Phase I Environmental Site Assessment

A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is a critical first step in evaluating a property’s environmental risks before purchase, refinancing, or development. It helps buyers, lenders, and attorneys understand potential contamination, regulatory issues, and liability so they can make informed decisions and structure deals accordingly.

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Property size (acres)

Property county Brevard Broward Charlotte Citrus Collier DeSoto Glades Hardee Hendry Hernando Highlands Hillsborough Indian River Lake Lee Manatee Martin Miami-Dade Monroe Okeechobee Orange Osceola Palm Beach Pasco Pinellas Polk Sarasota Seminole St. Lucie Sumter Alachua Baker Bradford Clay Columbia Dixie Duval Flagler Gilchrist Hamilton Lafayette Levy Madison Marion Nassau Putnam St. Johns Suwannee Taylor Union Volusia Bay Calhoun Escambia Franklin Gadsden Gulf Holmes Jackson Jefferson Leon Liberty Okaloosa Santa Rosa Wakulla Walton Washington

Property state Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

When was the property built? Recently constructed (built within the last ~20 years) Built 20–50 years ago Built 50+ years ago (older construction)

Historical use of the property Undeveloped land Residential single family home Multi family housing Single commercial property Strip mall Gas station / dry cleaner / industrial

Number of properties

Turnaround needed 3+ weeks (standard) 2 weeks or less (+$500 rush fee)

Estimated Price Range

$1,700 – $2,000

This is a preliminary estimate. Final pricing is confirmed after a brief property review.

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Learn what influences the phase 1 environmental assessment cost?

What Is a Phase I ESA?

A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is a non-invasive investigation of a property’s current and historical use to identify potential environmental concerns or “Recognized Environmental Conditions” (RECs). It follows ASTM standards and the EPA’s All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) rule so that buyers and lenders can qualify for certain liability protections.

Unlike a Phase II ESA, a Phase I does not include soil, groundwater, or air sampling. Instead, it focuses on gathering and analyzing information to determine whether contamination is likely to be present, and whether further investigation is warranted.

Who Needs a Phase I ESA?

Most commonly, Phase I ESAs are requested by:

• Commercial real estate buyers and investors
• Banks, credit unions, and private lenders
• Attorneys representing buyers, sellers, or lenders
• Developers planning adaptive reuse or redevelopment
• Property owners refinancing or restructuring debt

If you are acquiring or financing a commercial, industrial, or mixed-use property in Florida, your lender will often require a Phase I ESA as part of its standard due diligence process.

What We Look For

During a Phase I ESA, we evaluate whether past or present property uses may have impacted soil, groundwater, or indoor air, creating potential cleanup obligations or regulatory issues. Typical red flags include:

• Current or former gas stations, auto repair shops, or truck yards
• Dry cleaners using or storing chlorinated solvents
• Industrial facilities with chemical or petroleum storage
• Landfills, dumps, or fill areas of unknown origin
• Underground or aboveground storage tanks and former tank pits
• Stained soils, distressed vegetation, or strong chemical or fuel odors
• Historical aerials or Sanborn maps showing prior industrial use

Our Phase I ESA Process

We follow ASTM E1527 standards and tailor each assessment to the specific property type, lender requirements, and transaction timeline. A typical Phase I ESA includes the following components:

Records Review

• Historical aerial photographs, Sanborn fire insurance maps, city directories, and topographic maps
• Regulatory database reports for spills, leaking tanks, cleanup sites, landfills, and hazardous waste facilities on or near the property
• Building permits, environmental permits, and available agency files when appropriate

Site Reconnaissance

• On-site walk-through of interior and exterior areas
• Observation of current operations, storage and handling of chemicals and fuels
• Identification of floor drains, sumps, clarifiers, separators, and waste handling areas
• Visual evidence of staining, stressed vegetation, dumping, or controlled fill

Interviews

• Discussions with current and past owners, operators, and key site personnel
• Follow-up with local officials or agencies when needed to clarify historical uses or incidents

Evaluation and Reporting

• Identification of Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs), Historical RECs (HRECs), and Controlled RECs (CRECs)
• Discussion of data gaps and any limitations to the assessment
• Clear conclusions and recommendations in plain language for non-technical readers

The final report is written so that buyers, lenders, and attorneys can quickly understand the environmental risk profile of the property and decide whether to proceed, renegotiate, or request additional investigation such as a Phase II ESA.

Why Work With MORAN ROCKS LLC

Based in Boca Raton, Florida, MORAN ROCKS LLC focuses on Phase I Environmental Site Assessments for commercial and industrial properties throughout South Florida. We understand local regulatory expectations, lender requirements, and common contamination patterns specific to this region.

Our reports are designed to be clear, defensible, and practical. We combine detailed technical work with straightforward explanations, so you and your clients can move forward confidently.

Related Services

Phase II Environmental Site Assessments

When a Phase I ESA identifies potential issues, a Phase II ESA uses soil, groundwater, or vapor sampling and laboratory analysis to confirm whether contamination is present and to define its extent. This is the logical next step if you need hard data to quantify risk, estimate cleanup costs, or satisfy regulators and lenders.

NPDES and Stormwater Support

We assist with stormwater permitting, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs), and compliance inspections for construction and industrial sites. Proper planning and documentation help you avoid violations, fines, and project delays.

Baseline Environmental Assessments

Baseline assessments establish a snapshot of site conditions at the time of purchase or redevelopment. This can help allocate responsibility for existing contamination and support future liability defenses if additional issues are discovered later.

F.A.Q.

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