A3 Environmental Consultants is an environmental consultant providing Clean Construction Demolition Debris (CCDD) services which is a less expensive alternative for disposing of soil from construction projects. We wrote extensively about how to understand Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) regulations in this article: Understanding CCDD, A Guide for Regular People. The following paragraphs are project
- Published in Environmental Remediation, Project Profiles
You own a commercial property that currently has, or previously has had a leaking underground storage tank (LUST). Something about your situation is changing. Maybe you’re selling it, maybe your refinancing or maybe you just got a “nastygram” from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) telling you you needed to address your open incident. You
- Published in Environmental Remediation
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) shows that your property has a Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) with an open incident. The state is stepping up enforcement and A3 Environmental Consultants would like to help you close this problem out. Finding Your Leaking Underground Storage Tank in the IEPA Database. Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Online
- Published in Environmental Remediation
This is for all A3 Environmental Consultants bid & quote partners who need to know our services and codes to complete government bids. SIC: 89990700 – Earth Science Services Not Elsewhere Classified 87489905 – Business Consulting Services Not Elsewhere Classified 87449904 – Environmental Remediation 49590302 – Environmental Cleanup Services 162934 – Environmental Reclamation 871120 –
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
You recently had a “New Release” for your Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) opened a database record on your incident. This happens when the Office of the State Fire Marshal calls in what’s known as a “release” of petroleum. Finding Your Leaking Underground Storage Tank in the IEPA
- Published in Environmental Remediation
You received a letter from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) recently and from A3 Environmental Consultants regarding an open Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) issue associated with your property. IEPA is stepping up enforcement for issues like these. We’d like show you your database record and how to read it, then pitch possible solutions
- Published in Environmental Remediation
It may come as a surprise, but you are listed on the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s (IEPA) Leaking Underground Storage Tank (LUST) database as the responsible party for a tank that leaked. You received a letter from the IEPA or maybe from A3 Environmental Consultants and now you’d like to know what’s going on and
- Published in Environmental Remediation
You may have received a letter from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) or from A3 Environmental Consultants saying “NFR Not Recorded”. It means you never recorded the “No Further Remediation” (NFR) letter for a leaking underground storage tank that was on your property in the past. Most people’s reaction is shock mixed with a
- Published in Environmental Remediation
Vapor Intrusion is the ability for volatile organic compounds to migrate from contamination in soil or groundwater through porous building foundations into areas of habitation, causing risks to health and human safety by inhalation of indoor air. A soil gas investigation is what an environmental consultant performs to confirm or deny the presence of the
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
In most companies you will find that nobody but upper management is allowed to sign a contract. We think that attitude is self defeating. Reading a contract is a skill that needs to be taught, learned and practiced or when it comes time to do it for real, you’ll be at a complete disadvantage. Our
- Published in Team Training
At A3 Environmental Consultants we work hard to keep our whole team engaged in our marketing efforts. We run monthly internal promotions with our employees to expand our reach and market to our industry better. One way we do this is by encouraging our team to maximize their LinkedIn personal accounts to help our corporate
- Published in Marketing Scientific Services, Team Training
A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is the second step of investigation into whether a property has environmental contamination of some kind. A Phase II ESA reflects the suspicion of an environmental consultant that contamination exists based on a Phase I ESA. While completing the Phase II ESA, the consultant will confirm or exclude
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
A Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is the second step of investigation into whether a property has environmental contamination of some kind. A Phase 2 ESA reflects the suspicion of an environmental consultant that contamination exists based on a Phase 1 ESA. While completing the Phase 2 ESA, the consultant will confirm or exclude
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
When clients ask “How Much Does a Phase 2 Environmental Survey Cost?” there is no other way to answer than to say “It depends”. I know that’s an unsatisfying answer but stick with me! We’ll get you a better answer by the end of this, I swear. But before we start, there’s some background information
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
If you are reading this, you are either the buyer or seller involved in a commercial property transaction which requires a Phase 2 environmental testing. An environmental professional found a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC) during the Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment process. The short answer to the question of who pays for the Phase 2
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
For many people, purchasing a commercial property is a once-in-a-lifetime event. It’s not surprising that most don’t know the terminology. There’s no such thing as a “Level Two Environmental Assessment”. It’s called a “Phase II Environmental Site Assessment”. This post is dedicated to all the ways people get their terminology understandably wrong. It makes it
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
A Preliminary Environmental Site Assessment (PESA) is the exact same as a Phase 1 ESA only instead of the investigation being done on a particular commercial property, it’s performed on a corridor of Rights of Way (ROW). Essentially it’s a long and narrow Phase 1 ESA which seeks to find all the possible environmental impacts
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
If you are reading this, you are either the buyer or seller involved in a commercial property transaction which requires a Phase II ESA report. An environmental professional found a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC) during the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment process. The short answer to the question of who pays for the Phase II
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
A Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) is the exact same as a Phase 2 ESA only instead of the investigation being done on a particular commercial property, it’s performed inside a corridor of Rights of Way (ROW). Essentially it’s a long and narrow Phase 2 ESA which seeks to confirm or deny the existence of environmental
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
An Environmental Site Assessment can refer to either a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA or Report), a Phase 2 ESA or just the ‘site visit’ portion of a Phase 1 ESA. If you are looking for information on the entire process of a Phase 1 Environmental Report, click through the link to learn more.
