Phase II Environmental Site Assessments Throughout the Nation

Remediating Problems from Phase I

If the findings from Phase I indicate that your site has a history of regulatory violations or was used to handle harmful components, then a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is necessary to identify potential disturbances in the subsoil, groundwater, or air. Common issues found in Phase 1 can include the following:

Mold
Fluorescent lamps
Petroleum
Chemicals (from improper waste disposal)
Asbestos
Lead
Leaks from underground storage tanks

These red flags uncovered during the Phase I assessment don’t confirm contamination, but they do suggest the possibility. That’s where Phase II comes in. Digging deeper helps determine whether environmental hazards actually exist on the site and what their extent might be.

Why You Need a Phase II Site Assessment

A Phase II ESA is a crucial step in evaluating potential contamination on a property. It provides the data necessary to assess environmental risks and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. Here’s why it matters:

Protect the Public’s Health

Phase II assessments identify hazardous substances such as heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds that may pose health risks to nearby residents, workers, or future occupants. Early detection helps prevent exposure and supports remediation efforts.

Comply with Environmental Standards

Federal, state, and local regulations often require thorough environmental due diligence. A Phase II ESA ensures you meet these requirements, helping you avoid penalties and ensuring your project aligns with best practices for environmental stewardship.

Avoid Legal Trouble

Undiscovered contamination can lead to lawsuits, enforcement actions, or costly cleanup mandates. Conducting a Phase II ESA demonstrates due diligence, limiting liability, and protecting you from future legal complications.

Make Informed Decisions

Whether you’re buying, selling, or redeveloping a property, a Phase II assessment gives you essential data. Knowing the extent of contamination—and the potential cost to address it—enables smarter financial and operational decisions.

How We Conduct Phase II Environmental Site Assessments

Just like Phase 1 assessments, Phase 2 ESAs can vary depending on the location, geological conditions, and specific environmental concerns. However, the general process typically follows these key steps:

Site-Specific Data Collection and Planning

Based on the findings of the Phase 1 ESA and the geological profile of the property, our licensed geologists and environmental engineers develop a customized testing strategy. This ensures targeted investigation of potential contamination sources, such as groundwater, subsoil, or vapors.

Permitting for Environmental Testing

Before conducting any intrusive work like soil boring or groundwater sampling, necessary permits must be secured, often from state or local agencies. Our team will guide you through the permitting process to ensure full regulatory compliance.

Field Investigation, Sampling, and Remediation

Our team of trained geologists, engineers, and field technicians will collect samples and analyze them for contaminants identified during the Phase 1 review. If contamination is confirmed, preliminary remediation may begin, along with additional confirmatory testing to verify the site’s condition.

Detailed Environmental Reporting

Once all data is collected and analyzed, we compile a comprehensive Phase I ESA report. This document outlines Phase I findings, describes all Phase II activities, and summarizes results. If ongoing mitigation is required, we may recommend a Soil Management Plan or other corrective measures to manage long-term risk. This plan is included in your final documentation.

After completion of the Phase II ESA, you’ll have the environmental clarity needed to move forward with property acquisition, development, or compliance planning.

What You Need to Know About Phase II Assessments

A Phase II ESA is a complex and highly technical environmental engineering process. Here are key points every property owner, investor, or developer should keep in mind:

Don’t Be Tempted by Low-Cost Offers

Proper evaluation of subsurface conditions prevents costly structural failures, uneven settling, and foundational issues. Your design will be tailored to your site's actual conditions, not assumptions.

Permits Are Essential

You will likely need drilling and soil boring permits before testing can begin. Our team is experienced in navigating permitting requirements and will ensure all documentation is secured.

Only Licensed Professionals Can Conduct Phase II Work

A state-certified geologist must oversee the investigation and sign off on the final report. This ensures the results are valid, credible, and legally defensible.

Compliance with OSHA and ASTM Standards

All Phase II work must meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and ASTM International standards (typically ASTM E1903). We follow these guidelines rigorously to ensure safety and accuracy.

Site Safety and Access Restrictions

Due to the use of heavy equipment and the potential presence of toxic substances or vapors, only trained and certified personnel may be on-site during the investigation. For your safety, we may require non-essential personnel to remain off-site during fieldwork.

Contact Us for an Accurate Phase II Environmental Site Assessment

At GeoKinetics, we don’t accept anything below our high standards. We do our due diligence of making sure environmental site assessments are done right, so that you can do your due diligence of making sure your property is safe for public use. Contact us for reliable and thorough environmental site assessments and engineering.