Assessment

Environmental Due Diligence

Environmental due diligence is the process of assessing real estate for potential risk of environmental contamination, such as soil or groundwater contamination. The first step is typically a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment which is completed to protect the real estate property buyer (and lending institution) and is one of the requirements to qualify for innocent landowner, contiguous property owner, or bona fide prospective purchaser liability protections. Alliance’s goal is to educate the buyer and seller on the importance of environmental due diligence and understanding the environmental liabilities prior to a sale.

Phase I Environmental Site Assessments/Transaction Screens

At Alliance, Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) reports are prepared in accordance with the American Society for Testing and Materials Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments (ASTM Practice E 1527-13/1527-21).

An Alliance Phase I ESA is comprised of the following tasks: Information Review and Onsite Inspection and Reporting. Alliance also focuses our delivery to the client on the evaluation of potential environmental liability associated with the property transaction.

Phase II Site Investigations

When a Phase I ESA identifies a recognized environmental condition or the potential for contamination, most clients request to test for possible contamination by performing a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment or Site Investigation (SI). This environmental testing can include a soil investigation, water quality testing, groundwater investigation, surface water investigation, soil vapor and/or air monitoring. At this stage in a project our goal is to establish the presence/absence of perceived contamination.

Environmental Site Monitoring and Sampling Programs

One of our key services includes the operation and maintenance of existing remedial and process systems. Alliance's experienced supervisors and field technicians have successfully maintained and operated the following types of remedial systems:

  • Air Sparging / Soil Vapor Extraction
  • Dual Phase Extraction
  • Bio Cells
  • Bio-Piles
  • Pump and Treat
  • Mobile Equipment (pilot testing, ozone injection)
  • Combinations of the above

Our staff will understand your remediation system and make sure it performs at optimum efficiency, provide collection and analysis of environmental samples and prevent and correct mechanical failures. We offer all of this at a cost that is significantly lower than our competitors. Utilizing Alliance for your operation and maintenance will:

  • Lower your project costs
  • Assure accurate data collection
  • Lower your data processing costs
  • Provide a field service partner

Full Environmental Site Characterization

Whether you are remediating a hazardous waste site, an underground storage tank site or you are managing hazardous chemicals, Site Investigation and Characterization is the first step in determining how to reduce your overall expenditures. Alliance helps you to understand the type and extent of contamination, how it relates to the geology of the site, the risks associated with contamination and the feasibility of available cleanup technology.

Our Site Characterization/Investigation professionals are trained with a single mindset: collect the data that will allow for the most efficient and cost-effective route to site regulatory closure. Alliance understands that environmental site assessment is a means to the end of Site Remediation and Design. Our site assessment programs are tailored to each individual state’s programs. Alliance has professionals that are well-trained and well-equipped to perform all types of environmental site assessments and environmental investigations.

Asbestos Containing Material Assessments

Alliance can address every aspect of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) assessment and management, from building surveys to the design of an abatement program, to ongoing abatement monitoring and operation and maintenance (O&M) plans.

Alliance staff include licensed AHERA Inspectors for Inspecting Buildings for Asbestos-Containing Materials (ACMs)for demolition/renovation projects and/or basic awareness; AHERA Management Planners for Managing Asbestos in Buildings; AHERA Project Designer for designing abatement projects; and AHERA Project Monitors for monitoring abatement projects and completing final clearance inspections.

Lead Based Paint Assessments

Alliance is experienced in performing Lead Based Paint Surveys in accordance with prevailing federal and state regulations. The lead based paint survey includes a surface by surface inspection of painted building surfaces on or in a building utilizing an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) meter. Paint chip samples may additionally be collected from areas where peeling and flaking paint is noted. The samples are sent for analysis to an independent accredited laboratory.

Upon completion of the sampling and field testing, a brief summary report of findings and analytical data is generated for the client. The summary report includes a description of the areas inspected and a photo log of sample locations.

Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB)

Alliance has considerable experience in identifying, assessing, and remediating PCB contamination, including litigation support and expert testimony on large multimillion-dollar settlement cases in the northeast. Alliance affirms that the environmental field personnel that conduct the soil, sediment, groundwater and/or surface water sampling are experienced in sampling, testing and monitoring for the extremely low detection limits required. All Alliance field personnel hold current certificates that demonstrate their training and management of hazardous waste operations in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.120.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Alliance’s experience includes the characterization of sites where the emerging contaminants per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) are a concern. PFAS are a group of widely used, long lasting, highly toxic, man-made compounds that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and many other chemicals used in a variety of industries since the 1940s, leading to widespread contamination of groundwater in areas PFAS compounds were used or manufactured. PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they break down very slowly over time and are found in water, air, fish, and soil at locations across the world. PFAS have come under increased scrutiny from regulatory agencies (including the EPA) in recent years as emerging contaminants of concern because studies have shown a probable link between exposure to some PFAS in the environment with harmful health effects in humans and animals.

Sampling to determine PFAS concentrations in water, soil and other media is similar to that for other chemical compounds, but with several additional specific concerns and protocols. Considering the pervasive nature of PFAS and the low concentration for screening levels, all aspects of sampling and analysis protocol for PFAS require a heightened level of attention to avoid cross-contamination and achieve the level of accuracy required to support project decisions. This includes selection of proper equipment, documentation of protocols for sample handling and decontamination procedures, use of non-biasing material that could come into contact with the sample, and execution of quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) protocols. Alliance’s professionals have developed Sampling and Analysis Plans to document field investigation activities and analytical sampling requirements that have been utilized for PFAS sampling projects in multiple states in the mid-Atlantic Region.