What are All Appopriate Inquiries?
EPAs definition of All Appropriate Inquiries is the process of evaluating a property’s environmental conditions and assessing potential liability for any contamination. All Appropriate Inquiries requirements are applicable to any party who may potentially claim protection from CERCLA (also know as Superfund) liability as an innocent landowner, a bona fide prospective purchaser, or a contiguous property owner. Parties who receive grants under the EPA’s Brownfields Grant program to assess and characterize properties must comply with the All Appropriate Inquiries standards. Evaluations conducted under these standards must be conducted or updated within one year prior to the date of acquisition of a property. Further, if these evaluations are conducted more than 180 days prior to the acquisition date, certain aspects of the inquiries must be updated. Parties must comply with the requirements of the All Appropriate Inquiries Final Rule, or follow the standards set forth in the ASTM E1527-05
