SERVICES

In November 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published final regulations that clearly define the steps a property owner, developer, financial institution, or prospective property purchaser must take to avoid liability under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (more commonly known as CERCLA or Superfund) when purchasing or redeveloping a potentially contaminated site. To qualify for liability protection, the prospective property purchaser must comply with the statutory requirements for obtaining liability defenses. Among those requirements is the need to undertake "all appropriate inquiries" prior to the date of property acquisition. After November 1, 2006, prospective purchasers must comply with the requirements of the "All Appropriate Inquiries" final rule, or follow the standards set forth in the ASTM International (ASTM) Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Process.

Effective December 30, 2013, EPA amended the standards and practices for conducting all appropriate inquiries. Specifically, the final rule amended the “All Appropriate Inquiries” Rule at 40 CFR Part 312 to allow the use of ASTM’s E1527-13 “Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Process” (ASTM E1527-13 Standard Practice) and to make clear that persons conducting “all appropriate inquiries” may use the procedures in this standard to comply with the “All Appropriate Inquiries” Rule. To be eligible for liability protection under CERCLA as an innocent landowner, contiguous property owner, or bona fide prospective purchaser, prospective property owners must conduct “all appropriate inquiries” prior to acquiring the property and comply with all continuing obligations after acquiring the property. EPA strongly recommends that stakeholders use the ASTM E1527-13 Standard Practice when conducting Phase 1 environmental site assessments.
 

​Click the link below for a copy of Leed Environmental, Inc.'s January 2006 Special Report and a summary of the Phase 1 environmental site assessment process.

Click the link below for a copy of Leed Environmental, Inc.'s January 2014 Special Report, which includes an updated summary of the Phase 1 environmental site assessment process.

From time to time, a Phase 1 environmental site assessment may identify a “recognized environmental condition” in connection with the property. The ASTM E1527-13 Standard Practice defines a “recognized environmental condition” as:

“The presence or likely presence of any hazardous substances or petroleum products in, on, or at a property: (1) due to any release to the environment; (2) under conditions indicative of a release to the environment; or (3) under conditions that pose a material threat of a future release to the environment.”  

In these cases, a Phase 2 environmental investigation may be recommended. The purpose of a Phase 2 environmental investigation is to evaluate “recognized environmental conditions” identified in the Phase 1 environmental site assessment by performing surface soil sampling, subsurface soil sampling, groundwater sampling, or other investigations to define the nature and extent of contamination, if any is found. This information assists the property owner, prospective purchaser, and /or financial institution in understanding environmental conditions at the property and making informed business decisions.
 

Leed Environmental, Inc. has frequently been requested by property owners, prospective property purchasers, attorneys, business owners, and financial institutions to perform Phase 1 environmental site assessments. Collectively, Leed Environmental, Inc. has successfully completed more than 100 Phase 1 environmental site assessments at vacant properties, abandoned properties, gasoline filling stations, automotive repair centers, car lots, scrap metal recycling facilities, office buildings, medical office buildings, farms, mushroom farms, churches, apartment buildings, campgrounds, fire companies, golf courses, restaurants, storage facilities, and other types of commercial and industrial properties.

Leed Environmental, Inc. provides high-quality consulting services and offers competitive, not-to-exceed guaranteed pricing, rapid completion and guaranteed delivery of Phase 1 environmental site assessment reports. Leed Environmental, Inc. is an approved environmental consultant with financial institutions, thereby enabling our clients and their lenders to rely on the results of our work. When requested, Leed Environmental, Inc. also performs property transaction screens pursuant to ASTM E1528-14 and can also perform or manage Phase 2 environmental investigations (involving surface soil analysis, geoprobe subsurface soil testing, groundwater monitoring, underground tank assessments, and related activities) or remediation work that may be necessary based on the results of the Phase 1 environmental site assessment.
 

Some of Leed Environmental, Inc.'s experience related to Phase 1 environmental site assessments, Phase 2 environmental investigations, transaction screens, and related work is summarized below.

Property Type:  Gasoline station
Location:  Exeter, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Former gasoline station
Location:  Lincoln Park, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Transaction screen
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Gasoline station
Location:  Robesonia, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Medical office building
Location:  Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution
 

Property Type:  Child care facility #2
Location:  Union City, New Jersey
Scope:  Environmental review and preliminary site assessment
Client:  Property owner

Property Type:  Child care facility #4
Location:  Union City, New Jersey
Scope:  Environmental review and preliminary site assessment
Client:  Property owner

Property Type:  Retail and wholesale distributor of automobile parts for foreign cars
Location:  Macungie, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Prospective purchaser

Property Type:  Restaurant
Location:  Sellersville, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Abandoned school building
Location:  Middletown, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Prospective developer

Property Type:  Powersports vehicle showroom, vehicle maintenance area, warehouse, and vehicle operating training area
Location:  Leesport, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Transaction screen
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Fire department
Location:  Lower Heidelberg Township
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Local association of fire departments

