ASTM E1527 is a standard published by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) that provides guidance for conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), for assessing environmental risks and potential liabilities, including the presence of hazardous substances, the likelihood of releases, and the potential consequences of releases at commercial and industrial properties. The ASTM E1527 standard is widely recognized as the industry standard for conducting Phase I ESAs in the United States and is often required by lenders and regulatory agencies in real estate transactions.
The purpose of a Phase I ESA is to assess the environmental risks associated with a property, including the presence of hazardous substances and petroleum products, and to identify recognized environmental conditions (RECs) and potential sources of environmental liabilities that may impact the value of the property.
The standard outlines the scope and purpose for conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs), the required elements of a report, the data sources that should be reviewed, and the conditions that are considered to be environmental hazards.
The following are several key elements included in a Phase I ESA:
- Site Reconnaissance: A visual inspection of the property to view present conditions and evaluate any potential sources of environmental contamination.
- Historical and Current Records Review: A review of historical and current records and documentation pertaining to the Site, Sanborn Insurance maps, USGS 7.5’ topographical maps, aerial photos, and other relevant documents, to identify any potential environmental liabilities.
- Regulatory Records Review: regulatory reports including Federal, State, Local and Tribal records concerning the property and the neighboring properties.
- Interviews: Interviews with current and former owners, occupants, and others with knowledge of the property’s history and its potential environmental liabilities.
- Data Analysis: Analysis of the information gathered during the site reconnaissance, records review, and interviews to identify potential environmental liabilities.
- Comprehensive Professional Report: Phase I ESA report including conclusions and recommendations concerning the property, based on our professional judgment and findings.
The information gathered during a Phase I ESA is then used to support informed decision-making and to determine the need for further investigation and potential environmental cleanup.
The ASTM E1527 standard is updated periodically to reflect the latest regulatory and technological developments, and it is important to use the latest version of the standard when conducting a Phase I ESA. The new ASTM E1527 standard that was recently released is ASTM E1527-21.
The previous version, ASTM E 1527-13, ASTM E 1527-05 and ASTM E 1527-00, each have revisions that create more accurate characterization of site environmental conditions. The ASTM E 1527-13 is the newest ASTM Standards for Environmental Investigations.
The major changes that ASTM E 1527-13 was the revision of the definition of Recognized Environmental Conditions, changing User responsibilities, detailing how regulatory file reviews should be conducted, and assessing vapor migration in Phase I ESAs. Vapor migration will be counted as a potentially impacted condition.