Phase II Investigation of Soil and Groundwater
The purpose of a Phase II investgation is to determine whether the property is actually impacted at levels that exceed regulatory contamination levels. In Indiana these are established by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) through a risk-based property-use program called the Risk Integrated System of Closures (RISC). IDEM’s RISC program has established default residential and industrial levels of environmental impact in soil and groundwater, beneath which the impact poses negligible health risk to users of the property.
Troy Risk specializes in Phase II Subsurface Investigations of soil and groundwater. We have the field investigation and analytical technologies, which test for chemicals on-site and collect samples for analyses by an environmental laboratory.
Troy Risk collects and assesses Phase II samples by a variety of methods such as:
• Geoprobe direct push soil and groundwater sampling equipment
• Mobile Laboratory
• Surface grab sample
• Shallow hand auger sample
• Backhoe sampling
• Soil gas sampling
• Groundwater monitoring through the installation of temporary and permanent groundwater monitoring wells.
Phase I Environmental Site Assessments
Troy Risk’s Environmental Professionals perform Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) to identify potential or existing environmental contamination liabilities. The Phase I ESA typically addresses both the underlying land as well as physical improvements to the property. The Phase I site inspection includes examination of potential soil contamination, groundwater quality, and surface water quality through a site inspection and review of the property’s history. The examination of a site includes:
• Inspecting the property;
• Identifying past use of the property during time of ownership;
• Definition of any hazardous waste or petroleum storage;
• Review of waste-handling procedures;
• Interviews with past property owners, employees or neighbors;
• Review of regulatory databases that list contaminated sites and historical sources;
• Review of adjacent properties to evaluate potential sources of off-site contamination;
• Review of aerial photographs of the site;
The Phase I ESA is generally considered the first step in the process of environmental Due Diligence. Standards for performing a Phase I Site Assessment have been promulgated by the US EPA and are based in part on ASTM in Standard E1527-05.
Troy Risk performs Phase I Environmental Site Assessments to meet the following standards accepted by State regulatory agencies, the US EPA, and US banks:
• US EPA Final Rule for All Appropriate Inquiry
• ASTM E1527-05 Standard Guide for Phase I Studies
Troy Risk’s Environmental Professionals meet the standards set forth in ASTM E 1527-05 as to who is qualified to perform Phase I ESAs. The ASTM defines an Environmental Professional as someone with: 1) a current Professional Engineer’s or Professional Geologist’s license, or registration from a state or U.S. territory with 3 years equivalent full-time experience; 2) have a Baccalaureate or higher degree from an accredited institution of higher education in a discipline of engineering or science, and 5 years equivalent full-time experience; or 3) have the equivalent of 10 years full-time experience.
If environmental conditions exist, a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment may be conducted, which is a more detailed investigation involving chemical analysis for hazardous substances and/or petroleum hydrocarbons.
