Environmental Assessment Consultant

If you need help with an EH&S issue, call August Mack Environmental! Here are some people to call to explain your need, and then they will get the best resources in touch with you:

Mike Ogburn (317-916-3111) - compliance issues such as permitting (water, air, waste, etc), plan development (SPCC, SWPPP, etc), report preparation (Tier II, TRI / Form R, air reports, etc), outsourced compliance

Kent Johnson (317-916-3177) - phase I environmental site assessments, asbestos surveys, mold...

Kent Johnson in August Mack Environmental's corporate office is the Program Development Manager for the Transaction practice. A big part of this service segment relates to performing Phase I Environmental Site Assessments. If you have this need, contact Kent at 317-916-3177.

The range of land use in the United States is extensive, varying from agricultural land use to heavy industrial use. Not only do environmental considerations arise when redeveloping a Brownfields site, they must also be taken into account in nearly all redevelopment scenarios whether it is agricultural to residential or residential to commercial.  These environmental considerations should be looked at early in the redevelopment process and discussed with your environmental consultant in...

Traditional Environmental Due Diligence typically consists of a Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). The goal of the Phase I/II ESA is to identify and quantify environmental liabilities associated with real estate. August Mack typically represents buyers and their lenders during the environmental due diligence process and the Phase I/II ESA findings are often used by our clients to help them understand what is going on with the property. However, it is important to note that...

The purpose of a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment is to identify conditions indicative of an existing release, past release, or material threat of a release of any hazardouse substances or petroleum products on a property. So what defines a release?

The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) defines a "release" as "any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the...

A Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (Phase II ESA) is conducted to determine whether chemicals of concern are present in environmental media at a property, mainly through chemical testing of soil and/or groundwater samples collected from locations where chemicals of concern are most likely to be present, and if present, to gain sufficient information regarding the chemical concentrations to meet the objectives of our clients.

Our extensive experience with subsurface investigations can help...

In the past twenty-five years, August Mack has had the opportunity to serve many local, state, and federal government clients.  Since receiving a GSA Schedules contract a little over two years ago, our focus on the federal government market has increased, resulting in some successful projects in addition to some lessons learned.  As a small business, August Mack brings a significant value to the federal government buyer, but we also recognize that in many cases a teaming approach can provide the...

August Mack Environmental is a market leader in providing timely and cost-effective environmental due diligence work for 7a and 504 Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. August Mack has developed subject matter experts on the environmental requirements of the SBA process and this expertise has enabled us to help our clients navigate through the requirements laid out by SBA for environmental investigations. The SBA procedures under SOP 50-10(5) Lender and Development Company Loan Programs...

The current Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard was last revised in 2005 and is currently referenced as ASTM E 1527-05.  ASTM standards have an 8-year shelf life.  At that time, there are four courses of action that can be taken; 1) there is no action and the standard sunsets, 2) there is a ballot to withdraw the standard, 3) there is a ballot to re-approve the standard with no change, or 4) the Task Group is reconvened to...

The purpose of a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment is to identify the presence or likely presence of any hazardous substances or petroleum products under conditions that indicate an existing release, a past release, or a material threat of a release of any hazardous substances or petroleum products into structures on the property or into the ground, groundwater, or surface water of the property.

For more information, call 800.579.0770 and ask to speak to one of the environmental assessment...

On Tuesday, March 5th at 10:00 a.m. August Mack will present a free webinar on "Contracting Strategies for Green Building and Sustainable Project Goals." Register here to attend this free webinar.

In May 2011, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) released its AIA Document D503-2011, “Guide for Sustainable Projects”, followed in 2012 by the release of new AIA contract documents for projects with sustainable project goals. Join the law firm of Drewry Simmons Vornehm LLP (DSV)...

Don't forget to register now for the August Mack webinar (Mar. 5) at 10:00 a.m. on "Contracting Strategies for Green Building and Sustainable Project Goals". In May 2011, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) released its AIA Document D503-2011, “Guide for Sustainable Projects”, followed in 2012 by the release of new AIA contract documents for projects with sustainable project goals. Join the law firm of Drewry Simmons Vornehm LLP (DSV) and environmental consulting firm August Mack...

Due Diligence is a term used for a number of concepts involving either an investigation prior to signing a contract or an act with a certain standard of care.  It can be a legal obligation, but the term is more commonly applied to voluntary investigations. As it pertains to environmental consulting, an example of due diligence is the process through which a potential purchaser evaluates a property for acquisition by means of Phase I and/or Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs).

There are...

The preliminary stages of environmental due diligence associated with commercial real estate transaction often identifies environmental concerns or recognized environmental conditions (RECs). At August Mack, after initial environmental concerns have been identified we are often asked, “what is the next step?” Whether initial environmental concerns were identified in a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (Phase I ESA), Modified Phase I ESA, or Records Search with Risk Assessment, a Phase II ESA...

The term “background” or “background concentration” is commonly referred to in the environmental consulting industry when evaluating samples of environmental media (soil, sediment, groundwater, and air) collected at a site.  It can be a confusing term because it has a couple of meanings.   In general, background refers to a particular constituent that is present at a site that is not attributed to activities at the site.  Instead, the constituent may be present as a result of “naturally...

Don't forget to join us tomorrow on Thursday, January 24 at 10:00 am (by registering here) for a free webinar titled "A New Phase I ESA Standard: What Will Change and How Does This Affect My Environmental Due Diligence?"

The current standard for conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) is the ASTM E 1527-05 “Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process”, which was last updated in 2005. According to the ASTM bylaws, standards...

Acitivity and use limitations (AULs) are an explicit recognition by a federal, state, or local regulatory agency that residual levels of hazardous substances or petroeluem products may be present on a property, and that unrestricted use of the property may not be acceptable.

The user(s) of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is required to search land title records and judicial records to identify AULs and environmental liens recorded against the property. However, August Mack is happy to...

If you are considering a real estate transaction in Ohio and part of your due diligence process includes an environmental assessment, contact Eric Cooper at 614-798-9922 in our Ohio office. Performing this due diligence can aid in minimizing your risks and liabilities.

On Thursday, January 24, 2013 join us at 10:00 am (by registering here) for a free webinar titled "A New Phase I ESA Standard: What Will Change and How Does This Affect My Environmental Due Diligence?"

The current standard for conducting Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) is the ASTM E 1527-05 “Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process”, which was last updated in 2005. According to the ASTM bylaws, standards must be updated...

Historical Recognized Environmental Conditions (HRECs) are often identified during Phase I Environmental Site Assessments. A HREC is an environmental condition which in the past would have been a recognized environmental condition (REC), but which may or may not be considered a REC currently. The final decision rests with the environmental professional and will be influenced by the current impact of the HREC on the commercial property in question. If a HREC is determined to be a REC at the time...