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EMT has extensive experience in performing environmental site assessments (Phase 1 and Phase 2) on a wide variety of industrial and privately owned facilities for owners/operators, developers, attorneys, government agencies and financial institutions. Environmental site assessments are designed to minimize the risk to potential liabilities for hazardous substances clean-up costs. Our staff of environmental specialists has extensive expertise on environmental is sues affecting industrial and commercial properties.
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) imposes strict liability on property owners for costs associated with the clean-up of hazardous substances from a property. This includes new purchasers of a property at which a problem may already exist. However, according to provisions in the Superfund Amendment and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA), “innocent landowners” who have exercised “due diligence” in investigating environmental conditions of a site are not necessarily held liable for clean-up of hazardous substances discovered after a property transaction. Although “due diligence” is not currently defined within the law or pertinent regulations, the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has developed a criteria. The EPA has indicated that the use of the ASTM standard will be a major consideration when evaluating Superfund cost recovery actions. EMT performs assessments in accordance with current ASTM and industry standards.
Environmental assessments are performed as separate, independent projects, or may be included as a part of multi-disciplinary studies including site selection, permitting or remedial investigations.
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