Understanding Environmental Due Diligence

Environmental due diligence is a critical process when assessing a property for sale or managing potential contamination risks. It involves a comprehensive evaluation of a site’s environmental status, often to satisfy regulatory requirements or to ensure the safety and environmental integrity before property transactions.

Key Elements of Environmental Due Diligence:

1. Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs):
   • This initial phase involves a thorough review of historical records, property inspections, and interviews to identify potential environmental issues.
   • Phase I ESAs help determine whether there is a need for further investigation.
2. Phase II Environmental Site Assessments:
   • If the initial assessment reveals potential concerns, Phase II dives deeper by conducting soil, water, and air tests to confirm contamination.
   • This phase often involves sampling and laboratory analysis to quantify any hazards.

Role of Utility Locates in Environmental Due Diligence:

Utility locates are a vital aspect of this process. They provide precise mapping of underground utilities, which is crucial for:

• Identifying Preferential Pathways:
  • Contaminants often travel along paths of least resistance. Mapping these pathways helps assess how far and where pollutants might spread.
• Enhancing Site Assessments:
  • Accurate information about utilities ensures that digging and testing can proceed safely without disrupting essential infrastructure.
• Creating Conceptual Site Models (CSMs):
  • These models offer a 3D visualization of the site, integrating data from utility locates to comprehensively understand contamination dynamics.
  • CSMs are 99.8% accurate, making them a reliable tool for visualizing current conditions and predicting future scenarios.