CES has conducted Phase I and Phase II ESAs on hundreds of thousands of acres of forestry/agricultural land and on hundreds of commercial and industrial sites across Florida for developers, investors, banks, timber companies, and mining companies. We follow the standard methods outlined in ASTM E1527-13 and ASTM E2247-08.
CES reviewed Phase I and Phase II ESAs provided to the potential buyer by the seller (a bank). The property had been used since the early 1900s, originally as a railroad siding complete with fuel and oil tanks, a maintenance shop, and an oil storage building, later as a maintenance and fueling facility by a municipal transit authority, and most recently as the maintenance and fueling facility for a site work contractor. The Phase I accurately identified the Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs), but the Phase II was so poorly designed that the finding of no impacts was highly suspect. We conducted a proper Phase II on behalf of the buyer and identified significant petroleum impacts to soil and groundwater in three areas of property, leading to a seven-figure price reduction. Later, the site was closed without cleanup using institutional and engineering controls.
CES conducted Phase I and Phase II ESAs of 300-acre parcel surrounding historic Florida tourist attraction and first-order magnitude spring. Identified multiple Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) including current and historic non-permitted landfills and disposal pits: aboveground and underground petroleum storage tanks: maintenance areas: wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent disposal areas; and a drum storage area. Phase II efforts included installation of monitor wells and soil borings and collection and analysis of soil and groundwater samples. Remedial activities included the excavation and offsite disposal of 850 truckloads of garbage and construction and demolition (C&D) debris and the excavation and offsite disposal of stained and contaminated soil and 55-gallon drums containing oils, solvents, paints, and unknown chemicals. All activities were completed within 30 days to the satisfaction of the buyer (the State of Florida) and the closing was not delayed.
CES conducted Phase I ESA of the Little Orange Creek tract deemed a critical linkage in regional conservation plans. The tract consists of six parcels that total 1,340 acres comprised of a variety of terrains and habitats. Historically, the tract had been used for silviculture and cattle ranching. The only Recognized Environmental Condition (REC) discovered was a relic cow pen, considered a REC because of the common association of arsenic and chlorinated pesticides with such structures. The various ESA users, including Florida Communities Trust, the City of Hawthorne, and Putnam Land Conservancy, deemed the REC an acceptable condition and completed the transaction without delay.
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