Desktop Environmental Review

Desktop reviews are a cost-effective, limited-scope alternative alternative to Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESA). These are often are conducted preliminarily to extensive due diligence and can be used to narrow candidates for purchase or for large portfolios.

Desktop reviews include a evaluation of an environmental database report, publicly available records (although no Freedom of Information Act request is made), and some historical documents. As the name suggests, these reviews do not include a visit to the property, nor interviews of knowledgeable personnel. Due to these limitations, desktop reviews do not meet the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) requirements for All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) and; therefore, do not offer the same landowner liability protections as a Phase I ESA.

Desktop reviews also do not account for other Business Environmental Risks (BER) like a Phase I ESA would. Risks such as asbestos-containing materials, lead-based paints, mold, and wetlands are not considered and may have an impact on the purchase or redevelopment of a property.

Whether you're a buyer, seller, lender, or developer, a desktop review is a smart investment to reduce risk, support informed decision-making, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.