Environmental Assessment Companies In Wisconsin

Caltha offers Phase 1 Environmental Assessments  and Phase 2 Environmental Assessments at a very competitive cost for sites across Wisconsin. Site assessments and site inspections are routinely conducted in cities across Wisconsin, including:

• Milwaukee Metropolitan Area
• Madison, Wisconsin
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
• Duluth/Superior, Wisconsin
• Eau Claire, Wisconsin
• Lacrosse, Wisconsin
• Appleton, Wisconsin
• Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin
• Other cities

Leaking Hydraulic System On Trash Compactor

Click here for more Caltha project examples related to environmental site assessments, including Phase 1 ESA, Phase 2 site investigations, and site cleanup. Click here to review more project examples for facilities located in Wisconsin and Wisconsin regulatory updates.

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Caltha LLP | Your Environmental Site Assessment 

and Remediation Partner

Environmental Sampling At Minnesota Auto Repair Shop

Caltha LLP Project Summary

Project: Site Investigation of Oil Releases From Waste Oil Storage
Client: Facility Owner/Operator 
Location(s): Minnesota

Key Elements: Soil and Groundwater Site investigation, Groundwater sampling, Soil sampling, Soil Vapor Sampling

Overview: Caltha LLP conducted a Soil And Groundwater Site Investigation for this commercial property located in Minnesota. A Phase 1 assessment had determined a higher risk for leaks from a used oil storage tank located on the property.  A limited site investigation (Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessment) confirmed that petroleum releases outside the building had occurred from this unit.

 
Spills and Leaks In Former Oil Tank Room

The release on the property had been reported to the MPCA and the Owner entered the MPCA Petroleum Brownfields Program to obtain a leak site closure letter. The site investigation was to define the magnitude and extent of the release and to identify any other contributing sources. The work included further soil borings, soil and groundwater sampling, and subslab soil vapor sampling, all done in accordance with MPCA guidance documents.

 
Fresh Oil Tanks and Dispensers


Click here for more information on Caltha's Environmental Assessment Services for commercial and industrial property transfer.

   

Caltha LLP | Your Environmental Site Assessment 

and Remediation Partner

Does State Get A Copy Of Phase 1 Environmental Report?

Does a Phase I Environmental Assessment Report need to be sent to State or EPA?

This is a Frequently Asked Question, along with the similar question, "Does the State or EPA have copies of old Phase 1 ESA reports?"

The simple answer to both is No; performing a Phase 1 Environmental Assessment on a property you intend to purchase or lease is voluntary. It is a risk management step taken to identify contamination issues on the property or nearby properties which can impact both the value and usability of the property. Once completed there is no requirement that the Phase I Environmental Assessment Report be submitted to any government agency, whether or not potential issues are identified.

 
Abandoned Gas Station Being Sold For Redevelopment

 However, if issues are identified on a property for which either the Owner or Buyer wishes to get some type of landowner liability protection (LLP) from the State or Federal agency, then agency will typically require all prior reports be submitted for review, including the Phase 1 Report. This is necessary to document that the party requesting liability protection conducted "All Appropriate Inquiry" and is eligible for the protections being requested. Records of these requests are maintained by the agency and the Phase 1 report(s) can typically be reviewed by formal request.

  More Information On Landowner Liability Protections and AAI

 

Caltha LLP | Your Environmental Site Assessment 

and Remediation Partner

Does A Phase 1 Report Require A Professional Engineer?

If you need your assessment to meet the ASTM standard, then the “environmental professional” you use will need to provide documentation that they meet the specific qualification requirements contained in ASTM E 1527-13. The ASTM specifies the professional qualification, education and experience needed to qualify as an Environmental Professional. These qualifications are different than professional engineer qualifications, or in other words, not all professional engineers would have the necessarily qualifications to be an Environmental Professional.  Most banks and government agencies will require that the Phase 1 be done in accordance with ASTM E1527, and therefore the person preparing the report must meet the Environmental Professional qualifications.


 
Poor Maintenance Of Oil-Water Separator
Results In Leaks Identified During Phase 1 

Different organizations and lenders may have additional requirements on who can conduct Environmental Site Assessments they will accept. For example, the Small Business Administration (SBA) requires that the environmental professional has a minimum of $1,000,0000 professional liability insurance, in addition to meeting technical qualifications.