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
If you are reading this, you are either the buyer or seller involved in a commercial property transaction which requires a Phase 2 ESA report. An environmental professional found a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC) during the Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment process. The short answer to the question of who pays for the Phase 2
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
A Record Search with Risk Assessment (RSRA) report is a faster, less expensive form of environmental due diligence which was developed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) for lending money on commercial properties. The SBA defined the scope of a RSRA in Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) 50 10 7. Lenders wanted to lower the substantial
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
When clients ask “How Much Does a Phase 2 Environmental Inspection Cost?” there is no other way to answer than to say “It depends”. I know that’s an unsatisfying answer but stick with me! We’ll get you a better answer by the end of this, I swear. But before we start, there’s some background information
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is a comprehensive review of the environmental risks past, present and future on a commercial property. Typically done during a change in ownership of commercial property, buyers, sellers or banks commission them. Ultimately, reasons to perform an environmental site assessment are to protect the value of the collateral
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
A Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is the second step of investigation into whether a property has environmental contamination of some kind. A Phase 2 ESA reflects the suspicion of an environmental consultant that contamination exists based on a Phase 1 ESA. While completing the Phase 2 ESA, the consultant will confirm or exclude
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is the second step of investigation into whether a property has environmental contamination of some kind. A Phase II ESA reflects the suspicion of an environmental consultant that contamination exists based on a Phase I ESA. While completing the Phase II ESA, the consultant will confirm or exclude
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
The following are a list of NAICS Codes for Environmentally Sensitive Industries. If you are looking to purchase commercial property and need to get environmental due diligence done for the loan, you cannot use a Record Search With Risk Assessment (RSRA) if the current or past use of the property is on this list. 211
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Checklist for Freelance Environmental Consultants. Download.
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
If the question is “Do I need a Phase I Environmental Assessment on vacant land?”, then the answer is “Not necessarily” but if the question is, “Do I need some kind of environmental assessment on vacant land?”, then the answer is almost certainly yes. You have options though and all the options have pro’s and
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
A Transaction Screen Assessment (TSA) is a form of environmental due diligence which is less comprehensive than a Phase 1 ESA but more comprehensive than a Record Search with Risk Assessment (RSRA). Because it holds a middle ground, there are cost advantages in doing one. However, there are drawbacks too. Keep reading and learn why
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
The best way to find a historic Phase I Report is to find it in your records or email. They are typically sent as PDFs from the consultant that did the work. The second best way to find a historic Phase I Environmental Study is to call the consultant who did the work. They should
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
The environmental inspection is part of a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). It’s just one component of what goes into the project. If you are asking how the whole process is done, look here. If you are really only looking for insight into the Environmental Inspection part of the Phase 1 ESA, you are
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
According to the governing body that decides what the standards are for Phase I Environmental Surveys, a Phase I ESA is good for 6 months. You can see the American Society of Materials and Testing (ASTM) standard here. There are ways around having to pay for a full Phase I Environmental Survey though. The reasons
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
The most common way to clear a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC) from a Phase I Environmental Study is to complete a Phase II Environmental Study. The results will answer with hard science, if the REC is a concern and if it needs to be further remediated. What is a REC? A REC is basically an
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
Phase I Environmental Inspections are performed by environmental professional who is trained to find past, present or future threats of environmental contamination walks through a property and inspects for environmental risks as part of the scope of work of a Phase I ESA. Phase I ESAs are done by environmental consulting companies, and environmental professionals
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
For many people, purchasing a commercial property is a once-in-a-lifetime event. It’s not surprising that most don’t know the terminology. There’s no such thing as a “Level One Environmental”. It’s called a “Phase I Environmental Site Assessment”. This post is dedicated to all the ways people get their terminology understandably wrong. It makes it difficult
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
The organization that established guidelines for the Phase I Environmental Study is the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). They aren’t guidelines so much as they are a standard way of conducting a Phase I ESA. In much the same way as accounting has Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and manufacturing has the International
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
The ESA Questionnaire is an important part of an ASTM 1527-13 Phase 1 ESA. A3E wants to help Freelance Environmental Consultants to do more work, faster and ultimately get paid more. Why? Because we’ve been there, done that. Let’s work together!
