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Phase I ESAs – 2013 Changes

Jeffrey R. Sotek, PE, CSP, CIH

Course Outline

On November 6, 2013, the ASTM International's E1527-13 "Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process'' was released.  This one hour course will prepare engineers and environmental professionals with an overview to changes and how it relates to the USEPA’s All Appropriate Inquiry requirements.   

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

At the conclusion of this course, the student will:

Intended Audience

This course is intended for environmental engineers, consulting engineers, engineering geologists and EHS professionals

Benefit to Attendees

This course will help attendees assist clients involved with real estate transactions with the knowledge of the revised Phase I Environmental Site Assessment process changes noted in ASTM International’s E1527-13.

Course Introduction

To assist clients in evaluating environmental conditions during real estate transactions, licensed professional engineers must fully understand the ASTM Phase I Environmental Site Assessment standard.    On January 11, 2002, the Small Business Liability Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act (Brownfileld Amendments) were signed and as part of the law, the requirements necessary to establish the innocent landowner defense under CERCLA were clarified.  Specifically, parties purchasing potentially contaminated property must undertake ‘‘all appropriate inquiries’’ into prior ownership and use of the property at issue prior to purchase in order to qualify for protection from CERCLA liability.  The Brownfields Amendments also required EPA to develop regulations establishing standards and practices for conducting all appropriate inquiries.   As such, EPA promulgated regulations under 40 CFR Part 312 that included standards and practices for all appropriate inquiries on November 1, 2005. In that rule, EPA referenced the ASTM E1527–05 ‘‘Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process’’ and authorized its use to comply with the rule.   On November 6, 2013, ASTM International's E1527-13 "Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process'' was released.   On December 30, 2013 USEPA amended the ‘‘All Appropriate Inquiries Rule’’ to reference ASTM International’s E1527–13 ‘‘Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process’’ and made it clear that persons conducting all appropriate inquiries may use the procedures included in this standard to comply with the All Appropriate Inquiries rule.  

This course is intended to assist engineers, engineering geologists, and other EHS professionals with the updated Phase I Environmental Site Assessment process.

Course Content

This course content with provide the attendee with information about ASTM E1527-13 and EPA’s recognition of the updated Phase I process to meet All Appropriate Inquiry. 

In this lesson, you will be directed to:

UESPA Document# EPA-HQ-SFUND-2013-0513-0003 (4 pages, pdf file format)

Federal Register /Vol. 78, No. 250 /Monday, December 30, 2013 /Rules and Regulations (Pages 7, pdf file format)

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Course Summary

Over the years, the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment requirements have changed.  In this course, the attendee with learn about the changes in the ASTM International's "Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process'' from the 2005 standard to the 2013 standard.  In addition, the attended will learn how the revise ASTM Phase I standard relates to the USEPA’s All Appropriate Inquiry requirements.

Related Links

For additional information related to this subject, please visit the following websites or web pages:

ASTM Standards
ASTM E1527 - 13 Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

Take a Quiz

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.