Phase II Environmental Site Assessment at Industrial and Manufacturing Properties
Light industrial and manufacturing properties use hazardous substances and petroleum products and generate relative wastes on a day to day basis. These solid, liquid, and gaseous hazardous and non-hazardous substances, products, and wastes find their way into the environment chronically and at times acutely, thus affecting soil, surface water, sediment, and groundwater. Vapor intrusion may also be a risk factor to investigate. The following scenario is a typical example of how the operations at industrial and manufacturing properties should be assessed to understand potential environmental risks and liabilities when purchasing, selling, or refinancing them.
The term recognized environmental condition (REC) is defined by ASTM Standard E 1527-21 as the presence or likely presence of any hazardous substances or petroleum products on a property under conditions that indicate an existing release, a past release, material threat of a release of any hazardous substances or petroleum products into structures on the property or into the ground, groundwater or surface water of the property.
RECs were identified during a previous Phase I Environmental Site Assessment prepared by Live Oak Consultants in June 2001 in connection with the subject site and/or adjoining sites as follows:
- A wash rack and a waste oil tank were present where impacts to soil and/or groundwater may be present.
- Past uses of the site include: Woodshop, Pipeline Express, and Tractor Repair.
- A underground petroleum storage tank is present beneath the warehouse foot print according to a map and Property Condition survey provided by the property owner.
- Each of the above site conditions and past and current operations present a potential threat to soil and/or groundwater impacts at the subject property.
- In conclusion, we recommended further Phase II ESA subsurface investigation to assess the potential for impact(s) from the RECs identified for the subject property.
Based on the known historical use of the site for light industrial operations dating back 30 plus years at the property, the Client decided to forego conducting a Phase I ESA since the conclusion would only recommend a Phase II ESA, and would add considerable time to the closing date of the property. Should a Phase I ESA be needed to meet the stakeholder’s risk management criteria, then that may be done at a later time based on a go or no go decision.
Past operations at the site included: tractor and heavy equipment repair, tank manufacturing, oil & gas tool fabrication, and operations of an underground petroleum storage tank (UST) that was used for refueling equipment and still present at the site.
CRG Texas was able to demonstrate the site was suitable for purchase and ultimately save the client time and $$$, and will move forward with the UST removal as part of the site improvements.
As a result of articulating the Client’s needs, another “Happy Camper” was added to the long list of our satisfied clients here at CRG Texas Environmental Services, Inc.