--- title: "Changes On the Way for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments" canonicalUrl: "https://wyche.com/insights/blog/posts/changes-on-the-way-for-phase-i-environmental-site-assessments/" excerpt: "Changes may be in store in 2013 to the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), which has become the first step of environmental due diligence in the real estate world. The ESA is prepared as a part of most commercial transactions involving real estate and identifies known or potential environmental liabilities on the subject property, including contamination in soil and groundwater and possible hazardous building materials, among other risks. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) establishes the standard used for ESAs in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency, which promulgates regulations governing what inquiries are necessary into the environmental…
Read More" datePublished: "2012-12-12T18:29:11-05:00" dateModified: "2024-05-24T16:07:17-04:00" --- - Changes On the Way for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments [Home](https://wyche.com/) » Changes On the Way for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments [** Wade S. Kolb III](https://wyche.com/author/wkolb/) ** ** ** # Changes On the Way for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments Changes may be in store in 2013 to the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), which has become the first step of environmental due diligence in the real estate world. The ESA is prepared as a part of most commercial transactions involving real estate and identifies known or potential environmental liabilities on the subject property, including contamination in soil and groundwater and possible hazardous building materials, among other risks. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) establishes the standard used for ESAs in conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency, which promulgates regulations governing what inquiries are necessary into the environmental conditions on a property. The ASTM requires each of its standards to be reviewed and updated every eight years. The current standard on Phase I ESAs was issued in 2005, so revision will likely occur in 2013. No draft of proposed changes is available yet, but it’s thought that the new standard may require that vapor encroachment be considered in the Phase I report and recognize a new category of Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs), a “Controlled Recognized Environmental Condition.” The “CREC” would refer to environmental contamination currently under control but which may pose a threat in the future. Another potential change may mandate review of some files in local, state and federal regulatory agencies concerning adjacent properties. Review of these files is often included in Phase I reports already, but requiring such review may well increase the cost of the Phase I and/or the length of time necessary to prepare the report. We will post more detailed information on Environmental Matters as the changes to the ESA begin to take shape. [*](https://wyche.com/author/wkolb/) [## Wade S. Kolb III](https://wyche.com/author/wkolb/) Wade focuses his practice on litigation, appellate advocacy, education, internal investigations, and governmental representation. Since joining Wyche in the fall of 2011, Wade has had extensive experience in high-stakes commercial litigation, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal court. RELATED ARTICLES [](https://wyche.com/insights/blog/posts/thirty-five-wyche-attorneys-named-to-2026-best-lawyers-lists/) ### [Thirty-Five Wyche Attorneys Named to 2026 Best Lawyers Lists](https://wyche.com/insights/blog/posts/thirty-five-wyche-attorneys-named-to-2026-best-lawyers-lists/) Best Lawyers® has recognized 35 Wyche attorneys for 2026. Four Wyche attorneys were named “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas. John Moylan [](https://wyche.com/insights/blog/posts/a-chance-meeting-in-prague-reveals-a-wyche-connection/) ### [A Chance Meeting in Prague Reveals a Wyche Connection](https://wyche.com/insights/blog/posts/a-chance-meeting-in-prague-reveals-a-wyche-connection/) The world became a little smaller recently when former Wyche attorney John Simpkins and Bakala Foundation Executive Director Václav Pecha unexpectedly found themselves seated next [* View All](https://wyche.com/insights/news-stories/) ## Stay in Touch Join one our mailing lists and receive regular updates! [Subscribe to Updates](/subscription) ## Contact Us * * Send Message - [Our Philosophy](https://wyche.com/our-philosophy/) - [Unique Culture](https://wyche.com/our-unique-culture/) - [Client Service](https://wyche.com/wyche-difference/) - [Global Reach](https://wyche.com/global-reach/) - [Careers](https://wyche.com/careers/) - [Locations](https://wyche.com/locations) - [Centennial](https://wyche.com/wyche-100/) [Linkedin **](https://www.linkedin.com/company/wychepa/) [Facebook **](https://www.facebook.com/wychepa?ref=hl) [Instagram **](https://www.instagram.com/wychepa/)