ASTM E1903-19
(Practice)Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Process
Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Process
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 Uses:
4.1.1 This practice is intended for use on a voluntary basis by parties who wish to evaluate known releases or likely release areas identified by the user or Phase II Assessor, and/or to assess the presence or likely presence of substances, for legal or business reasons such as those described in 1.2.
4.1.2 This practice is intended to meet the business community's need for a written, practical reference describing a scientifically sound approach to investigating a property to evaluate the presence or likely presence of a substance. It is impossible to generalize about the contexts in which a user may wish to conduct such investigations or the degree of confidence a user may require in the results. In any context, this practice, being rooted in sound scientific methodology, can assist users in achieving an objective and defensible assessment.
4.1.2.1 This practice does not address the evaluation of business environmental risks in light of data collected through the Phase II ESA process. Such evaluation is a function of site- and transaction-specific variables, and of the user’s objectives and risk tolerance. This practice contemplates that the Phase II ESA process will be planned and conducted with such variables in mind, and that the user will evaluate legal, business and environmental risks in light of known data relating to the particular site and transaction, and in consultation with legal and business advisors as well as the Phase II Assessor.
4.1.2.2 Likewise, this practice does not define the threshold levels at which target analytes pose a concern of significance to the user. Users may apply this practice not only in light of applicable regulatory criteria and relevant liability principles, but also to meet self-defined objectives.
4.1.2.3 If a Phase II ESA conducted in accordance with this practice provides sufficient information from which the Phase II Assessor can conclude, consistent with the scientific method, that the question...
SCOPE
1.1 This practice2 covers a process for conducting a Phase II environmental site assessment (ESA) of a parcel of property with respect to the presence or the likely presence of substances including but not limited to those within the scope of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) (e.g., hazardous substances), pollutants, contaminants, petroleum and petroleum products, and controlled substances and constituents thereof. It specifies procedures based on the scientific method to characterize property conditions in an objective, representative, reproducible, and defensible manner. To promote clarity in defining Phase II ESA objectives and transparency in communicating and interpreting Phase II ESA results, this practice specifies adherence to requirements for documenting the scope of assessment and constraints on the conduct of the assessment process.
1.1.1 A user's interest in the presence or likely presence of substances in environmental media at a property may arise in a wide variety of legal, regulatory, and commercial contexts, and may involve diverse objectives including those listed in 1.2. This practice contemplates that the user and the Phase II Assessor will consult to define the scope and objectives of investigation in light of relevant factors, including without limitation the substances released or possibly released at the property, the nature of the concerns presented by their presence or likely presence, the behavior , fate and transport characteristics of substances released or possibly released, the portion of the property to be investigated, the information already available, the degree of confidence needed or desired in the results, the degree of investigatory sampling and chemical testing needed to achieve such confidence, and any applicable time and resource constraints. This practice requires that Phase II activities be conducted so that the resulting s...
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Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E1903 − 19
Standard Practice for
Environmental Site Assessments: Phase II Environmental
1
Site Assessment Process
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1903; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope the property to be investigated, the information already
2
available, the degree of confidence needed or desired in the
1.1 Thispractice coversaprocessforconductingaPhaseII
results, the degree of investigatory sampling and chemical
environmental site assessment (ESA) of a parcel of property
testing needed to achieve such confidence, and any applicable
with respect to the presence or the likely presence of sub-
time and resource constraints.This practice requires that Phase
stances including but not limited to those within the scope of
II activities be conducted so that the resulting scope of work is
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
performed, and the stated objectives are achieved, in a scien-
and Liability Act (CERCLA) (e.g., hazardous substances),
pollutants, contaminants, petroleum and petroleum products,
tifically sound manner.
and controlled substances and constituents thereof. It specifies
1.1.2 A Phase II ESA in accordance with this practice may
procedures based on the scientific method to characterize
beconductedaftersiteassessmentactivitiesinaccordancewith
property conditions in an objective, representative,
Practice E1527 for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments:
reproducible, and defensible manner. To promote clarity in
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process, Practice
defining Phase II ESA objectives and transparency in commu-
E2247 for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environ-
nicating and interpreting Phase II ESA results, this practice
mental Site Assessment for Forestland or Rural Property,
specifies adherence to requirements for documenting the scope
EPA’s All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) Rule, 40 C.F.R. Part
of assessment and constraints on the conduct of the assessment
312, or Practice E1528 for Limited Environmental Due Dili-
process.
gence: Transaction Screen Process. In defining the scope and
1.1.1 A user’s interest in the presence or likely presence of
purposes of a Phase II ESA, however, previous decisions to
substances in environmental media at a property may arise in
classify property conditions or areas as RECs, or to refrain
a wide variety of legal, regulatory, and commercial contexts,
from doing so, are not determinative as to whether investiga-
and may involve diverse objectives including those listed in
tion of the same conditions or areas is appropriate to meet the
1.2. This practice contemplates that the user and the Phase II
objectives of the Phase II ESA.
