Environmental Due Diligence and
Site Assessment
Whether purchasing, financing, developing, or refinancing a property, understanding potential environmental liabilities is a critical part of informed decision-making. Environmental due diligence helps identify existing or potential contamination concerns that could affect property value, development plans, financing, or future ownership liability.
Excelsior provides environmental due diligence services for commercial, industrial, agricultural, and undeveloped properties throughout Florida. Our experienced environmental professionals help buyers, property owners, lenders, attorneys, developers, and investors evaluate environmental risk and satisfy transaction requirements with confidence.
Identify Environmental Risks Before They Become Liabilities
Past land uses, chemical releases, petroleum storage, waste disposal activities, agricultural operations, and neighboring properties can create environmental concerns that impact a site. Federal law may impose liability for environmental contamination, even when the contamination originated from previous ownership or migrated from an adjacent property.
Environmental due diligence is designed to identify these concerns early, providing stakeholders with the information needed to make informed acquisition, lending, development, and management decisions.
Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESA)
The Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is typically the first step in the environmental due diligence process. Performed in accordance with ASTM standards, a Phase I ESA evaluates a property's environmental history and current conditions to identify Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs).
A typical Phase I ESA includes:
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Historical records review
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Regulatory database review
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Evaluation of environmental liens and activity-use limitations
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Site reconnaissance
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Interviews with owners, occupants, and local officials, when appropriate
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Identification of Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs)
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Preparation of a comprehensive report documenting findings
Note: Because a Phase I ESA is a non-intrusive investigation, it does not include environmental sampling or laboratory testing.
Phase II Environmental Site Assessments
When a Phase I ESA identifies potential environmental concerns, additional investigation may be recommended through a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment.
Depending on site conditions and the nature of the concern, a Phase II ESA may include:
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Soil sampling and laboratory analysis
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Groundwater investigation
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Soil vapor assessment
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Geophysical surveys
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Underground storage tank evaluation
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Delineation of environmental impacts
The objective of a Phase II ESA is to confirm whether contamination is present and provide the data necessary to support informed business, regulatory, and development decisions.
Excelsior's Environmental Due Diligence and Site Assessment Services
Excelsior provides environmental assessment services in accordance with industry-recognized ASTM standards, including:
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ASTM E1527 – Phase I Environmental Site Assessment
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ASTM E1528 – Transaction Screen Assessment
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ASTM E1903 – Phase II Environmental Site Assessment
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ASTM E2247 – Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for Forestland or Rural Property
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ASTM E2600 – Vapor Encroachment Screening
Why Clients Choose Excelsior
Our team understands that environmental due diligence is often driven by tight transaction timelines and critical business decisions. We strive to deliver practical, defensible assessments that help clients understand environmental risk, satisfy lender requirements, and move projects forward with confidence.
Whether evaluating a commercial acquisition, performing pre-development due diligence, or managing environmental concerns associated with an existing property, Excelsior can help.
Have questions about environmental due diligence? Contact our team at 855-720-2333 or contact@excelsiorflorida.com.
You can also read more about the ASTM Phase I ESA in this Excelsior blog post.