Bowman by Land, Air & Sea: A Practical Guide to Phase I Environmental Due Diligence

Bowman by Land, Air & Sea: A Practical Guide to Phase I Environmental Due Diligence

Bowman by Land, Air & Sea is a blog series that explores the full scope of our services and how they work together to support today's built environment. Whether a project calls for work on land, in the air or at sea, Bowman brings an integrated approach to every phase of development.

If you're buying or financing a commercial property, a phase I environmental site assessment (ESA) is often the first step, and for good reason. It helps uncover potential environmental issues before they turn into expensive problems or delays, essentially helping determine if you're buying an asset or a problem.

Bowman's environmental specialists approach phase I ESAs as a practical risk management tool, helping clients understand potential environmental risk early so they can make informed next steps for their project.

So what goes into a phase I ESA, and why does the experience behind it matter?

What is a Phase I ESA?

A phase I ESA looks at whether a property may be affected by hazardous substances or petroleum-related issues, either from current operations or past uses. While phase I ESAs aren't required by law, they're commonly required by lenders and are a key part of qualifying for certain liability protections under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).

They are not typically required for personal residential purchases but are essential for commercial deals where environmental risk could impact financing or planned use.

What Goes Into a Phase I ESA?

A quality phase I ESA is part in-depth investigation and part team experience. Bowman follows ASTM Standard E 1527-21 or ASTM Standard E 2247-23 and EPA All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) standards, but more importantly, it's carried out by people who know what to look for and why it matters.

Here's what a phase I ESA typically includes:

Why An Experienced Environmentalist Matters

Things like non-native soil stockpiles or abandoned monitoring wells can be missed if the person conducting the assessment lacks field experience. When these issues go unidentified and a project moves forward, they can lead to added costs and delays that disrupt transaction timelines and development plans. That's why having a proven environmental team matters.

Bowman's environmentalists understand how subtle site details can signal larger concerns. Our team has completed thousands of phase I ESAs for commercial, industrial and infrastructure developments across the country, bringing field-tested experience that helps clients avoid surprises and keep projects moving.

Why Developers Choose Bowman for Phase I ESAs

Bowman's environmental professionals understand how real estate transactions work, and our phase I ESA reports are written with those realities in mind. The result is easy to understand documentation that lenders are comfortable relying on.

And while a phase I ESA is focused on identifying potential risk early, Bowman is ready to support what comes next if additional work is needed. When a site requires further evaluation, clients can continue working with the same team for phase II environmental site assessments and remediation services.

Phase I ESAs are also part of Bowman's broader due diligence approach, which includes in-house surveying and zoning verification. By bringing these services together, we help clients gain a more complete picture of a property early in the process so there are fewer surprises down the road.

Ready to learn more? Visit Bowman's environmental services page to see how our team supports due diligence across the built environment. If you need help with a phase I ESA or other environmental needs, submit the form via the Click Here to Start a Conversation button and we'll connect you with a Bowman environmentalist