Property Transactions

EKI provides assistance to our clients throughout the property transaction process with a goal of helping our clients make informed decisions by conducting thorough due diligence. Identifying environmental challenges early on can serve to mitigate potentially costly environmental risk and liability later.

EKI conducts Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) as part of due diligence for property transactions and planned redevelopment projects, serving a wide range of clients. Clients include corporations that intend to buy or just lease, municipalities, national and local developers of commercial and residential properties, and non-profit housing and open space preservation organizations. EKI assists property sellers, buyers, and redevelopers. EKI helps clients understand their options and costs for resolving environmental challenges to achieve their ultimate objectives.  

These assessments range from formal Phase I ESAs performed in accordance with the industry standard (ASTM E1527-21), to assessments meeting specific State-mandated standards, and fast-tracked preliminary desktop reviews and consultation, depending on the clients’ needs, deadlines, and objectives. EKI’s Phase I ESAs are performed by senior-level staff who are experienced in assessing properties of varied use histories, from former agricultural properties to properties with heavy industrial uses.

Given that many transactions have short due diligence periods, EKI’s staff stays in constant communication with our clients. Staff immediately communicate potential environmental concerns that arise and their significance and identify options to support our clients’ objectives in the transaction process. If contamination is known or suspected, EKI advises on options and costs related to investigation, remediation, and/or mitigation, and timing to achieve resolution of issues. EKI works with our clients’ environmental legal counsel on an as-needed basis.

EKI’s Phase I ESAs are a value-added professional service to a client seeking to avoid environmental liability.