Once your Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is completed, a Phase II assessment may be recommended if any recognized environmental conditions were present. The Phase II may require soil, groundwater, or air sampling depending on the conditions present. Hanis Consulting has performed numerous assessments sampling all types of media. Phase II assessments can be intrusive, especially to operating businesses, so we design our investigations to minimize these disturbances and to perform the work as quickly and efficiently as possible so there is minimal disruption.
The purpose of Phase II environmental site assessment is to determine the presence or absence of petroleum products and hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants in the subsurface soils. A Phase II investigation begins after completing a Phase I investigation, and the analyst has identified a potential presence of a hazardous substance in environmental media (soil, sediment, surface water, groundwater, and indoor air). The purpose is to assist the client in making decisions about where to take the subsequent actions.
A comprehensive Phase II investigation requires extensive fieldwork and information gathering. The scope of work is expanded to determine if significant quantities of hazardous substances are present and require remediation. In addition, this document provides guidance for conducting a Phase II environmental site assessment in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) Standard Guide for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Process (E1903-19).
The focus is on petroleum products and hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants present in soils.
This standard applies to the use of professional judgment in conducting a Phase II environmental site assessment after completion of Phase I environmental site assessment and identification of a potential release or threat of release of hazardous substances in environmental media (soil, sediment, surface water, groundwater, and indoor air). A Phase II investigation may also include an evaluation of petroleum products.
The investigator shall acquire information about the history of the site that may indicate its age, previous use(s), and disturbances that could potentially influence site conditions.
The investigator shall compile a site description by combining present knowledge of the site with data collected during the Phase I environmental site assessment and, if available, during the investigation of a public health concern or complaint. The information shall include:
The investigator shall compile existing regulatory context information to assist the client in making regulatory compliance decisions. The information shall include:
Federal, state, and local government laws, code requirements, permits (including corrective action permits), ordinances, and regulations that may affect the investigation or require future response actions
Current land-use restrictions or other status information for the property that relates to environmental media addressed in this guide (soil, sediment, surface water, groundwater, or indoor air)
Recorded environmental actions for the site that affect environmental media addressed in this guide (soil, sediment, surface water, groundwater, or indoor air)
Statutes of limitations under federal and state statutes for known releases to the environment
Criminal penalties that may be imposed for violation of applicable environmental statutes
The Phase II environmental site assessment process shall be conducted consistent with the applicable sections of the Standard Guide for Phase II Environmental Site Assessments: Planning and Implementation (ASTM E1903-19). The ASTM E1903 Standard Guide for Environmental Site Assessments provides guidance to plan and implement an environmental site assessment process. A Phase II investigation may also include an evaluation of petroleum products.
Where appropriate, all media (soil, sediment, surface water, groundwater, and indoor air) shall be investigated using a combination of the following methods:
Upon completion of fieldwork, the investigator shall produce conclusions and recommendations for further investigation by preparing a written report with appropriate documentation (maps, photographs, etc.). The investigator shall discuss the results of the Phase II assessment with the client and provide a written report.
