Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Checklist

This checklist covers what to prepare before ordering a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (also written as Phase I ESA), what the environmental professional will investigate, and what the final report should contain. Having this information ready can speed up the process and help your assessment go smoothly.

Before You Order: Documents to Gather

The environmental professional will ask you (the "user" under ASTM E1527-21) to provide certain documents and information about the property. Gathering these in advance saves time:

• Property deed and legal description. The legal description of the property, including parcel numbers, lot and block, or metes and bounds.
• Current site plan or survey. A map showing the property boundaries, buildings, parking areas, and other features.
• Previous environmental reports. Any prior Phase 1 ESAs, Phase 2 ESAs, remediation reports, or tank closure reports for the property.
• Title report and chain of ownership. A title abstract or chain of title showing all previous owners, which helps the environmental professional trace the property's use history.
• Current and historical tenant information. List of current and former tenants, including their business types and any chemical use or storage.
• Building permits and construction records. Records of construction, renovation, or demolition that may reveal historical uses.
• Known environmental concerns. Any information you have about contamination, underground storage tanks, spills, or regulatory actions on or near the property.
• Reason for the assessment. The purpose of the ESA (property purchase, SBA loan, refinancing, development), as this helps the firm scope the work appropriately.

What the Environmental Professional Will Investigate

Historical Records Review Checklist

The environmental professional will review the following historical sources to identify past uses of the property and surrounding area:

• Aerial photographs (from the earliest available, typically 1940s, through the present)
• Fire insurance maps (Sanborn maps)
• City directories and reverse directories
• Building permits and zoning records
• Land title records and tax assessor records
• USGS topographic maps
• Previous environmental reports for the property (if available)

Regulatory Database Search Checklist

The environmental professional will search the following types of databases at distances specified by ASTM E1527-21:

• National Priorities List (NPL/Superfund) sites
• CERCLIS/SEMS sites (federal cleanup sites)
• RCRA hazardous waste generators and treatment/storage/disposal facilities
• RCRA corrective action sites
• Underground storage tank (UST) databases
• Leaking underground storage tank (LUST) databases
• State hazardous waste and contaminated site lists
• State voluntary cleanup and brownfield program sites
• Emergency Release Notification System (ERNS) reports
• Tribal environmental databases (where applicable)

Site Reconnaissance Checklist

During the physical site visit, the environmental professional will look for:

• Above-ground storage tanks (ASTs)
• Underground storage tank indicators (vent pipes, fill ports, dispensers)
• Stained soil or pavement
• Chemical odors
• Drums, containers, or chemical storage areas
• Floor drains (especially in industrial or automotive areas)
• Electrical transformers (potential PCB-containing equipment)
• Waste disposal areas or dumpsters with hazardous materials
• Pits, ponds, or lagoons
• Stressed vegetation that could indicate contamination
• Adjacent property conditions visible from the site
• Evidence of current or past dry cleaning, auto repair, or industrial operations

Interview Checklist

The environmental professional will interview the following people:

• Current property owner
• Current property operator or site manager
• Current occupants or tenants
• Past owners and operators (if reasonably available)
• Local fire department
• Local health department
• Local building or planning department
• State environmental agency (for specific file reviews if warranted)

Red Flags That May Trigger a Phase 2

The following findings in a Phase 1 ESA commonly lead to a recommendation for Phase 2 testing:

• Current or former underground storage tanks (especially gas stations)
• Historical dry cleaning operations on or adjacent to the property
• Former industrial or manufacturing use
• Regulatory database listings for the property or immediate neighbors
• Stained soil or chemical odors observed during the site visit
• Former auto repair, metal plating, or printing operations
• Historical agricultural use with potential pesticide contamination
• Proximity to a known Superfund or state cleanup site
• Evidence of fill material of unknown origin

Report Components Checklist

When you receive your Phase 1 ESA report, verify it includes these sections (all required by ASTM E1527-21):

• Executive summary
• Site description and current use
• User-provided information
• Historical records review findings
• Regulatory database review results
• Site reconnaissance observations
• Interview summaries
• Findings and opinions (RECs, CRECs, HRECs)
• Conclusions and recommendations
• Environmental professional qualifications and signature
• Appendices (database reports, maps, photographs, interview records)

For a detailed explanation of each report section, see our ESA report guide.

Timeline Checklist

A standard Phase 1 ESA follows this approximate timeline:

• Day 1: Authorize the engagement and provide property documents.
• Week 1: Regulatory database searches ordered, records review begins, site visit scheduled.
• Week 2: Site reconnaissance conducted, interviews completed.
• Weeks 3-4: Report drafted, reviewed by a senior environmental professional, and delivered.

Rush turnaround (5 to 10 business days) is available from most firms for an additional fee. For pricing, see our Phase 1 ESA cost guide.

Get Your Phase 1 ESA

ESAquotes connects property buyers, lenders, and developers with environmental professionals who perform Phase 1 ESAs nationwide. Submit your property details to receive competitive quotes from qualified firms in your area.