Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) or NEPA Environmental Assessment (EA): What Is The Difference and Which Do You Need?

An environmental site assessment (ESA) is a report that identifies potential or existing hazardous contaminants of a property to determine environmental liability and minimize risk. All ESAs are not the same, and there are different types of environmental site assessments that will be required depending on the project and land being purchased and/or developed.

This presentation will discuss the methodology needed to determine if a Phase I ESA or an Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) will be needed for a project, and will outline the components of a Phase I vs. NEPA EA. It is imperative that environmental consultants on a project understand environmental review and know when a Phase I or NEPA EA is required.

A Phase I ESA only addresses the requirements of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as Superfund, and does not meet the specifications of a NEPA EA.

A NEPA EA is a comprehensive survey that determines whether to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS), and aids federal agency compliance when an EIS is unnecessary. A NEPA EA analyzes an expansive framework including climate, biodiversity, air quality, environmental justice, water, public health and safety, and hazardous substances.

Knowing the laws surrounding environmental site assessments and determining what type of assessment is required will ensure environmental due diligence, and protect both environmental health and public safety.