How Long Does a Phase II Environmental Take?
Before determining how long a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is likely to take, it’s important to know what a Phase II ESA is. Although not every site requires a Phase II assessment, if there has been a known contamination in the area, or if the outcome of the Phase I ESA has recommended further investigation, one will need to be carried out.
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 analysis of soil or groundwater, the installation of monitoring wells, or the sampling of 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 carry out the drilling and sampling. Usually, it is possible to schedule this work to be done within fourteen days of the notice being given by the client to proceed. The process of obtaining the results of the analysis 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 a number of factors. The various aspects that will impact the final price include:
- Underground Utility Mark Outs – it will be necessary to mark where utility lines 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 which will be collected and the place from which they will be collected.
- Monitoring Wells Installation – these may need to be installed in order to identify the direction in which the groundwater is flowing 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 which has to be drilled through and the technology required to do this, the kind of site which 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 – this will be submitted at the end of the Phase II assessment process; however, its requirements will be dependent on the type of contaminant which has been 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 to be around $15,000. Should the contamination be very extensive and in a sensitive area, a larger amount of investigation will be necessary, and this can drive the price up.
All American Environmental is a complete environmental consulting and contracting company who performs both 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!
