Hi! My name is Cassie Anderson and I am a Business Development Representative in the Indianapolis, Indiana office of August Mack Environmental, Inc. Prior to transitioning to a business development position, I spent the last three years at August Mack specializing in Phase One Environmental Site Assessments, All Appropriate Inquiry Assessments, Transaction Screen Assessments, asbestos and mold surveys as well as indoor air quality sampling. I plan to spend my time on this blog focusing on topics related to environmental due diligence and risk management. I hope you enjoy what you read and feel free to give me a call at 317.916.3151 or send me an e-mail at canderson@augustmack.com to further discuss any of these posts.
De Minimis Conditions?
In a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment report, a client might read in the report that a "de minmis" condition exists at the study site. A good example of this is oil stains that you see every day on the asphalt in a retail parking lot. These stains are clearly from use of the lot and not from a large spill, but rather from typical vehicle leaks, etc. So what does de minimus mean?
No explicit definition of de minimis exists in the current ASTM Standard (E1527-05). That is rumored to...
Read More »Lead-based Paint Disclosure
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the
US. EPA announced
a settlement case in early April that will result in lead abatement
projects at 14 area buildings with 463 total
units.
The property management company in the settlement is to remove or
replace windows with lead-based paint, address deteriorating paint
on porch surfaces and undertake other projects within five years.
An additional monetary penalty was associated with this
settlement.
According to HUD and EPA,...
Phase I vs. Phase II
If you missed my recent webinar on Due Diligence: Phase I vs. Phase II explaining the differences in these types of Environmental Assessments. You can view the presentation slides at:
http://www.slideshare.net/camander/environmental-due-diligence-12561597
Phase I Quality Control
I've written a number of posts over the last year about Phase I Environmental Site Assessment quality control from various angles. A seemingly hardy system of checks and balances, if you will. From defining the All Appropriate Inquiry standard and knowing your consultant to helping better understand what a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC) means. But as often happens, Bill Wagner writing for commonground (a social networking community for environmental consultants and commercial real...
Read More »New York Times - U.S. Rejects Environmental Reviews on Mortgages Linked to Drilling
WASHINGTON - March 23, 2012 Federal agriculture officials will not require an extensive environmental review before issuing mortgages to people who have leased their land for oil and gas drilling, according to a notice released by the Department of Agriculture this week.
... from February and early March, said that because the environmental consequences of drilling were unclear, studies were required under the National Environmental Policy Act before loans could be issued or guaranteed by the...
Indiana Remediation Closure Guide Updates
These Non-Rule Policy documents are effective as of March 22, 2012 and available on the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) website.
The Remediation Closure Guide Effective Notice is available at http://www.in.gov/idem/files/nrpd_waste-0046-r1.pdf and the Remediation Closure Guide Final document is available at http://www.in.gov/idem/6683.htm.
The Remediation Program Guide Effective Notice is available at http://www.in.gov/idem/files/npd_waste-0060.pdf and the Remediation...
Read More »Four Sustainability Trends to Watch in 2012
Dan Probst serves two keys roles at Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL). Mr. Probst was the founding member of JLL's Global Environmental Sustainability Board and currently serves as Chairman of Energy and Sustainability Services (ESS). He is responsible for developing and delivering products and services to help clients reduce energy costs and their real estate related environmental footprint through innovative portfolio and occupancy strategies, workplace standards, and operating practices.
The road...
Read More »1st & Green WIN!
I can't even imagine how I bypassed even mentioning the Super Bowl and its phenomenal host city this year, but I did. Yea, I might be slightly biased since Indianapolis is my hometown, but from every account that I have read all of the visitors and celebrities were more than impressed by the warmth our cold-weather community shared during the 10 days of Super Bowl hoopla.
On an environmental note, the 2012 Super Bowl Committee added a little bonus to their roster this year. The 1st &...
Read More »EPA Releases Final Health Assessment for Tetrachloroethylene
On February 10th, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) posted the final health assessment for tetrachloroethylene – also known as perchloroethylene, or perc – to EPA’s Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) database. Perc is a chemical solvent widely used in the dry cleaning industry. It is also used in the cleaning of metal machinery and to manufacture some consumer products and other chemicals. Confirming longstanding scientific understanding and research, the final assessment...
Read More »Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) National
I just got back from my first CREW National experience, the Winter Leadership Conference, hosted by our Albuquerque, New Mexico Chapter. Although this is not directly related to my normal day-to-day environmental consulting and Phase One Site Assessment gig, it provided a...Read More »
FDIC Guidelines for an Environmental Risk Program
Reliance Letters
Pick 5 for YOUR Environment!
Repost from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
Pick 5 for YOUR environment!
Environmental action can mean doing different things...
Indiana Commercial Board of Realtors
EPA Revising Underground Storage Tank Regulations
Meth Lab Cleanup
Most states require special licensure to become a Qualified Inspector for clandestine drug labs. So make sure you get with your state...Read More »
Defining Due Diligence
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.
Continuing Obligations...um, continued.
Check it out at www.augustmack.com/Newsletter/2011/September/Article0321.html
Continuing Obligations
ASTM International’s recently
published E2790-11: Standard
Guide for Identifying and Complying With Continuing
Obligations provides guidance for owners or potential
purchasers of property impacted by contamination.
Like with many new
environmental standards that are published, I started digging for
more information on this subject.
So, first things first! A definition of Continuing
Obligations is in order: (as defined by ASTM):
Subsequent to property acquisition,
the Small Business Liability...
A Flow Chart for the Steps of a SBA Environmental Investigation
Confused myself (and I do this for a living), I ran across a great flow chart from Environmental Data Resources (EDR) that helps us all break down the minimum steps for environmental investigations of...Read More »