    

Caltha LLP | Your Environmental Site Assessment 

and Remediation Partner

Do I Need Environmental Assessment If Paying With Cash?

A Frequently Asked Question Caltha receives is "Do I need a Phase I Environmental if I am not getting a bank loan?".

The simple answer is No; performing a Phase 1 Environmental Assessment on a property you intend to purchase or lease is voluntary. It is a risk management step taken to identify contamination issues on the property or nearby properties which can impact both the value and usability of the property.

 
Historical Map Reveals Old Filling Station On Property

The more complete answer is Possibly. The Phase 1 Assessment provides information which can be important to the value of a piece of property, which is not considered in other property valuation assessments. It is important to consider that a Phase 1 may be required in the future, if you use the property as collateral, or if you sell the property and a prospective Buyer uses a bank that would require a Phase 1. If in the future potential issues are identified, you can be responsible for cleanup,even if you did not cause the issue. The advantage of conducting an ESA most often cited is that it can establish you as an "innocent landowner", allowing some protection against this type of liability. Therefore it is better to have this information before purchasing a property.

 
Oil Staining At Used Oil Burner

Another tangible benefit of conducting an ESA is the knowledge gained in conducting a formal assessment of a property. This benefit is greatly augmented by adding issues to the ESA that are often outside the scope of a standard ASTM Phase 1. This could include:

• Describing the manufacturing process
• Evaluating environmental compliance
• Identifying potential "bottlenecks" created by permit limits or regulations
• Considering environmental compliance implications of your future plans for the facility
• Assessing impacts of upcoming regulations on a facility
• Understanding the current environmental management system.
• Evaluating the status of asbestos, lead-based paint and other issues typically excluded from a Phase 1 ESA; this issues are especially important if you intent to demolish and/or renovate existing structures.

 

Caltha LLP | Your Environmental Site Assessment 

and Remediation Partner

What Does A Phase 2 Environmental Assessment Cost?

The second most common question Caltha receives (after "How much is a Phase 1 Environmental Assessment?") is "How much is a Phase 2 Environmental Assessment?".

The most common answer is zero. Because a Phase 1 environmental assessment determines if a Phase 2 assessment is needed, we will not know if a Phase 2 is needed until after the Phase 1 is completed. Fortunately, the majority of Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessments do not identify issues which require a Phase 2, therefore there are no costs for a Phase 2.

 
Oil Spills Released Under Building At Floor Seams

If My Phase 1 Identifies Issues, What Does A Phase II Environmental Cost?

A typical Phase 2 will be in the range of $3,000 to $6,000. However, what needs to be included in the Phase 2 will be determined by the findings in the Phase 1 report. If there are extensive issues identified or if testing requires specialized equipment, the cost can increase.

 
550 Gallon Used Oil UST Being Removed At Former Service Station

What Comes After A Phase 2 Environmental Assessment?

A Phase 2 will generally look for the presence or absence of contamination on a property. If the presence of contamination is confirmed, in many cases it needs to be reported to the State agency. The agency could determine that no further investigations are needed, beyond the Phase 2. If any further investigation or cleanup is needed, it will be done in accordance with agency guidelines or with agency oversight and approval.


Unpermitted Commercial Waste Dump
Identified During Phase 1 Inspection

Are Phase 1 Environmental Assessment And Property Condition Assessment The Same?

In 2008, ASTM published “Standard Guide for Property Condition Assessments: Baseline Property Condition Assessment Process” (ASTM E 2018-08) to define the process for conducting a Property Condition Assessment (PCA).

 
Spills and Leaks In Former Oil Tank Room

 Actually, a PCA and an ESA have only minimal overlap, and are often complimentary. An ESA is performed to identify “Recognized Environmental Conditions (REC), which are related to releases or threatened releases of petroleum products and hazardous substances. An ESA report also has some specific regulatory aspects, related to Landowner Liability Protections (LLP). [Read more about LLPs].

ESA must be performed by “Environmental Professionals” meeting specific qualifications [Read more about qualification requirements]. If you are purchasing real estate and are concerned about environmental liabilities, a Phase I ESA is needed.


Oil Contaminated Waste Discovered During Onsite Inspection

A PCA is also a type of due diligence, pre-purchase, pre-lease, or post-lease inspection. However, the PCA evaluates the physical condition of buildings, systems and equipment at the property. A PCA identifies “red flags”. There are no specific qualifications required for persons performing PCAs. Because if this, there is no guarantee that the assessor’s qualifications will meet the client’s needs, simply because the assessor uses the ASTM standard.

