Why should you choose ALLIN Building Consultants, a div. of ALLIN Home Inspections, Inc. for your Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment or Record Search & Risk Assessment in Sterling, IL and Surrounding Areas?
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We follow the ASTM E1527-21 Standards for all our Phase 1 Assessment
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We follow the SBA 50 10 7 Standards for all our SBA Phase 1 Assessments
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We offer competitive pricing
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We have a fast turn around time for delivering Phase 1 reports (12-14 days)
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We have a fast turn around for RSRA reports (2 - 3 days)
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FREE reliance letters. The typical rate for these are $250 to $600. We include these with our Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments.
What is a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment?
A Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is a critical evaluation typically conducted during property transactions to identify potential environmental liabilities. It is designed to uncover any evidence of contamination or hazardous materials that could affect the property’s value, safety, or future use.
More Information Below
What is a Record Search & Risk Assessment (RSRA)?
The Record Search Risk and Assessment is an environmental due diligence option for low risk properties described by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Standard Operating Procedures. The RSRA includes an environmental database and historical review of the property.
Who Needs a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) and Why?
A Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is a critical step in understanding the environmental condition of a property. It is often a required or recommended process for various stakeholders involved in real estate transactions, development, or property management. But who exactly needs a Phase 1 ESA, and why is it so important? Let’s break it down.
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Who Needs a Phase 1 ESA?
Real Estate Buyers
Anyone purchasing commercial or industrial property should consider a Phase 1 ESA. This assessment helps identify potential environmental liabilities tied to the property, such as contamination from previous uses.
Lenders often require a Phase 1 ESA before approving loans for property purchases or redevelopment. It minimizes the risk of financing a property with hidden environmental issues.
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Property Developers
Developers need to ensure that a site is free of contamination before starting construction. Environmental hazards can delay projects and significantly increase costs.
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Property Owners
Existing property owners may commission a Phase 1 ESA to ensure compliance with environmental regulations or to prepare for a potential sale.
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Government Agencies and Municipalities
Agencies responsible for land acquisition, zoning, or redevelopment projects often conduct Phase 1 ESAs to confirm the land's suitability for its intended use.
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Tenants and Leaseholders
Businesses leasing properties, especially for industrial or manufacturing use, may conduct a Phase 1 ESA to avoid inheriting environmental risks.
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Why is a Phase 1 ESA Important?
Identifying Environmental Risks
A Phase 1 ESA investigates the history of a property to uncover potential contamination risks, such as hazardous materials or improper waste disposal.
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Protecting Against Liability
Under laws like the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), property owners can be held responsible for cleanup costs, even if they didn’t cause the contamination. A Phase 1 ESA can provide legal protection by establishing "innocent landowner" status.
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Ensuring Regulatory Compliance
Many industries have strict environmental regulations. A Phase 1 ESA ensures that properties comply with federal, state, and local laws.
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Making Informed Decisions
Whether you’re buying, selling, or developing a property, understanding its environmental history allows you to make better financial and operational decisions.
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Facilitating Transactions
A Phase 1 ESA can help streamline real estate transactions by providing clear, documented information about the property’s environmental status.
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Key Components of a Phase 1 ESA
The assessment typically includes:
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A review of historical property records and land use.
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An on-site inspection to identify potential environmental concerns.
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Interviews with current and past property owners, occupants, or neighbors.
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A review of government databases for records of environmental violations or contamination.
Conclusion
A Phase 1 ESA is more than just a regulatory checkbox; it’s a safeguard for anyone investing in or developing a property. By identifying potential environmental liabilities early, stakeholders can protect their investments, avoid costly surprises, and ensure a smoother transaction process.
Records Search Risk Assessment (RSRA)
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ALLIN Building Consultants, a div. of ALLIN Home Inspections, Inc. offers RSRA services on commercial properties in Sterling, IL and surrounding areas requiring SBA / lender-required environmental transaction due diligence. This is a low-cost alternative to the traditional Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, which is performed in the field to ASTM standards with a more detailed set of mandatory requirements on the deliverable to the client.
The turnaround time for an RSRA is quicker than Phase I because it does not involve any fieldwork and can be completed fully remotely without us ever going to the site. Our professionals perform a comprehensive collection of data from public records, a compilation of historical information, regulatory databases, existing maps, aerial documentation, and photographs currently residing in the public domain.
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The report is useful in fast-moving commercial real estate portfolio transactions or on smaller-sized properties that do not impose large risks.
Records Search with Risk Assessment (RSRA) is part of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) environmental due diligence requirement. The report is part of the SBA 5010 and SBA 7(a) Loan Programs for commercial real estate (CRE) collateral, but is not confined to only SBA real estate transactions.
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If the business use is not listed on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code list of environmentally sensitive industries and the loan value is over $150,000, a RSRA can be conducted according to SBA guidelines, in lieu of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA).
A RSRA Includes:
A search of government databases as well as a search of historical use records (for example, aerial photographs, city directories, and/or fire insurance maps) pertaining to the subject property and Adjoining Properties
A summary report prepared by an Environmental Professional based on the results of the records search as to whether the Subject Property is either low, moderate, or high risk