Phase II Environmental Site Assessment

When a Phase I ESA identifies potential contamination or Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs), a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment is the prudent next step. The Phase II ESA involves sampling of media such as soil, soil gas, groundwater or building materials for potential contamination or hazardous materials.

Why a Phase II ESA matters

A Phase II ESA matters because it gives you hard data pertaining to the property you are possibly going to purchase or lend on. Data as to whether or not soil contamination is present, whether groundwater contamination is present, whether harmful soil vapors are present that could migrate into buildings and impact employee’s health, or whether hazardous materials such as asbestos could be present in structures on the property. Having this information prior to purchasing a property (or lending on a property) can be valuable in determining your overall environmental risk exposure prior to purchase. These are very important factors which can SIGNIFICANTLY influence property values and development of a property. Phase II ESA’s can be moderately costly, but they pale in comparison to purchasing a site with contamination issues which could lead to hundreds of thousands to mitigate.

What we do

First, Wingfield Environmental would evaluate the Phase I ESA conclusions to see what Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) were called out. Second, we would develop a site sampling strategy to encompass all media (i.e., soil, soil vapor, groundwater, etc.) which could be impacted with contamination. Third, we mobilize the necessary equipment and professionals to the site to implement the sampling. A brief overview of the process is as follows:

Soil and groundwater sampling – Shallow soil testing can be achieved down to 5 feet below surface with a simple hand auger, while deeper subsurface testing 5 – 50 feet below surface typically involves mobilizing a direct-push technology (DPT) rig to the site.
Monitoring well installation and sampling – Where chemicals may have impacted groundwater, a combination DPT/hollow-stem auger rig is typically mobilized to the site. In this instance, small diameter groundwater monitoring wells are advanced into the water table for sample collection. Wingfield Environmental has state licensed drillers for installation and abandonment of these type wells.
Soil gas and vapor sampling – At sites where vapor encroachment into a structure is possible, Wingfield Environmental conducts soil-gas testing for volatile organic compounds (VOCs) beneath building footers/slab to determine if occupants of the building are at risk of harmful chemical exposure.
Sample analysis and data validation – Wingfield Environmental ONLY USES the top, most qualified, accredited laboratories to perform analyses on samples via US EPA Methods having stringent QA/QC protocol. Thus, you can be sure your data are reliable and defensible.
Interpretation and recommendations – At the conclusion of the Phase II ESA, Wingfield Environmental will provide you with a report of all findings, potential liabilities, and recommended actions.

How the process works

Develop a work plan

We design a sampling plan based on Phase I findings and site objectives.

Fieldwork and analysis

Our team collects samples, coordinates laboratory testing, and reviews results for accuracy.

Reporting and next steps

You receive a comprehensive report outlining results, regulatory context, and practical recommendations.

What You Receive

A signed Phase II ESA report with details such as maps to show sampling locations, site photos of important features, boring logs where applicable to show soil conditions, and laboratory results.
Data tables comparing detected concentrations of chemicals to established state and/or federal screening levels.
Clear summary/conclusion of findings with recommendations.
A follow-up phone call to discuss the findings, the implications of the findings, and the recommended next steps. This is to make 100% sure that the client understands the possible liabilities (if anything was detected) prior to purchase or lending on the property.

Why Choose Us?

You get seasoned Environmental Professionals, responsive scheduling, and reports that hold up under review. Our job is to reduce uncertainty and help you decide what to do next—nothing more complicated than that.