Guide to a Phase II Environmental: How Long Does The Process Take
Before determining how long a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is likely to take, one must know what one is. Although not every site requires a Phase II assessment, one will need to be carried out if there has been known contamination in the area or if the outcome of the Phase I ESA has recommended further investigation.
While a Phase I ESA is quite regimented, a Phase II ESA is based on the findings uncovered during the Phase I assessment and is, therefore, more varied. The scope of work could include analyzing soil or groundwater, installing monitoring wells, or sampling indoor air, asbestos, lead, or mold. As there is quite a lot of testing and sampling involved, the time taken to carry out this phase of the investigation will be longer than that spent on a Phase I ESA.
How Long Can a Phase Last?
If the Phase I report finds a Recognized Environmental Condition (REC), a Phase II ESA will be recommended to screen for potentially significant environmental issues and liabilities. If subsurface sampling is required, the timing of this phase will usually be governed by whether or not a company is available to conduct the drilling and sampling.
Usually, it is possible to schedule this work to be done within fourteen days of the client’s notice to proceed. The process of obtaining the analysis results will take around seven days from the sample being taken, and then a report will be drawn up. Generally, the Phase II ESA will take approximately four weeks.
What is the Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Cost?
The Phase 2 ESA cost will vary depending on several factors. The various aspects that will impact the final price include:
- Underground Utility Mark Outs—Utility lines will need to be marked where they are located underground on the property since accidental damage can be extremely costly to rectify.
- Soil Samples—The cost will be affected by the number of soil samples collected and where they are collected.
- Monitoring Wells Installation – these may need to be installed to identify the direction of the groundwater flows and determine its quality. The cost of the wells can be influenced by the depth to which the wells must be drilled to reach water, the type of subsurface that has to be drilled through and the technology required to do this, the kind of site that is being assessed and whether or not it has any obstacles to access, the number of wells which require drilling and the number of components which will be tested for in each water sample collected.
- The final report will be submitted at the end of the Phase II assessment process; however, its requirements will depend on the type of contaminant found.
While some Phase II ESAs have been known to cost as little as $6,000 to carry out from start to finish, the cost is more likely around $15,000. Should the contamination be pervasive and in a sensitive area, a more extensive investigation will be necessary, which can drive the price up.
All American Environmental is a complete environmental consulting and contracting company performing Phase I and Phase II Environmental Assessments.
To ensure a safe and precise outcome on your property, contact All American Environmental, NJ, today and Get Started!
