ASTM E 1527 Standards are the rules by which Environmental Professionals are to conduct field investigations and create Environmental Site Assessment reports. ASTM E 1527 Standards was revised a number of times since its inception. The most recent revision ASTM E 1527-21 released, with an effective date of January 2022.
New ASTM 1527-21 Definition of a Recognized Environmental Concern (REC):
As defined by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), a Recognized Environmental Concern (REC) is, “the presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products in, on, or at the Subject Property due to a release to the environment; the likely presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products in, on, or at the Subject Property due to a release or likely release to the environment; or the presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products in, on, or at the Subject Property under conditions that pose a material threat of a future release to the environment”.
A Phase I ESA is performed to determine whether Recognized Environmental Concerns (RECs) exist on a Subject Property. American Environmental performs Phase I ESAs in accordance with the most recent American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard E 1527-21, Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessment: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process. This practice is the industry standard for conducting Phase I ESAs and is the basis for justifying due diligence satisfies the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) requirements for Landowner Liability Protections.
Previous ASTM Standards – ASTM 1527-13 Definition of a REC:
As defined by the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM), a Recognized Environmental Concern (REC) is, “the presence or likely presence of any hazardous substances or petroleum products on a property under conditions that indicate an existing release, a past release or a material threat of a release of any hazardous substances or petroleum products into structures on the property or into the ground, groundwater or surface water at the property”.