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Environmental Consulting
AEI serves a wide range of clients nationwide, providing strategies to evaluate and resolve complex environmental challenges. AEI’s environmental consulting services assist our clients in making informed business decisions by providing valuable information regarding potential environmental liabilities. Assessments are
designed to meet the client’s needs, ranging from due diligence for real estate management and transactions to ensuring compliance with federal, state and local environmental regulations.
Phase I ESAs are an integral part of the due diligence and decision-making process for lending and property purchase decisions. A Phase I ESA includes a site visit and a historical and regulatory review
that is designed to identify environmental issues such as current and historic environmental conditions
that may affect property values, pose a financial liability to the purchaser or lender, or affect the ability of
a borrower to repay a loan obligation. Clients may also obtain a Phase I ESA in order to satisfy requirements
of the "innocent landowner defense" or other available defenses to environmental liability under CERCLA.
AEI’s Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) meets the most current ASTM Standard for Phase I ESAs, and involves the following activities:
- Site inspection
- Adjacent/ surrounding reconnaissance
- A review of historical documentation (i.e. fire insurance maps, city directories and aerial photographs)
- A review of hazardous material and petroleum product storage, spill and disposal records
- Local, regional and state agency file review
- Interviews with the property owner, tenants and property managers
- A preparation of a report documenting the findings, conclusions and recommendations
- Asbestos, lead and mold evaluation (on request)
AEI’s reports are designed to be clear and concise. Our Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) reports are an essential part to many commercial and industrial real estate transactions and are conducted in accordance with the most current ASTM E 1527 Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments.
Additions to our Phase I reports can include:
- Wetlands review
- Flood Zone
- Evaluation for mold, asbestos, lead-based paint, and/or radon
- Environmental lien search and Chain of Title review
AEI will also customize your Phase I report upon request. Some customizations include:
- Client-specific scopes of work
- Local and Government agencies / reviews
- Standard and Poor’s protocols
- Housing & Urban Development (HUD) requirements
- Small Business Administration (SBA) requirements
- Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae requirements
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When environmental due diligence goes beyond the scope of a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, a Phase II Subsurface Investigation can be necessary to further evaluate the potential of contamination on your property. AEI provides Phase II Subsurface Investigations for clients nationwide. AEI’s professional geologists and
AEI’s Phase II Investigations may include:
- Soil and groundwater sampling and laboratory analysis for potentially harmful chemicals
- Sediment and surface water sampling and analysis
- Soil vapor and indoor air sampling and laboratory analysis
- Groundwater flow modeling and laboratory analysis
- Drilling and sampling temporary bore holes
- Installation and sampling monitoring wells
- Geophysical surveys
- Indoor-air vapor intrusion assessment
- Vapor encroachment assessment
- Contaminant source differentiation
Once the field investigation has been completed, a state-certified laboratory will conduct the sample analysis.
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AEI provides Environmental Transaction Screens (ETS) as an alternative approach to a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment. The ETS consists of a limited scope of work and is designed to assess the environmental condition of commercial real estate. An ETS is recommended for low risk property types or properties with extensive historical information available. The report issued will document potential environmental conditions on the property or on the adjacent properties.
The Transaction Screen includes:
- Site inspection
- Owner / occupant interview and questionnaire
- Limited historical search
- Regulatory database review
- Preparation of a report documenting the findings, conclusions and recommendations
AEI’s ETS reports are compliant with the most current ASTM E1528 standard.
Records Search and Risk Assessment is a limited environmental due diligence
tool intended to inexpensively evaluate the likelihood of contamination on the
“high risk”, "moderate risk" or “low risk” for contamination. If the property is not determined “low risk”, an additional environmental investigation may be required.
The RSRA assessment involves:
- Database search of federal, state and local regulatory agencies
- Limited historical record review of the subject property and adjacent sites
- Desktop review of the above information by an Environmental Professional
This report meets the RSRA scope of the Small Business Administration (SBA).
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AEI is experienced in providing assessments that meet agency requirements, such as US Housing & Urban Development (HUD), Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the US Small Business Administration. AEI demonstrates a proven track record of providing reports that meet the approval of these agencies, allowing transactions to smoothly proceed through the agency’s review process.
AEI assists both public and private clients in understanding and developing compliance management planning to meet environmental regulations. AEI also assists with compliance management including evaluations and recommendations for corrective action. AEI provides diverse compliance support to help keep you aware of current regulations while helping you stay within your corporate budget.
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
AEI performs FCC-NEPA Compliance consulting including natural/biological, and cultural resource studies in support of the wireless industry for both new towers (FCC Form 620) and collocations (FCC Form 621).
These investigations evaluate:
- Designated wilderness areas
- Designated wildlife preserves
- Threatened or endangered species and critical habitats
- Historic places and Native American religious sites
- Floodplains
- Wetlands and surface waterways
- High intensity lights in residential neighborhoods
Stormwater Compliance
AEI reviews Notice of Intent (NOI) and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans(SWPPPs) and performs limited stormwater compliance inspection of properties. AEI contacts the oversight agencies to verify compliance with requirements and identify any potential costly liabilities or outstanding violations.
Inspections include a review of the following:
- Presence of natural resource areas
- Presence of Best Management Practices (BMPs)
- Condition and location of perimeter controls and sediment barriers
- Inspection of discharge points
- Potential for release of contaminants to stormwater
AEI also provides estimated costs for implementation and ongoing maintenance/inspection requirements, as well as costs to stabilize the property, to comply with stormwater regulations.
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When a client requires an expert evaluation of findings done by another environmental firm or to identify whether the report was completed in accordance with regulatory standards, AEI conducts a consulting or “peer” review. AEI’s team of environmental professionals provides these reviews on a variety of subject matter including due diligence assessments, site investigation and remediation, and industrial hygiene reports.
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