A properly developed due diligence program can yield significant cost savings to buyers in terms of liabilities avoided and
cost adjustments to a particular transaction if information from the due diligence investigation is used properly
and in the early stage of the transactional process.

Due Diligence Phase I Environmental Assessment

• Universally accepted by banks
• Prompt nationwide response 
• Fast, expert assessment

 

Inspection Today --- Wednesday, March 10, 2010 report on your desk next week

Whether you are purchasing a single property or own or manage hundreds of properties all over the country we can provide all the due diligence services you need including environmental assessment, commercial and industrial building inspection and property condition assessment reports.

The high risk nature of environmental liabilities makes it important for real estate purchasers and companies engaged in business transactions such as mergers and acquisitions to thoroughly understand these liabilities in order to avoid adverse and material legal, financial and commercial consequences.  Environmental assessment is an integral component of the due diligence process. 

PHASE 1 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

A complete Due Diligence routine includes Phase 1 Environmental Assessment.  Industrial property lenders and investors routinely require environmental assessment either as part of your application package or at minimum prior to loan closing.  In many cases the potential for loss as a result of environmental contamination eclipses potential costs resulting from building defects or systems failure.  Contamination on the property or under the property in soil or groundwater or a vapor intrusion condition can have potentially devastating effects including:

1. Reduction of property value
2. Impaired ability to repay mortgage loan
3. Liability for damage to health of occupants 
4. Rent losses based on unsafe working environment
5. Difficulty or inability to rent or sell the property
6. Liability for cleanup under federal and state CERCLA programs  

Phase 1 Environmental Assessment, sometimes referred to as a Phase I Audit, Environmental Site Assessment or simply ESA, is a rigorous investigation designed to determine that the property you own, buy lease, occupy, insure or hold a mortgage on is free from health risks and financial liability associated with environmental defects.

LIABILITY PROTECTION

Due Diligence Inspection & Assessment Services Phase 1 Environmental Assessment with All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) and Environmental Lien Search plus Vapor Intrusion Assessment  can qualify the user (you) for the innocent landowner defense under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 9601 et. seq. (CERCLA). and also 42 U.S.C. § 9607(q) contiguous property owner liability protection and also bona fide prospective purchaser liability protection.

If you need environmental assessment but are not necessarily required to meet all standards of a full ASTM E-15257-05 Phase I Environmental Assessment your project may qualify for a less intensive, lower cost environmental assessment product.  Please contact us to discuss your options.

CUSTOMIZATION

The United States Census Bureau has developed and maintains the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) This system classifies property by use according to the level of environmental sensitivity and is used by OSHA and other regulatory agencies, and is a critical tool that we use to customize your Environmental Assessment.  Based on the NAICS code presently and formerly associated with your property and adjoining and nearby properties we focus our investigation on the unique circumstances, conditions and risks inherent in each property type to develop a cost-efficient strategy for acquiring information unique to the site and addressing any data gap with the required intensity based on present and former property type and use.

PROTOCOL

Phase 1 Environmental Assessment provides a wealth of information through several broad areas of inquiry that the Environmental Professional uses in his assessment to reach conclusions, form opinions and make recommendations.

Records Review involves a very detailed and labor intensive research project.  Over 60 federal, state and local databases are searched.  The Environmental Professional (us) evaluates and documents the thoroughness of the search, reviews and analyzes the information received. 

Historical Research often provides answers and clues to past history of the subject property and properties in the immediate vicinity.  Remember that we're looking for the presence or likely presence of environmental hazards on the subject property and that contamination could very well have originated on an adjacent property or a property miles away, and as a result of current or former use.  Insurance maps, city directories and interviews with property owners, tenants and neighbors and local officials are all part of this process.

Site Inspection yields a wealth of information about the soil, topography, evidence of current or former storage tanks, chemical storage, materials dumped or stored on the property uses on neighboring properties.  The Environmental Professional (EP) will then reconcile this information with database records.  the EP may encounter missing information (data gap) that must be resolved within Phase 1 standard procedures or additional investigation in order to satisfy the user and his lender that any questions about the property have been reasonably resolved.

Geology, Hydrology, Topography are analyzed to determine porosity of the soil, depth of water table, direction and velocity of underground water movement and other physical attributes.  This information is invaluable in determining the potential of any environmental hazard migrating to or from the subject property and also the probability of vapor intrusion into buildings. 

Lifespace Corporation Standard Operating Procedure and our proprietary protocol for Phase 1 Assessment / Phase I Audit / ESA meet or exceed generally accepted industry standards by maintaining specific protocols that address differing risk factors associated with the following property types:  commercial property, industrial property, residential property, gas station, auto sales & service  hotel,  motel, and land including vacant land,  agriculture land,  ranch land and forestry land.  Our Phase 1 Assessment / Phase I Audit exceeds generally accepted industry standards and ASTM E-1527-05 Standard of Practice for Environmental Assessment.

