Why the Phase I Comes Before the Plat

A Phase I environmental site assessment is the study that tells a buyer whether the ground carries a recognized environmental condition, and the study is only useful before the commitment. A Phase I done after the plat is a study that arrives after the cost it would have prevented, and the cost is never what the estimate said.

We scope, select, and manage the Phase I, and a qualified third party Environmental Professional performs and signs it. We do not imply in house engineering or environmental licensure. Our role is to run the process so the report will hold up in a financing and in a defense, and the report only holds up if it was ordered before the risk was taken.

The recognized environmental condition is the finding that changes the deal. A Phase I that finds a historical use with a recognized condition triggers a Phase II, and the Phase II is the study that tells the buyer whether to walk. The buyer who orders the Phase I after closing has already bought the condition.