Blog
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Cost of a Phase I ESA, What are the influencing factors ?
What Factors Influence the Cost of a Phase I ESA? The cost of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment depends on the property’s size, location, history, accessibility, and the scope of any extra services requested. In practice, a simple site with good records and easy access will usually cost less than a large, complex property…
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Why Miami-Dade’s Public Water Quality Spreadsheet is a Game-Changer
Breaking the Data Dam: Why Miami-Dade’s Public Water Quality Spreadsheet is a Game-Changer If you spend any time in the environmental consulting world—or if you’re just a Florida homeowner trying to figure out what is going on with your local water—you know the struggle. Historically, tracking down local environmental data meant navigating labyrinthine government websites…
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The Old Smokey Class Action Lawsuit: What Miami and Coral Gables Homeowners Need to Know About Historical Soil Contamination
The “Old Smokey” Class Action: What Miami and Coral Gables Homeowners Need to Know About Historical Soil Contamination If you own a home in Miami’s West Grove or eastern Coral Gables, you may have followed the recent legal developments surrounding the “Old Smokey” incinerator. After years of litigation, a Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge recently certified…
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Arsenic in the Sunshine State: What a Key Scientific Study Means for Florida Homeowners
Arsenic in the Sunshine State: What a Key Scientific Study Means for Florida Homeowners If you live in Florida, you might have caught wind of local news stories or neighborhood chatter about arsenic in the soil and water. For homeowners—especially those who garden, have children who play in the yard, or rely on private well…
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Guide to Florida Storage Tank Registration
Guide to Florida Storage Tank Registration Navigating the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) registration requirements can be a complex hurdle for property owners and facility managers. Whether you are dealing with Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) or Aboveground Storage Tanks (ASTs), maintaining accurate registration is a critical component of environmental compliance and risk management. At Moran…
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Is refinancing a Dry Cleaner Without Phase I ESA possible?
Can You Refinance a Former Dry Cleaner Without an Environmental Phase Study? This article was inspired by a discussion on Reddit where a property owner asked whether any banks in the U.S. would refinance a former dry cleaner (now a successful laundromat) without requiring an environmental phase study: Environmental phase study – r/realtors. [1] For…
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The “Dry Cleaner” Dilemma in Commercial Real Estate
When a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) uncovers a historical dry cleaner on a property under contract, the deal often hits a metaphorical brick wall. For investors and realtors, the discovery of a dry cleaner from the 1960s or 70s—even if it was only operational for a few years—is a major red flag. This…
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The 2026 Guide to Phase I ESA Reports: What Buyers, Sellers, and Lenders Need to Know
The 2026 Guide to Phase I ESA Reports: What Buyers, Sellers, and Lenders Need to Know If you’re buying, selling, or financing property in South Florida or elsewhere in the U.S., a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is one of the most important due‑diligence steps you’ll take. In 2026, Phase I ESA reports still…
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Phase 1 Environmental Assessment Cost in Florida: Factors and Average Prices
Key Points What is a Phase 1 Environmental Assessment? A Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is a preliminary investigation to identify potential environmental contamination or hazards on a property. It’s often conducted before buying, selling, or developing a property to understand any potential liabilities. The process includes reviewing historical records, site inspections, and interviews…
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Understanding Florida’s Aquifers: What Businesses Need to Know
If your company operates in Florida, understanding how our aquifers work is essential. From agriculture to real estate development, to industrial facilities and gas stations, businesses across the state depend on groundwater for daily operations. Florida’s aquifers provide most of the fresh water used by residents and industries, making them one of the most important…