Property Type:  Fire department
Location:  Cumru Township, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Local association of fire departments

Property Type:  Public golf course
Location:  Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Personal care facility
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Automotive repair and maintenance facility
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Automobile dealership and automotive maintenance and repair facility
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Former gasoline station and convenience store
Location:  Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Heavy steel fabrication, machining, industrial furnaces, wholesale metals distribution, and machine installation and maintenance activities (Property #1)
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Heavy steel fabrication, machining, industrial furnaces, wholesale metals distribution, and machine installation and maintenance activities (Property #2)
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Wholesale metals distribution facility and metals service center
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Commercial office building
Location:  Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Prospective purchaser

Property Type:  Former knitting mill
Location:  Temple, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Prospective purchaser

Property Type: Former gasoline station, fast food restaurant, and convenience store
Location:  Bethel, Pennsylvania
Scope: Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Gasoline station, fast food restaurant, and convenience store
Location:  Bethel, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 2 environmental site assessment, soil sampling
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Automobile dealership and automobile services facility
Location:  Boyertown, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client: Financial institution

Property Type:  Historic landmark being used as a restaurant and for corporate events, weddings, and social gatherings
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Former wholesale distributor of building products
Location:  Wernersville, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Campground, including swimming pool, miniature golf course, sports courts and fields, lodge, pond for fishing and boating
Location:  Robesonia, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Vehicle emission testing and inspection station, general engine repair and engine rebuilding, and other automotive services
Location:  Fleetwood, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Dormatory housing facility for college students
Location:  Kutztown, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Medical office building
Location:  Cumru Township, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Prospective property purchaser

Property Type:  Medical office building
Location:  Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Prospective property purchaser

Property Type:  Church
Location:  Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Commercial office building and parking lot
Location:  Muhlenberg Township, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Prospective property purchaser

Property Type:  Tentant-occupied apartment buildings
Location:  Newark, Delaware
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Prospective property purchaser

Property Type:  Residential apartment buildings
Location:  Blandon, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Commercial and medical office building #1
Location:  Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Commercial and medical office building #2
Location:  Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Commercial and medical office building #3
Location:  Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Commercial and medical office building #4
Location:  Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Commercial and medical office building #5
Location:  Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Commercial and medical office building #6
Location:  Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Commercial and medical office building #7
Location:  Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Commercial and medical office building #8
Location:  Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Commercial and medical office building #9
Location:  Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Commercial and medical office building #10
Location:  Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Commercial and medical office building #11
Location:  Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Child daycare and learning center
Location:  Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Medical office building
Location:  Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Pretzel manufacturing facility
Location:  Temple, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Financial institution
Location:  Leesport, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Financial institution
Location:  Hamburg, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Financial institution
Location:  Bern Township, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Financial institution
Location:  Mt. Penn, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Financial institution
Location:  Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Financial institution
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Former horseboarding and training facility
Location:  Bernville, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Global doughnut company and coffeehouse
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Automotive maintenance and repair shop
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Automobile dealership, automobile service and maintenance facility, and automotive body shop
Location:  Muhlenberg Township, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Restaurant, pastry shop, bed and breakfast housing, and apartment
Location:  Columbia, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Transaction screen
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Former gasoline filling station
Location:  Mt. Penn, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Prospective property purchaser

Property Type:  Restaurant and bar
Location:  Langhorne, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Restaurant and bar
Location:  West Lawn, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Commercial office building
Location:  West Lawn, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Self-storage unit facility
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Transaction screen
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Vacant land
Location:  Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Prospective property purchaser

Property Type:  Former electronics equipment and components facility
Location:  Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Prospective property purchaser

Property Type:  General machining operations and storage facility
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Transaction screen
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Commercial printing facility
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Vehicle service and maintenance facility and used car sales
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  General machining operations and storage facility
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Transaction screen
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Farm and orchard
Location:  Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Prospective property purchaser

Property Type:  Antique business, automobile clinic and trailer sales, and residence
Location:  Leesport, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Transaction screen
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Woodworking facility
Location:  Morgantown, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Transaction screen
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Metal finishing, color anodizing, and chemical brightening of aluminum parts
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Transaction screen
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Church
Location:  Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Prospective property purchaser

Property Type:  Vehicle service and maintenance facility and used car sales
Location:  Reading, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 2 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Former electronics equipment and components facility
Location:  Pottstown, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Environmental site assessment
Client:  Prospective property purchaser

Property Type:  Retail convenience store, former gasoline filling station
Location:  Reinholds, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type: Automobile maintenance and tire sales and service facility
Location:  Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Transaction screen
Client:  Financial institution

Property Type:  Warehouse distribution facility used for the warehousing, reconditioning, and remarketing of supermarket display cases
Location:  Auburn, Pennsylvania
Scope:  Phase 1 environmental site assessment
Client:  Financial institution