 

Caltha LLP | Your Environmental Site Assessment 

and Remediation Partner

Environmental Assessment For Green Bay, Wisconsin SBA Lender

Caltha LLP Project Summary

Project: Transaction Screen & Phase 1 ESA For Historic Industrial Property
Client: SBA Lender
Location(s): Wisconsin

Key Elements:  Transaction Screen, Phase 1 ESA meeting SBA environmental requirements

Overview:  Caltha was retained by this Wisconsin Small Business Administration (SBA) lender to conduct environmental investigations required under SBA Environmental Policy SOP 50 10 5(C)- Lender and Development Company Loan Programs. The property qualified for a lower level of environmental review, which prescribed conducting a Transaction Screen using ASTM Method E-1528-08. The Transaction Screen identified past uses of the property as industrial and past spills and leaking tanks on adjoining properties. Therefore the next level of environmental review, consisting of a Phase 1 ESA using ASTM Method E-1527-05 was required. Based on the detailed environmental review, it was determined that past spills and other releases on and near the property had been adequately addressed, and were classified as "historic recognized conditions" only and no further investigation was required. The Phase 1 report was reviewed and accepted by SBA and a low-interest loan guaranteed through the SBA was obtained.

 
Commercial - Industrial Waste Dumping On Property

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Caltha LLP | Your Environmental Site Assessment 

and Remediation Partner

Phase 1 and Phase 2 Investigation For Iowa SBA Lender

Caltha LLP Project Summary

Project: Phase 1 ESA and Underground Storage Tank (UST) Survey For Former Filling Station Property
Client: Bank - Lender
Location(s): Sioux City, Iowa

Key Elements: SBA Phase 1 ESA, Phase 2 Investigation, Ground Penetrating Radar UST Survey


Overview:  Caltha was retained to prepare a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment, in accordance with the US Small Business Administration (SBA) lending requirements, for this commercial property. In recent years, the property had been redeveloped for commercial use. The Phase 1 ESA revealed that a former use of the property was for a filling station; no records were found on registration or removal of underground storage tanks that were assumed to be used by the gas station. A phase 2 investigation was conducted to determine if USTs remained on the property. The investigation used ground penetrating radar (GPR) technology as a non-invasive technical to survey the site. Four USTs were found on the property, when were then registered with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, then removed prior to sale of the property.


Abandoned Tanks Marked During Ground Penetrating Radar Survey


For more information on Caltha LLP services, go to the Caltha Contact Page 

 

Caltha LLP | Your Environmental Site Assessment 

and Remediation Partner

Phase 1 ESA of Minnesota Industrial Brownfield SIte

Caltha LLP Project Summary

Project: Phase 1 ESA For Historic Industrial Brownfield Property 
Client: National Food Sector Corporation  
Location(s): Minneapolis - Saint Paul Area, Minnesota

Key Elements: Phase 1 Site investigation, Tier I Vapor Encroachment Screening Assessment, ASTM E2600-10

Overview: Caltha LLP conducted a Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment for this historical industrial property located in the suburban Minneapolis - Saint Paul Area. The property had been in industrial use since the late 1880s and had gone through several soil and groundwater cleanups to allow for redevelopment. The Phase 1 ESA looked at current operations on the property, but also reviewed documentation of past investigations and site remediation work completed by an earlier property owner. The Phase 1 assessment also included a Tier I Vapor Encroachment Screening Assessment using ASTM E2600-10. The prospective purchaser intended to renovate existing building and to construct new buildings on the site. Findings determined that some cleanup projects completed by the earlier owner were not finalized and residual contamination remained on the property. The Tier I Vapor Encroachment Screening Assessment determined that on-site vapor sources should be further evaluated to determine if vapor mitigation should be incorporated into  site development plans.

 
Leaking Fuel Lines From Underground Tanks

Environmental reviews for sites previously investigated and cleaned up need to consider the potential impact of any contamination left on the property on future uses of the site.

Click here for more information on Caltha's Environmental Assessment Services for commercial and industrial property transfer.

   

Caltha LLP | Your Environmental Site Assessment 

and Remediation Partner