When it comes to building a new home or a new business, even the smallest things matter the most, including the land’s details. If overlooked, you may end up building your dream on a land that might swallow your dreams forever. Your limited idea of the property can result in financial ruin. Hence, getting an Environmental site assessment (ESA) done is crucial. A relevant phase 1 ESA can help uncover potential liabilities that are a result of environmental hazards or some other threats hiding below the surface of the land you wish to purchase. An on-time environmental site assessment can prevent you from any future headaches as it helps in lifting much of the heavyweight. A reliable team of ESA experts can undertake steps including – 1- Onsite visitation During the initial phase of this preliminary site investigation, an ESA inspector will visit your property. He will check for any signs of environmental hazards, both man-made and natural, along with a complete visual inspection of the site. The ESA inspector will look for potential indicators of the problem, including – The presence of industrial/mining activity on the land. Waste materials, chemicals, tailings, etc., can be dangerous and result in expensive cleanups. Was the property used as a service shop, fueling station or machine shop that handled petrochemicals? Not only is petroleum challenging to remove from the soil and groundwater, but also it is carcinogenic and can impact the living species in the areas. Plus, remediating petroleum is quite expensive, too. Was the property utilized as a garbage dump – legally or illegally? Irrespective, the surface beneath might have untreated waste. And you certainly don’t want to be liable for it. Are the structures on the land safe? Is the property a ghost town? If yes, is it due to heavy metal or asbestos? Either of the situation could be expensive to deal with 2- Check the records The ESA inspector will then check the local records to determine what the land was being used for. Permits can help you dig deeper. It is for the buyer’s benefit that most of such records are kept public. 3- Conduct an in-depth analysis A reliable ESA inspector will also interview the past owner of the land, residents or employees to be extra sure that nothing is missed out. Sellers typically paint a better picture of the property. However, City Hall records can help unveil the truth, as well as an expert ESA at your aid. To be concluded Once your land successfully passes through this preliminary site investigation, it may not even require phase 2 ESA, thereby allowing you to proceed with the sale of your property or build your home or commercial space. If you need more guidance on phase 1 and 2 ESA from the experts, then NEXT Environmental is the website you need to check out! Shane Aston is the author of this article. To know more about Contaminated Sites Report please visit our website: nextenvironmental.com