Environmental Due Diligence

How the assessment works, step by step:

ESA Phase I is the initial, non-intrusive stage. We review available historical records and public sources related to the site, conduct a site walkover, and contact the relevant parties (owners, operators, authorities) to reconstruct the site's history as far back as possible. No physical sampling occurs at this stage; the objective is to identify potential sources of contamination at the site and in its hydrogeologically and hydraulically connected surroundings, assess their extent in time and space, and flag any “areas of concern” that require closer investigation.

ESA Phase II follows only where Phase I identifies such an area of concern. It comprises a contamination survey of the site based on in situ sampling of the individual matters (soil, groundwater, ground air, building structures, surface water, river sediments), subsequent laboratory analysis at accredited laboratories, and final interpretation of the results and of the corrective measures arising from them. The survey provides a comprehensive picture of the site's actual condition and a clear assessment of whether contamination is severe enough to require corrective measures (e.g., a supplementary investigation, health and environmental risk assessment, or remediation).

Supplementary surveys as part of a comprehensive package:

Because we carry out EDD primarily for investors and developers, we offer it together with other surveys relevant to the specific transaction or development:

• Engineering geological (geotechnical) survey – assesses the geotechnical, geomechanical and geochemical characteristics of the subsoil and groundwater that are relevant to subsequent design work
• Hydrogeological survey – assesses primarily whether the geological conditions of the site are suitable for stormwater management and determines the yield of the local aquifer(s) for possible abstraction
• Asbestos survey – establishes the presence and current condition of asbestos-containing materials in existing structures
• Unexploded ordnance (UXO) survey – assesses the risk of unexploded ordnance in the subsoil, which is particularly relevant for sites with a history of military use or sites affected by bombing during World War II
• Corrosion survey (stray currents) – assesses the risk of corrosion of underground metal structures caused by stray electric currents generated by electrified linear infrastructure operating in the surrounding area

Environmental Due Diligence is particularly suited to:

• Investors and developers acquiring land or property
• Owners who need to know the true value of an asset, including its environmental and technical risks
• Sites where the history and the potential sources of contamination need to be mapped
• Situations where the risk of taking on environmental burdens from previous owners has to be limited or factored in
• Sites where ESA Phase I has already identified an area of concern requiring detailed investigation
• Projects that require other relevant site surveys in addition to EDD

Key benefits:

• Identification of the environmental risks of an asset before acquisition
• A detailed overview of the site’s liabilities and of any corrective measures imposed
• A clearer picture of the true value of the asset assessed
• Substantially reduced risk of taking on environmental liabilities from previous owners
• A report prepared in accordance with ASTM standards that can subsequently be used in any legal proceedings

A complete EDD provides the investor with a single, consolidated report of the site's environmental and technical conditions, allowing environmental and technical risks to be properly reflected in the acquisition decision.