Building and Development

Phase I Environmental Site Assessments

Phase I ESAs are completed to satisfy the requirements of the Innocent Landowner Defense to liability imposed by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and are generally completed for businesses which are involved in the sale, purchase or lease of industrial, commercial and agricultural properties. Phase I ESAs often also are required by lenders in order to assure that properties do not possess environmental conditions that could diminish the value of the property, the ability of the borrower to repay, or to establish baselines to allocate responsibility for clean-up costs.

ENW has extensive experience performing Phase I ESAs at a wide range of properties including residential, commercial, agricultural, industrial, and vacant sites. ENW has worked on properties ranging in size from small, single tax lots in urban settings to vast swathes of forestland encompassing over 90,000 acres. ENW has performed Phase I ESAs all throughout the West in states including Oregon, Washington, California, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, New Mexico, and Colorado. We have also been called upon to perform Phase I ESAs across the country, including properties in Ohio, South Carolina, and Tennessee. As well as performing all Phase I ESA’s in accordance with the latest ASTM E 1527 Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process, ENW has experience in completing reports that are in compliance with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Small Business Administration, and US Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development requirements.

Phase II Environmental Site Assessments

ENW has performed Phase II ESAs at hundreds of residential, commercial, and industrial properties for numerous public and private entities in response to property acquisitions or refinancing, property redevelopment, decommissioning tanks or other facilities, characterization of releases of hazardous or toxic substances, release- or spill-induced emergencies, and agricultural sites (orchards and seed farms). ENW has investigated easements, alignments, and crossings, e.g., below-ground power line easement, proposed sewer line easement, new road alignment for bridge reconstruction, wetlands easement, and coastal stream crossings and hydrology for fish passage. While ENW has not worked directly on sediment investigations in support of 404d Permitting Services for dredging services, ENW has worked on reviewing such investigations and in evaluation of data generated during those investigations and on several projects where 404d permitting was required (stream restoration, wetland, etc.).

Environmental Sampling/Monitoring is a key focus of ENW. Sampling and monitoring services conducted by ENW includes, but is not limited to, soil, ground water, sediment, soil gas, sub-slab vapors, indoor and outdoor ambient air, industrial air discharges, remediation system air and water discharges, storm water, hazardous materials, mold and radon at residential, school/office, commercial, industrial, and agricultural sites throughout the northwest. ENW is experienced and adept using the full spectrum of sampling methodologies. While conducting environmental sampling and monitoring, ENW strives to provide high quality field services and project management to ensure timely monitoring of longer-term projects. QA/QC protocols are incorporated into ENW's field services to ensure data generated is valid for its intended purpose.

Types of investigations frequently performed or overseen by ENW’s professional staff include:

  • Geophysical surveys

  • Focused Site Investigations

  • Focused Surface Soil Investigations

    • Soil sampling using discrete, composites, and incremental sampling methodology

    • Surface water assessments

    • Reconnaissance ground water sampling and analysis

    • Monitoring well installation, development, purging, monitoring and sampling

    • Vapor Intrusion Investigations, including soil gas and sub-slab vapor sampling

    • UST assessments

    • Brownfield investigations

    • Superfund investigations

  • Hazardous Materials Surveys

    ENW is very experienced in the performance of Hazardous Materials Surveys, which include assessing buildings for asbestos, lead-based paint, mercury and PCBs. Prior to demolition or renovation of structures, regulatory agencies advise the testing of building materials to ensure the safety of workers and occupants, as well as proper waste disposal. Our certified professionals meet the needs of any project, whether it is surveying for isolated renovations or comprehensive building square footage demolition. ENW is also equipped to perform HUD lead-based paint surveys for multi-family residential facilities, as well as lead-based paint risk assessments. We are accomplished in creating Operations and Maintenance Plans, should hazardous materials remain or presume to remain on the property. ENW works with accredited laboratories and abatement contractors to expedite the goals of our clients, while providing outstanding quality throughout the initial and finalized processes.

  • Radon Assessments

    ENW has performed a multitude of radon assessments throughout several states including Oregon, Washington, California, Montana and Idaho, and is proficient in short-term and long-term testing protocols, as well as confirmation testing of mitigation systems. Our team executes skillful methods of the desired protocols, under the supervision of licensed project managers. ENW also performs the installation of both active and passive mitigation for buildings with elevated radon concentrations, and can conduct routine maintenance, assuring the consistent success of radon mitigation. We also provide Radon Resistant Construction Methods to assist in the goals of creating healthy indoor air environments of building occupants.

  • Indoor Air Quality

    ENW can be a valuable consulting resource by providing solutions to help eliminate and improve indoor air quality problems. ENW provides a wide range of services to address indoor air quality problems, including testing, mitigation, renovation, and demolition, as either independent project supervision or as a turnkey solution.

ENW offers the assessment and remediation of:

  • Mold

  • Mildew

  • Vapor Intrusion

  • Property Conditions Assessments

    ENW works with licensed architects and engineers to perform property conditions assessments at properties including commercial office spaces, retail spaces, multi-family residential complexes, and retirement homes.

  • Institutional and Engineering Controls

    • Risk-Based

    • CMMP

    • Soil Cap