ASTM_E_1903_-_11.pdf

Designation:E190311Standard Practice forEnvironmental Site Assessments:Phase II EnvironmentalSite Assessment Process1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1903;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope1.1 This practice2covers a process for conducting a Phase IIenvironmental site assessment(ESA)of a parcel of propertywith respect to the presence or the likely presence of sub-stances including but not limited to those within the scope ofthe Comprehensive Environmental Response,Compensationand Liability Act(CERCLA)(e.g.,hazardous substances),pollutants,contaminants,petroleum and petroleum products,and controlled substances and constituents thereof.It specifiesprocedures based on the scientific method to characterizeproperty conditions in an objective,representative,reproduc-ible,and defensible manner.To promote clarity in definingPhase II ESA objectives and transparency in communicatingand interpreting Phase II ESA results,this practice specifiesadherence to requirements for documenting the scope ofassessment and constraints on the conduct of the assessmentprocess.1.1.1 A users interest in the presence or likely presence ofsubstances in environmental media at a property may arise ina wide variety of legal,regulatory,and commercial contexts,and may involve diverse objectives including those listed in1.2.This practice contemplates that the user and the Phase IIAssessor will consult to define the scope and objectives ofinvestigation in light of relevant factors,including withoutlimitation the substances released or possibly released at theproperty,the nature of the concerns presented by their presenceor likely presence,the portion of the property to be investi-gated,the information already available,the degree of confi-dence needed or desired in the results,the degree of investi-gatory sampling and chemical testing needed to achieve suchconfidence,and any applicable time and resource constraints.This practice requires that Phase II activities be conducted sothat the resulting scope of work is performed,and the statedobjectives are achieved,in a scientifically sound manner.1.1.2 A Phase II ESA in accordance with this practice mayfollow site assessment activities in accordance with PracticeE1527 for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments:Phase IEnvironmental Site Assessment Process,Practice E2247 forEnvironmental Site Assessments:Phase I Environmental SiteAssessment for Forestland or Rural Property,EPAs AllAppropriate Inquiries(AAI)Rule,40 C.F.R.Part 312,orPractice E1528 for Limited Environmental Due Diligence:Transaction Screen Process.Users of this practice should haveknowledge and understanding of Practice E1527 and the AAIRule because a Phase II ESA may address a likely presence ofhazardous substances or petroleum products identified inprevious assessment reports as a recognized environmentalcondition(REC).In defining the scope and purposes of a PhaseII ESA,however,previous decisions to classify propertyconditions or areas as RECs,or to refrain from doing so,are notdeterminative as to whether investigation of the same condi-tions or areas is appropriate to meet the objectives of the PhaseII ESA.1.2 ObjectivesThis practice is intended for use in anysituation in which a user desires to obtain sound,scientificallyvalid data concerning actual property conditions,whether ornot such data relate to property conditions previously identifiedas RECs or data gaps in Phase I ESAs.Without attempting todefine all such situations,this practice contemplates that usersmay seek such data to inform their evaluations,conclusions,and choices of action in connection with objectives that mayinclude,without limitation,one or more of the following:1.2.1 Objective 1Assess whether there has been a releaseof hazardous substances within the meaning of CERCLA,forpurposes including landowner liability protections(i.e.,inno-cent landowner,bona fide prospective purchaser,and contigu-ous property owner).1.2.2 Objective 2Provide information relevant to identi-fying,defining and implementing landowner“continuing ob-ligations,”or the criteria established under CERCLA(e.g.,1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environ-mental Assessment,Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the directresponsibility of Subcommittee E50.02 on Real Estate Assessment and Manage-ment.Current edition approved June 15,2011.Published July 2011.Originallyapproved in 1997.Last previous edition approved in 2002 as E1903 97(2002).DOI:10.1520/E1903-11.2As used herein,a“standard”is a document that has been developed andestablished within the consensus principles of the Society and that meets theapproval requirements of ASTM procedures and regulations.A“practice”is adefinitive