Assessment Program
What's a Brownfield Assessment?
When a community has questions about whether a property is environmentally contaminated, a site assessment is needed. An assessment helps a community understand environmental conditions on the property and whether those conditions could be harmful to residents and workers.
Funding is available to conduct Phase I and II ESAs at sites throughout Niagara County. Sites can be can be publicly or privately owned and written site access is required prior to initiating a site assessment. Sites must meet EPA's eligibility requirements and the property owner can not be considered responsible for site contamination.
Assessments are completed using grant funds at no charge to the property owner. Niagara County handles hiring and managing the environmental consultants.
I
Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
The Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) uses existing information to help a community understand the property conditions by examining current and historical uses of the site and potential threats to human health or the environment.
Environmental assessments must be completed by an environmental professional. Below are the four major steps in a Phase I ESA.
Phase I:
Review current & previous land uses
Examine ownership & environmental records related to hazards substances
Visually inspect the site
Interview neighbors, owners, & past workers
II
Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA)
The Phase II Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) is recommended if the Phase I ESA reveals known or potential contamination found on the property, called recognized environmental conditions (RECs). An environmental professional develops a sampling plan to evaluate the potential presence of contamination from hazardous substances and petroleum on the property and determines the sources and exposures. .
Phase II:
Identify chemicals of concern
Sample & test soil, groundwater & other media
Further investigate areas of concern