CONTAMINATION FROM OTHER SITES 

Because environmental hazards can originate on your property or originate of properties miles away, Phase I Environmental Assessment includes investigation of the subject property and a similar investigation of adjoining and neighboring properties within prescribed search distances including site reconnaissance, extensive research of environmental records in over 60 federal, state, local, tribal and proprietary databases and determination and analysis of geology and hydrology.

VAPOR INTRUSION ASSESSMENT  

Vapor Intrusion Assessment (VIA) is designated as a non-scope addition to Phase 1 Environmental Assessment generally available from other Phase 1 providers at an additional cost however, Due Diligence Inspection & Assessment Services includes VIA in our standard Due Diligence Phase 1 Environmental Assessment Protocol.  When you order your Assessment from us you get the added benefit of Vapor Intrusion Assessment at no additional cost.

We include ASTM E-2600-08 Vapor Intrusion Assessment in every Phase 1 Assessment because we believe that VIP is required due diligence to qualify you for the innocent landowner defense under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended, 42 USC 9601 et. seq. (CERCLA) should it ever become necessary.  The innocent landowner defense affords you long term protection from financial liability and that protection could in certain circumstances extend for up to 25 years after you cease to own, lease, occupy, insure or hold a mortgage on your property.

Banks and other lenders and investors, insurers, real estate attorneys and buyers and lessees are increasingly insisting on Vapor Intrusion Assessment as a condition of loans secured by real estate, insurance coverage and property purchase or lease.  But whether or not you are required to have VIP it may very well become vital due diligence to qualify for innocent landowner defense.

CONFIDENTIAL REPORT

Our Environmental Assessment Report is confidential to you.  We are not required and do not file a report copy with any governmental or private agency.  At your request, we will issue a reliance letter to your lender.

We'll customize your Environmental Assessment to fulfill your needs and meet your expectations on time and on budget.

DISCOUNTS  

Discounts are available when you order any combination of Due Diligence services at the same time including Phase 1 Environmental Assessment, Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), Vapor Intrusion Assessment (VIA), Commercial Building Inspection and Industrial Building Inspection and Property Condition Assessment (PCA).  See our discount policy below.

Complete commercial and industrial building inspection is also available at discount - see Commercial & Industrial Building Inspection.

We offer expert service at the lowest possible cost.

CONTACT US  

Please contact our Environmental Professional and Senior Consultant with any questions you may have.
Call Edward Devine directly at (585) 738-5080.

You can also request a quote by e-mail and we'll respond promptly.

STANDARDS  

Lifespace Corporation Phase I Environmental Assessment with All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI), Environmental Lien Search and Vapor Intrusion Assessment (VIA) exceeds industry standards and meets or exceeds ASTM E-1527-05 Standard of Practice for Environmental Assessment and ASTM E-2600-08 Standard Practice for Vapor Intrusion Assessment. 

Our proprietary Phase 1 Environmental Assessment Protocol meets the standard of due diligence to qualify you for the innocent landowner defense or other liability protections under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as amended, 42 USC 9601 et. seq. (CERCLA) should it ever become necessary. 

Lifespace Corporation has 24 years environmental assessment experience on all types of real estate: commercial and industrial buildings including apartment, condominium and other residential property and office, call center, warehouse, distribution, manufacturing, hotel,  motel, restaurant and club, bank, retail, mall, plaza call center, gas station and automotive service plus land including vacant land,  agriculture land,  ranch land and forestry land.  We serve investors, buyers, sellers, real estate attorneys, Realtors, real estate agents, bankers and other lenders, loan brokers and insurance companies. 

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Our Pricing Policy

We know that cost is an important consideration but price should never be the only consideration.  We strive to deliver the highest quality service at the best possible price. Protection from environmental liability and your ability to effectively manage building maintenance and repair costs depend on thorough inspection and assessment, and completion of the real estate purchase or lease transaction requires prompt service.  We're an employee-owned firm and take pride in our work.  We've been in business since 1985 and we'll be honored to put our 24 years experience to work for you.

We provide a full suite of services from coast to coast and never charge extra for travel outside our service area because everywhere is in our service area.

We offer group pricing discounts if you have any combination of  Phase 1 Environmental Assessment, Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), Vapor Intrusion Assessment (VIA), Commercial Building Inspection or Industrial Building Inspection or Property Condition Assessment (PCA) projects to be done at the same time.

We offer volume discounts if your company is planning several Phase 1 Environmental Assessment, Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), Vapor Intrusion Assessment (VIA), Commercial Building Inspection or Industrial Building Inspection or Property Condition Assessment (PCA) projects over the course of a year. 

We offer referral discounts.  We promise to meet your exceed all your expectations and when we receive an order as a result of your referral we'll discount your next order.      

Thank you for visiting usaDueDiligence.com, an industry leader in Phase 1 Environmental Assessment, Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), Vapor Intrusion Assessment (VIA), Commercial Building Inspection and Industrial Building Inspection and Property Condition Assessment (PCA).

contact us by e-mail or call us at 585-738-5080.
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