Assessor will consult to define the scope and objectives of
investigation in light of relevant factors, including without
1.2 Objectives—This practice is intended for use where a
limitation the substances released or possibly released at the
user desires to obtain sound, scientifically valid data concern-
property,thenatureoftheconcernspresentedbytheirpresence
ing actual property conditions, whether or not such data relate
or likely presence, the behavior, fate and transport character-
to property conditions previously identified as RECs or data
isticsof substancesreleasedorpossiblyreleased,theportionof
gaps in Phase I ESAs. Without attempting to define all such
situations, this practice contemplates that users may seek such
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environ- data to inform their evaluations, conclusions, and choices of
mental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct
action in connection with objectives that may include, without
responsibility of Subcommittee E50.02 on Real Estate Assessment and Manage-
limitation, one or more of the following:
ment.
Current edition approved Nov. 15, 2019. Published January 2020. Originally
1.2.1 Objective 1—Assess whether there has been a release
approved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2011 as E1903 – 11. DOI:
of hazardous substances within the meaning of CERCLA, for
10.1520/E1903-19.
2 purposes including landowner liability protections (i.e., inno-
As used herein, a “standard” is a document that has been developed and
established within the consensus principles of the Society and that meets the
cent landowner, bona fide prospective purchaser, and contigu-
approval requirements of ASTM
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: E1903 − 11 E1903 − 19
Standard Practice for
Environmental Site Assessments: Phase II Environmental
1
Site Assessment Process
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1903; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
2
1.1 This practice covers a process for conducting a Phase II environmental site assessment (ESA) of a parcel of property with
respect to the presence or the likely presence of substances including but not limited to those within the scope of the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) (e.g., hazardous substances), pollutants,
contaminants, petroleum and petroleum products, and controlled substances and constituents thereof. It specifies procedures based
on the scientific method to characterize property conditions in an objective, representative, reproducible, and defensible manner.
To promote clarity in defining Phase II ESA objectives and transparency in communicating and interpreting Phase II ESA results,
this practice specifies adherence to requirements for documenting the scope of assessment and constraints on the conduct of the
assessment process.
1.1.1 A user’s interest in the presence or likely presence of substances in environmental media at a property may arise in a wide
variety of legal, regulatory, and commercial contexts, and may involve diverse objectives including those listed in 1.2. This practice
contemplates that the user and the Phase II Assessor will consult to define the scope and objectives of investigation in light of
relevant factors, including without limitation the substances released or possibly released at the property, the nature of the concerns
presented by their presence or likely presence, the behavior,fate and transport characteristics of substances released or possibly
released, the portion of the property to be investigated, the information already available, the degree of confidence needed or
desired in the results, the degree of investigatory sampling and chemical testing needed to achieve such confidence, and any
applicable time and resource constraints. This practice requires that Phase II activities be conducted so that the resulting scope of
work is performed, and the stated objectives are achieved, in a scientifically sound manner.
1.1.2 A Phase II ESA in accordance with this practice may follow be conducted after site assessment activities in accordance
with Practice E1527 for Phase I Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process, Practice E2247
for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for Forestland or Rural Property, EPA’s All
Appropriate Inquiries (AAI) Rule, 40 C.F.R. Part 312, or Practice E1528 for Limited Environmental Due Diligence: Transaction
Screen Process.Users of this practice should have knowledge and understanding of Practice E1527 and the AAI Rule because a
Phase II ESA may address a likely presence of hazardous substances or petroleum products identified in previous assessment
reports as a recognized environmental condition (REC). In defining the scope and purposes of a Phase II ESA, however, previous
decisions to classify property conditions or areas as RECs, or to refrain from doing so, are not determinative as to whether
investigation of the same conditions or areas is appropriate to meet the objectives of the Phase II ESA.
1.2 Objectives—This practice is intended for use in any situation in which where a user desires to obtain sound, scientifically
valid data concerning actual property conditions, whether or not such data relate to property conditions previously identified as
RECs or data gaps in Phase I ESAs. Without attempting to define all such situations, this practice contemplates that users may
seek such data to inform their evaluations, conclusions, and choices of action in connection with objectives that may include,
without limitation, one or more of the following:
1.2.1 Objective 1—Assess whether there has been a release of hazardous substances within the meaning of CERCLA, for
purposes including landowner liability protections (i.e., innocent landowner,bona fide prospective purchaser, and contiguous
property owner).
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Ma
...
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