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
RSRA is the abbreviation for Record Search with Risk Assessment (RSRA). It was developed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) as a less expensive form of environmental due diligence when applying for SBA backed commercial loans. With a price-point of less than half the cost of a Phase I ESA, these environmental reports lowered the
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
It’s never a happy situation to find yourself in when you’re responsible for finding an Environmental Consulting company to do a Phase 2 ESA on a property you own or a property you want to purchase. Chances are good you’ve never done it before. Below, we try to give you some quick advice on how
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
The average cost of a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment is about $1900 depending on who you call and how involved the site is. That’s what we here at A3 Environmental Consultants charge for most projects. But there’s a lot more to it, so stick with me if you’re interested in learning more. What kind
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
As with all things, prices may vary based on many factors but here at A3E our Phase I Environmental cost vary around $1900. But read on because there’s a lot that goes into the pricing of a Phase I ESA. Table Of Contents How Risky Is the Target? How Far Is The Project? How Extensive
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
Here at A3 Environmental Consultants, we’ve found the general public doesn’t know much about what we do and has more than a few preconceived notions. This post is about some of the the things we’ve come across which people frequently didn’t know. Environmental Consulting: Once soil is contaminated, there’s no cleaning it. No matter what
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
Welcome, 1099 contractors! At A3E we like to make industry friends so we’re giving you some environmental report examples for your review. It was 5 short years ago that A3 Environmental Consultants was started by our fearless boss lady, Alisa Allen. Her initial goal was to be an Freelance Environmental Consultant to her friends in
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
You are asking an unintentionally difficult question. In order to answer it we need to know what “Environmental Investigation” you are talking about. If you’re looking for environmental investigation of products like cell phones, you’re in the wrong spot. If you’re talking about commercial real estate, soil or groundwater environmental investigation, read on… Environmental Screen
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
We’ve learned a few things in the environmental consulting business. We’d like to share them with you. Table Of Contents Who Pays For The Phase I ESA? How Long Is A Phase I ESA Good For? How Much Does A Phase I ESA Cost? How Long Will A Phase I ESA Take To Complete? Does
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
When clients ask “How Much Does a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Cost?” there is no other way to answer than to say “It depends”. I know that’s an unsatisfying answer but stick with me! We’ll get you a better answer by the end of this, I swear. But before we start, there’s some background
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
It’s never a happy situation to find yourself in when you’re responsible for finding an Environmental Consulting company to do a Phase II ESA on a property you own or a property you want to purchase. Chances are good you’ve never done it before. Below, we try to give you some quick advice on how
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
When clients ask “How Much Does a Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment Cost?” there is no other way to answer than to say “It depends”. I know that’s an unsatisfying answer but stick with me! We’ll get you a better answer by the end of this, I swear. But before we start, there’s some background
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence
When people ask about an Environmental Record Search, they typically can only mean one of a few things. In the environmental consulting industry we use database vendors for our environmental records search. While this function could, in theory, be done without wholesale environmental database reports, it would be much more difficult to do. It’s also
- Published in Environmental Due Diligence