August Mack is awarded over 1,500
projects per year. One of the most common types of projects is a
Phase 1 Environmental Assessment. If you are purchasing property,
this is a very important part of the due diligence process. This
helps manage your risks and potential future liability. If you need
help, feel free to call Kent Johnson in our corporate office at
317.916.3177 and he will direct you to the right resources within
our company depending upon the location of the Phase 1 that needs
to be...
Read More »Please
register here for the free August Mack webinar on
Thursday, March 15, 2012 titled "Environmental Considerations with
Land Use Redevelopment." 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 be
agricultural to residential or residential to commercial....Read More »
We see a lot of requests from financial institutions for environmental assessments for Small Business Administration (SBA) guaranteed loans. The SBA's environmental policy is outlined in its Standard Operation Procedures (SOP 50-10-5(D)). The first step of the environmental investigation is to determine if the site operations have a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code that matches one of the SBA's published list of environmentally sensitive NAICS codes. If so, a Phase I...
Read More »
Punxsutawney Phil lives in Pennsylvania just like August Mack Environmental! If you need help with Pennsylvania Environmental Consulting, call our office at 717.399.9587. We will be able to provide Environmental Compliance Solutions if needed.
The voltility in current
commercial real estate lending has led us to see an increase the in
the requests for "reliance letters" on Phase 1 Environmental Site
Assessments (ESA). So what is a reliance letter?
Although whomever commissions the
Phase 1 Site Assessment should also carefully consider
any limitations a consultant may impose on who may use or rely
on the report and explicitly provide for reliance by
investors, lenders or others, this doesn't always happen. This is
usually discussed...
Read More »
Did you know that August Mack is a GSA Schedules contract
holder? August Mack can provide the following services
directly to federal government buyers:
- 899-1 Environmental Consulting Services
- 899-3 Environmental Training Services
- 899-8 Remediation and Reclamation Services
To learn more about purchasing these services through GSA Advantage, visit our contractor information page here.
Optimism among small business owners = increased SBA
lending:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/45827467/
August Mack has extensive experience in conducting environmental
assessments in accordance with SBA Standard operating procedures.
From a Records Search with Risk Assessment (RSRA), to a Phase I
Environmental Site Assessment, and all the way through a Phase 2
Investigation, we can help ensure a smooth environmental process
for your SBA backed loans.
During 2011 August Mack Environmental was awarded more than 1,500 projects. Many of these projects were Phase I Environmental Site Assessments. Although this is not our largest revenue segment, it is our largest service area by number of projects awarded. Many of these projects are performed near our offices although we have completed transactional due diligence work in over 40 states. If you need help, give me a call at 317.916.3105.
Did
you know?
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. In the environmental world, an example of due diligence is the process through which a potential purchaser evaluates a property for acquistion by means of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment.
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. In the environmental world, an example of due diligence is the process through which a potential purchaser evaluates a property for acquistion by means of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment.
Taken from a previously
published article in our newsletter:
Owning a commercial or industrial building can present unexpected
environmental liabilities. A property owner is ultimately
responsible for the environmental condition of the property which
includes contamination caused by past or current tenants. Most of
these environmental concerns and potential liabilities are unknown
until a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is performed.
Unfortunately, a Phase I ESA is typically driven by...
So I started to write more about
the new Continiuing Obligations Standard and how it pertains to new
transactions, Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments and liability
protections and then I realized that one of my stellar Senior
Project Managers here at August Mack had already done so! I
figured, why write about it again when he already did an amazing
job of it in our September (monthly) Newsletter.
Check it out at www.augustmack.com/Newsletter/2011/September/Article0321.html
Check it out at www.augustmack.com/Newsletter/2011/September/Article0321.html
Looks like there is development in the works for a new ASTM
standard for methane hazard mitigation practices (WK32621).
It will be interesting to see how/if this will be incorporated into
risk management policies for environmental due diligence. What
immediately comes to mind are the numerous landfill facilities that
are often identified in close proximity (sometimes adjacent) to a
study site during a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment.
Dry cleaning facililties routinely
are a source of concern while performing environmental site
assessments due to the invasive and carcinogenic effects of the
solvent used in the process. Tetrachloroethylene (also known as
perchloroethylene, perc, or PCE) can easily migrate through soil
and groundwater, and has been the topic of much controversy,
specifically as it pertains to environmental due diligence.
With all that is known about the harmful effects of perc, many
states are working to ban...
Read More »Taken from our newsletter
files:
Vapor intrusion (VI) is one pathway for building occupants to come
in contact with chemicals of concern, occurring when vapors from
contaminated soil and/or groundwater migrate into the indoor air of
overlying structures. The American Society for Testing and
Materials (ASTM) Standard Practice for Assessment of Vapor
Intrusion into Structures on Property Involved in Real Estate
Transactions E 2600-08 has been developed based on an industry
need to address the VI...
As I've promoted to a position of management, I find myself
conducting fewer and fewer Environmental Due Diligence Assessments.
For logisitical and fiscal reasons, it only makes sense that
managers and EPs will have less time with boots on the ground in
the field, and more time keeping projects moving, reviewing reports
for content and issues, and communcating with clients.
However, I do find it important at least once a month to keep a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), Modified Phase...Read More »
However, I do find it important at least once a month to keep a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA), Modified Phase...Read More »
Blog from the August Mack
newsletter article archive:
What is MSECA?
The Midwestern States
Environmental Consultants Association (MSECA) was founded in
Indianapolis, Indiana in 2009 as a technical association focusing
on site characterization, remediation and closure. MSECA’s mission
includes two specific components: 1) educating the membership and
2) providing technical assistance to the Indiana Department of
Environmental Management (IDEM) during development of policy and
guidance.
MSECA...
Read More »
Phase 1 Site
Assessments are done for a number of reasons. Below are
common examples of why you would order a Phase 1:
- Purchase of real property (property or personal property) by a person or entity not previously on title
- Contemplation by a new lender to provide a loan on the subject real estate
- Partnership buyout or principal redistribution of ownership
- Application to a public agency for change of use or other discretionary land use permit
- Existing property owner's desire to understand toxic...
Typically, drycleaners are a red flag for environmental assessments
due to the inherent solvent use in the drycleaning practice.
Specifically, tetrachloroethylene (also known as perchloroethylene,
or perc) is a very invasive solvent, that when spilled can migrate
through the subsurface and contaminate groundwater pretty easily.
It travels quickly, and can cause problems quickly if groundwater
is used for drinking water. It can also cause indoor air quality
problems if the groundwater moisture...Read More »
We have the state of Ohio covered! Call Kyle Forsythe at
614.798.9922 and he can hook you up with the right technical expert
to get your environmental problem solved.
I have been reminded lately that
conducting a Phase One Environmental Site Assessment is not
just useful for the purchaser of a property. Being proactive when
preparing to sell is as good a time as any to complete this
study.
Add value to your property by having the study completed by a third party and ready for review by interested buyers and lenders. This is particularly helpful when the site in question is an existing commercial or industrial site. It limits the occasion of being surprised by...
Read More »Add value to your property by having the study completed by a third party and ready for review by interested buyers and lenders. This is particularly helpful when the site in question is an existing commercial or industrial site. It limits the occasion of being surprised by...
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