuation
3Groundwater flow direction (gradient)
4Soil permeability, conductivity, and porosity
5Presence of preferential pathways (e.g. fractures, karst)
6Overburden thickness, bedrock depth
7Historical water levels, pumping, dewatering (if any)
8Surface drainage, stormwater flow, overland flow paths
9Flooding potential, infiltration zones
10Nearby water bodies, wetlands, and drainage catchments

7. Potential Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs)

1Evidence of past fueling operations or gas stations
2Evidence of dry cleaning, chemical processing, metal plating
3Storage of solvents, pesticides, oils, or hazardous chemicals
4Evidence of waste disposal areas or landfills
5Presence of USTs / ASTs or oil/water separators
6Chemical spills, leaks, stained soils or pavement
7Underground piping, old pipelines, buried drums
8Historic use of pesticides, herbicides, chemical storage
9Adjacent properties known contamination risk
10Vapor intrusion pathways or other latent hazards

8. Data Gaps, Deviations & Uncertainties

1Missing historical records or periods with no documentation
2Incomplete interviews or unavailable witnesses
3Poor quality or low resolution aerial/photographic evidence
4Inaccessible areas during site visit (locked, hazardous)
5Incomplete regulatory database coverage
6Contradictory historical usage data
7Unknown subsurface utilities or buried structures
8Ambiguous property boundaries or cross easements
9Uncertainty in hydrogeologic or soil data
10Deviations from standard procedures or scope limitations

9. Conclusions, Observations & Recommendations

1Summary of recognized environmental conditions (RECs) found
2Controlled REC (CREC) or historical REC (HREC) identification
3Recommendation for Phase II (sampling / investigation)
4Suggested scope for further investigation (soil, groundwater, vapor)
5Institutional controls or engineering controls needed
6Risk ranking (high, medium, low) of identified conditions
7Possible remediation or mitigation approaches
8Cost or preliminary budget range for further work
9Recommendations for monitoring (groundwater, vapor)
10Disclosure and liability considerations (e.g. for buyer)

10. Report Documentation & Appendices

1Consultant credentials, qualifications, and signature
2All maps, plats, aerials, topographic overlays
3Historical documents, permit records, and archival data
4Interview transcripts or summaries
5Photographic log with captions
6Database search results, regulatory record printouts
7Site plan, boundary map, and features plot
8Supporting geologic / hydrogeologic data
9List of data gaps, assumptions, and limitations
10References and bibliography of sources
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