Due Diligence Assessments Whether you are considering purchasing, selling, or taking an interest in a property, performing an environmental assessment as part of the due diligence process is essential to understanding the condition of a property. The results can alert you to potential environmental issues so that you can deal with them up front. Loitherstein Environmental Engineering, Inc. is ready to assist you with environmental site assessment projects. We can advise you about the appropriate level of assessment, perform the work, and deliver the results. We understand that time is of the essence, and will work with you to provide the information you need, when you need it. Most importantly, we will put the findings into a context you can use. If the results indicate that state regulators must be notified, we can make a seamless transition to helping you navigate regulatory requirements. Contact us to discuss you project, and let our experience go to work for you so you can have the peace of mind you need to make confident decisions.

How Much is Enough? The scope of a due diligence assessment depends on the type of property and how much you already know about it. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has outlined recommended work scopes for due diligence. Many financial institutions have also established individual assessment protocols. Although terminology and specific tasks may differ somewhat, there are three basic level of due diligence assessment: Transaction Screening Transaction Screening Assessments are often the first level of environmental due diligence. They consist of visual observation of the property, interviews with the property owner and operator (occupant) and municipal officials, review of publicly available lists of properties known to use chemicals or be contaminated, and preliminary historical research. Phase I A Phase I assessment is more detailed and is appropriate for properties with a commercial or industrial history. The scope encompasses the Transaction Screening tasks and includes deeper research into the history and use of the property. Phase II A Transaction Screening or Phase I Assessment may be all that is needed to make your decisions, but in some cases the only way to obtain the necessary information is to collect samples. The scope of a Phase II is built on the findings of the Transaction Screening or Phase I Assessment, and is specific to a given property. Visit the  Links  page to learn more