North Carolina Phase II ESA Providers

best Phase I ESA providers in North Carolina Did your bank request the completion of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) when you asked for a loan for your commercial property transaction? Are you completing a Phase I ESA to be sure your property meets appropriate due diligence requirements set forth by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ)—to avoid being liable for a previous owner’s negligence? If so, you will probably want to research various environmental consulting firms to find the one that best fits your company’s unique circumstance and important needs. While our services help clients with all types of environmental issues—including Phase I ESAs—we understand you may still want to consider all of your options before selecting an environmental consultant. It is common for customers to ask us, “Who—other than Ambipar Response EMS— would you recommend for Phase I ESAs?” For your convenience, we have compiled a list of the six best Phase I ESA providers in North Carolina.

Employing the help of environmental professionals who possess the knowledge and expertise of ever-changing environmental regulations makes all the difference between a mediocre Phase I ESA and an all-inclusive, environmentally-compliant Phase I ESA. Searching for the best Phase I ESA provider to effectively and efficiently complete the ESA on your property may seem tedious, but it is also an important step to ensure you and your property are protected in the event of pre-existing environmental contamination. We understand that there are many other environmental consultants in your area, and some may be more appropriate for your situation than others.

In this article we will briefly discuss the purpose of a Phase I ESA, the qualifications that an environmental professional should possess, and a list of the best Phase I ESA providers in North Carolina.

What is a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment?

Phase I ESAs are used to determine if there are any situations on the site that meet the definition of a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC). A REC is defined as the presence or likely presence of any hazardous substances or petroleum products in, on, or at a property. The finding of a REC does not mean the banker will not approve a loan, but they may request further investigation of the REC to determine if there has been any environmental impact.

Environmental contamination—and its associated liability—may have significant adverse effects on the value of real estate and may, in certain circumstances, cause a lender to be held directly liable for the environmental cleanup of the property. The cost of such a cleanup may exceed, by many times, both the amount of the loan granted to the borrower, as well as the value of the property.

What Qualifications Should a Phase I ESA Provider Possess?

We have fielded hundreds of questions regarding Phase I ESAs. Two of the most common questions we answer are, “Does the individual need to be licensed?” “Does an Environmental Professional have to do it?”

To put it simply, if you want a high-quality Phase I ESA correctly completed on your property, the answer to both questions is YES! An Environmental Professional will be aware of current local, state, and Federal environmental regulations and will understand the importance of strictly complying with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund), the All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) rule, and the importance of providing appropriate due diligence for prospective buyers and their lenders. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency set strict minimum standards for environmental professionals looking to perform Phase I ESAs:

An Environmental Professional is a person who possesses sufficient specific education, training, and experience necessary to exercise professional judgment to develop opinions and conclusions regarding the presence of releases or threatened releases to the surface or subsurface of a property. The definition includes persons who:

hold a Professional Engineer’s or Professional Geologist’s license or registration and have three years of full-time relevant experience.
are licensed or certified by a state, tribe, or the Federal government to perform All Appropriate Inquiries and have three years of full-time relevant experience.
have a Baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited institution of higher education in a relevant discipline of engineering, environmental science, or earth science and five years of full-time relevant experience.
have 10 or more years of full-time relevant experience.

EMS recommends these additional qualifications for Environmental Professionals:

Experience with the current American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard
Experience with similar properties
Remediation experience
Professional Liability Insurance
Responsiveness

Best Phase I ESA Providers in North Carolina

While EMS is always willing and certainly able to address your Phase I ESA needs, we understand the importance of researching other environmental consultants in your area that may be more suitable for your situation and budget. There are many viable options for you to explore in your area, but to narrow your search and save some time we have compiled a list of the best Phase I ESA providers in North Carolina. We believe these environmental consultants possess all of the aforementioned qualities and will provide a high-caliber Phase I Environmental Site Assessment on your property.

Duncklee & Dunham

Founded: 1996

NC locations: Cary

Duncklee & Dunham conducts Phase I ESAs through review of public records and site history and a visual examination of the property. The process is completed in accordance with ASTM standards and the All Appropriate Inquiry rule.

Engineering Consulting Services

Founded: 1988

NC locations: Asheville, Charlotte, Conover, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Raleigh, Swansboro, Wilmington

ECS has experience with due diligence requirements and knowledge of local, state, and Federal regulations as they are related to Phase I ESAs.

Hart & Hickman

Founded: 1995

NC locations: Charlotte, Raleigh

H&H provides Phase I ESAs in accordance with the EPA’s All Appropriate Inquiry rule for property and facility transactions across the United States.

Kleinfelder

Founded: 1961

NC locations: Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh

Kleinfelder develops solutions to reach project goals, control costs, and minimize environmental impact while conducting Phase I ESAs.

Piedmont Geologic, P.C.

Founded: 1994

NC locations: Raleigh

The professional geologists at Piedmont Geologic provide rapid response to their clients’ Phase I ESA needs.

Terracon

Founded: 1965

NC locations: Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Raleigh

Terracon conducts ASTM-compliant Phase I ESAs with a diverse staff of Environmental Professionals and some of the most advanced technology available.

Now that you have some basic information regarding your options for Phase I ESA providers, consider the services your business requires so that you can better fit your needs to the perfect provider.

Remember to consider these factors when doing so:

Choosing your Phase I ESA provider is an integral part of the due diligence process when purchasing commercial property. A purchaser or lessee of contaminated property can be liable for environmental cleanup costs even if the leak, spill or release happened decades earlier, without regard to fault or negligence.
Prospective purchasers should also evaluate whether their environmental professional should investigate risks outside of the scope of the AAI rule. Selection of an appropriate Phase I ESA provider is essential to a successful transaction and limiting exposure to potential liability associated with property purchases.

If you have any questions about how EMS can help you, or even if you have any questions about the environmental consultants listed above, please feel free to contact us.