Today's environmental laws and regulations, and public consciousness of the environment have caused all parties to a real property transaction, the buyer, seller, lender and insurer, to be concerned with the liabilities imposed on a property by contaminated soil and groundwater. Since all parties may ultimately participate in cleaning up a contaminated site, virtually all transactions require a pre-purchase assessment of the potential environmental hazards associated with the site.

Ardaman & Associates, Inc. conducts environmental site assessments on behalf of the buyer, seller, lender or insurer. Experienced environmental professionals examine the property for past or current activities that may be associated with toxic or hazardous waste contamination. Site assessments are conducted in separate phases.

For a Phase I Assessment, we generally consider the current and historical uses of the property, and through a detailed search, we evaluate the possible hazards related to these uses. The scope of the Phase I assessment is constantly reviewed and updated to stay current with the rapidly changing "state-of-the-art". We normally conduct the following activities:

• Environmental Questionnaire
• Historical Review
• Regulatory Agency Records Search
• Review of Aerial Photographs
• Interview with Site Personnel
• Site "Walkover" by a Qualified Professional
• Observations of Adjacent Properties

If required, the Phase I Assessment can include asbestos and radon surveys.

After we complete the Phase I study, we review the results with our client, and if the results do not indicate a potential for contamination, then normally no further action is taken. If however, the results suggest that contamination may be present, we will discuss the current and future risk. Our goal is to help the client evaluate the risk and make an informative decision regarding further action. If the risk is significant, then a Phase II Assessment can be conducted.

A Phase II Assessment evaluates the presence or absence of contamination that may be present in the areas of environmental concern identified during the Phase I study. We select soil and groundwater samples from the suspect areas and subject them to analytical testing which measures the presence and concentration of contaminants. If the results do not indicate the presence of contaminants, then normally, no further action is required. If however, the testing reveals the presence of a contamination plume, then further assessment is considered.

The next level of the study assesses the extent of the contamination, details its makeup, and evaluates alternative methods of remediation or "cleaning up" the contamination. At this level, each situation is unique, and the study approach depends on many factors, including subsurface conditions, land use, type of contaminants, schedule and budget. Ardaman & Associates' professionals have provided these services on projects ranging from small convenience stores to large scale "superfund" sites, and we tailor the approach to the specific needs of the project.