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SASA Benefits and
Report Descriptions
SASA is a focused environmental consulting practice that specializes in real property assessments for any type of property transfer, leasing development, special uses, and/or financing purposes.
The owner, purchaser and financier of real estate face unknown, but real, liabilities as a result of federal, state, and even local regulations pertaining to hazardous waste and hazardous materials, underground storage tanks, and groundwater and soil contamination. In many cases, the owner of the property with conditions that violate these regulations may be responsible for corrective actions, even if the owner did not cause the conditions. The proper performance of an environmental assessment provides insight into the potential for groundwater or soil contamination at a site. As a result, the risk associated with owning, acquiring or financing real estate can be evaluated by the owner/purchaser/financier before completing a transaction or utilizing the property.
We were founded in response to the business community’s need for affordable, standardized and consistently high-quality assessment reports that provide recommendations for sound real estate decisions.
QUALITY SERVICE:
· Reports completed in 10 to 15 working days, when possible
· Comprehensive yet user-friendly reports
· Quotes verbally, faxed or e-mailed quickly
Reports contain solid recommendations without raising unnecessary red flags
PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL SITE ASSESSMENT
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment reports are normally performed for commercial properties, residential developments, and industrial properties, and are usually required by banks for real estate purchase loans or refinancing. Even if a lender is not involved in the real estate transaction, we recommend conducting a Phase I report prepared according to ASTM standard, so as to protect you from any future environmentally-related liability after you take title of the property.
Our Phase I Environmental Site Assessment reports adhere to and exceed the American Society of Testing & Materials Standard E-1527-00, the industry standard.
Our Phase I reports include:
1. Historical building permits review
2. Historical aerial photograph review
3. Historical Sanborn Fire Insurance Map review
4. Historical city directory review
5. Historical topographic map review
6. Local environmental oversight agency interviews
7. Government environmental database review
8. Inspection of subject property and surrounding areas
9. Conclusions regarding the presence or potential presence of environmental liabilities at the subject property
10. Recommendations.
With the occasional report that requires soil and/or groundwater testing, SASA’s extensive experience in the field helps us to provide appropriate recommendations on the occasional property that needs a Phase II report. We understand the hydrogeological and regulatory environment in which the subject property exists, and we do not raise “red flags,” unless there are significant existing or potential environmental liabilities at the subject property. 
TRANSACTION SCREEN REPORT
1. Is the subject property use likely a low-risk for environmental-related liability, such as: residential, church, apartment building, small offices, etc?
2. Are you in the initial stages of considering to buy a property?
3. Do you want to do an initial screen to help determine if there are any known registered environmental problems associated with the property or at nearby properties?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may want to purchase a Transaction Screen Report. This short report is completed following the American Society of Testing & Materials Standard E-1528-00, the industry standard. It will tell you if there are any known environmental liabilities at the property and/or if you will need to do a full Phase I Environmental Site Assessment report if you decide to go forward.
This initial option is more reasonable for many of our clients, since an issue may be discovered early on and they don’t waste time and money pursuing a property that has too many problems. It will also likely be sufficient as a screen for low-risk properties.
The Transaction Screen Report will help the client to make good business decisions early on in the process without wasting extra time and money. This level of report does not provide the client with the “innocent landowner” defense for CERCLA (Superfund) liability, however, this type of liability is rare and this report will identify any potential risk for this type of environmental liability.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSISTANCE/SITE INQUIRY
A general inquiry geared to meet your needs. This may include:
· Review of previously prepared Phase I Environmental Reports,
· Site reconnaissance,
· Review of historical data and/or aerial photographs, and
· Review of pertinent data for the site: Federal, State, Regional and Local agencies, MSDS material, UST and AST records.
Regulations Governing Asbestos:
· Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA)– REQUIRES local education agencies to inspect their schools (K-12) for asbestos-containing materials. REQUIRES the preparation of a management plan for the purpose of SAFE MANAGEMENT of asbestos-containing materials.
· National Emission Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) – intended to minimize the release of asbestos fibers during activities involving the handling of asbestos. Specifies work practices to be followed during RENOVATION, DEMOLITION OR OTHER ABATEMENT activities.
NESHAP regulations must be followed if the facility contains asbestos materials greater than the “threshold” amounts. However, all demolition projects MUST notify the delegated agency, even if no asbestos is present at the site, thus, all demolition/renovation projects are “subject” to the Asbestos NESHAP insofar as owners and operators MUST determine if and how much asbestos is present at the site.
· Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) – applies wherever a worker works who MAY be exposed to asbestos. OSHA addresses occupational exposure and holds the building owner responsible.
Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACM) Inspection
SASA provides an accredited EPA Certified Asbestos Building Inspector, meeting the EPA, OSHA, and AHERA requirements, for inspection and identification of friable and non-friable asbestos-containing material in public and private elementary and secondary schools (as required in 40 CFR 763). The inspection involves:
· An investigation of records for the specifications of asbestos containing building material, date of construction, and phases of construction,
· An inspection of the building for suspect material,
· Sampling and analyzing suspect materials to test for asbestos, and
· Assessing the condition and location of the asbestos containing building material and other characteristics of the building.
SASA develops a plan for managing the ACM. The following elements are included in the Management Plan:
· General building inventory,
· Inspection Report,
· Identification of the designated person or asbestos program manager,
· Recommended response actions for any friable Asbestos-Containing Building Material,
· An Operations and Maintenance Plan, and
· Program for informing workers and building occupants.
ASBESTOS INSPECTIONS FOR PHASE I ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS
An inspection of visual observations of the accessible locations in buildings and sampling of suspect materials for the purpose of determining the presence and condition of asbestos containing materials in connection with real estate transactions involving commercial and industrial buildings. The inspection involves:
· Review of building documentation to help identify presence, location and/or condition of the asbestos-containing materials,
· An inspection of all accessible, representative areas to conduct representative sampling as decided in a sampling plan,
· Sampling and analyzing suspect materials to test for asbestos, and
Preparation of the Asbestos Assessment Report summarizing the information gathered during the inspection.
