Uses:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 to be addressed by the assessment (see 6.4.1) has been answered, then further assessment is not warranted to meet the objectives of the assessment.
Use Not Limited to CERCLA8212;This practice is designed to assist a user in developing information about the environmental condition of the property and has utility for a wide range of target analytes (e.g., including diffuse anthropogenic contamination and naturally occurring substances) and users including those who may have no actual or potential CERCLA concerns.
Site- and Transaction-Specific8212;The scope of a Phase II ESA is site-specific and context-specific. The assessment process defined by this practice is intended to generate sound, objective, and defensible information sufficient to satisfy diverse user objectives.