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 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.