5 Pending Revisions to the ASTM Phase I Standard

The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) is revising the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Standard (ASTM E1527).  This is the standard which  guides the scope of Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (commonly called a 21E report in Massachusetts).  The Phase I standard defines Recognized Environmental Condition.  Determining whether a Recognized Environmental Condition is present at a property is the objective of a Phase I.

Proposed changes to the Phase I standard include:

1. Revisions to the definition of Recognized Environmental Condition and Historic Recognized Environmental Condition.
2. Addition of a new term – Controlled Recognized Environmental Condition.
3. Clarification that vapor migration is included in the Phase I ESA standard (with reference to ASTM E2600-10; Standard Guide for Vapor Encroachment Screening).
4. A new subsection specifically for regulatory file reviews.
5. Revisions to the User Responsibilities section, particularly with respect to surrounding environmental lien search requirements.

The revised standard will be called ASTM E1527-13 and will likely be published in spring 2013.