A PESA — a Preliminary Environmental Site Assessment — is the exact same thing as a Phase 1 ESA, only instead of the investigation being done on a single commercial property, it’s performed on a corridor of Rights of Way (ROW). Essentially it’s a long, narrow Phase 1 ESA that seeks to find every possible environmental impact along the corridor being assessed. If you’re with a financial lending institution looking for a “Preliminary ESA,” you are most likely looking for a Transaction Screen Assessment (TSA) instead — the two are frequently mistaken for one another.
Before we get too deep, it helps to read our explainer on what a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment is. It gives you a solid base for understanding the corridor version. And when the assessment turns up areas of concern, the next step is a Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI) — the corridor equivalent of a Phase 2 ESA.
Who Needs a PESA?
Governments — State Departments of Transportation, counties, and municipalities — are the typical buyers. Agencies installing infrastructure like roads and water mains need to understand the environmental conditions around the area where they’ll be working. These road and pipeline projects are linear in nature and cross the Rights of Way of many other landowners. Whereas a Phase 1 ESA typically covers a property owner inside a particular set of parcels, this corridor assessment covers all the landowners along the project route. A good example would be a road widening along a state highway that passes several dry cleaners, gas stations, and industrial parks. Any one of those nearby land uses could have contaminated the ROW.
Why Do Governments Order One?
Agencies are interested in the contamination along the corridor for several reasons:
- Worker exposure. Construction workers potentially exposed to contamination is a health and safety risk, and precautions may be required.
- Budgeting. Contaminated soil is expensive to haul off-site. Clean Construction & Demolition Debris (CCDD) soil is cheaper to haul but must be clean. Soil can be reused on-site but must be clean, so there can be costs associated with bringing in backfill.
- Contamination travels. Contamination moves along infrastructure such as pipelines. Putting a pipeline through a contaminated area is almost certain to transmit the contamination along the pipe, spreading it to adjacent properties.
How Long Does It Take?
The time to complete the work depends on the area covered — the corridor can span miles of roadway or pipeline. If it’s relatively small, expect it to take about the same time as a Phase 1 ESA: roughly 10 to 15 days.
What Does a PESA Cost?
Again, this depends on the size of the corridor being studied, but figure roughly $3,200 and up to start. Longer corridors with more adjacent land uses to research cost more. Contact A3E for a quote based on your specific corridor length.
How Long Is It Good For?
The report is typically used once and done. Unlike a Phase 1 ESA, it isn’t referred back to for financing.
Assets Not Liabilities
Who Performs the Assessment?
Many of these reviews are completed internally by the requesting government agency. Municipalities, however, typically don’t complete them in-house and will request the assistance of a consultant. A3 Environmental Consultants performs this service in all 50 states. We are headquartered in Chicago, Illinois and complete Phase 1 ESAs across the country at a rate of about 50 a month. We can also serve as a second set of eyes on a report to make sure it’s all correct.
Is a Site Visit Required?
Yes, absolutely. As with the ASTM standard Phase 1 ESA (E1527-21), a site visit is required.
What Happens if Concerns Are Identified?
First off, in this context they aren’t called Recognized Environmental Concerns (RECs) the way they are in a Phase 1 ESA. Instead, concerns are classified as No Concern, Low, Medium, or High Risk. A High Risk finding indicates the need for a Preliminary Site Investigation (PSI), the corridor equivalent of a Phase 2 ESA.
See This Work in the Field
Want to see what a real project looks like? Read our profiles: a PESA for a sewer improvement corridor in Maywood, Illinois and a PESA program across U.S. airports.
What Else Should I Know?
- In the State of Illinois, the Department of Transportation subs the process out to the Illinois State Geological Survey.
- If you’re having one performed as a government, the work is public record and can be subject to FOIA.
- If you’d like to see a sample Preliminary Environmental Site Assessment, click here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a PESA the same as a Phase 1 ESA?
Functionally, yes — it uses the same approach as a Phase 1 ESA but applies it to a linear corridor of Rights of Way instead of a single parcel. It identifies the same kinds of environmental impacts across every property the corridor touches.
What is the difference between a PESA and a PSI?
The PESA is the records-and-reconnaissance first step (like a Phase 1 ESA). A PSI is the subsurface sampling follow-up (like a Phase 2 ESA) that confirms or denies contamination where a concern was flagged.
How much does it cost?
Pricing starts at roughly $3,200 and scales with corridor length and the number of adjacent land uses that must be researched. Contact A3E for a quote on your specific corridor.
Who orders this assessment?
Almost always governments — state DOTs, counties, and municipalities — ahead of road, water-main, or other linear infrastructure work in the public right of way.
Need a PESA? Let’s Talk.
If you need this assessment for an upcoming corridor or infrastructure project, give A3 Environmental Consultants a call. We can be reached at (888) 405-1742 or by email at Info@A3E.com. Learn more about our Preliminary Environmental Site Assessment services.
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Reviewed by the A3 Environmental Consultants team, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, under the supervision of a licensed Professional Geologist (P.G.).
