What are Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) and when are they used?
An ESA, also known as environmental due diligence and All Appropriate Inquiry, is commonly done prior to commercial or industrial property transactions to assess the likelihood of contamination, and the liability for clean-up if contamination is found. ESAs are divided into two phases. • Phase I includes an examination of relevant records, interviews with owners, past owners and neighbors and an inspection of the property in order to identify recognized environmental conditions. Based on the findings of a Phase I, a property owner or other interested party may follow with a Phase II. • Phase II uses the information in the Phase I to select locations for environmental sampling in areas of concern, in order to confirm suspected contamination. Often, initial sampling is completed as part of the Phase II. An ESA is not a site investigation that evaluates the full extent of contamination, as defined in Chapter NR 716, Wis. Admin. Rules. Rather, Phase I identifies likely areas of contaminati
An ESA, also known as environmental due diligence and All Appropriate Inquiry, is commonly done prior to commercial or industrial property transactions to assess the likelihood of contamination, and the liability for clean-up if contamination is found. ESAs are divided into two phases. • Phase I includes an examination of relevant records, interviews with owners, past owners and neighbors and an inspection of the property in order to identify recognized environmental conditions. Based on the findings of a Phase I, a property owner or other interested party may follow with a Phase II. • Phase II uses the information in the Phase I to select locations for environmental sampling in areas of concern, in order to confirm suspected contamination. Often, initial sampling is completed as part of the Phase II. An ESA is not a site investigation that evaluates the full extent of contamination, as defined in Chapter NR 716, Wis. Admin. Rules. Rather, Phase I identifies likely areas of contaminati
