Unexpected contamination can make this prerequisite expensive. For example, a Phase I ESA in Colorado can cost $1,000–$3,000, while a Phase II ESA in the same state can cost $10,000 and up. If the Phase II ESA finds that your site is contaminated, you are required to remediate the site to local, state or federal standards, whichever is most stringent. Though dependent on the extent and type of contamination, remediation has the potential to be very costly and time-consuming.
A low-cost way to achieve this prerequisite is to purchase a site that has already passed a Phase I ESA, or to have an ESA included in the due diligence before purchase.
Before purchasing a site, have an environmental professional conduct a Phase I ESA as part of the feasibility study, and ask for an executive summary verifying that, based on the results, the site is not contaminated. (See the Documentation Toolkit for an example.)
Select a site that is unlikely to have a history of contamination, such as from a landfill, gas station, industrial facility, or a site storing fuel or toxic chemicals. See the Prelminary ESA Checklist in the Bird’s Eye View tab.
