Buyers, lenders and developers

Which property are you buying or financing?

Estimate a Phase I environmental site assessment's cost and timing, then fill in the ASTM E1527-21 user questionnaire your consultant needs. Free to read.

Free to read
No sign-up until the draft
Every fact cites its source

ePlan fills in

Parcel size
Current and past use
Regulated facilities nearby
Historical aerial photos
Flood zone

How it works

ASTM E1527-21 user questionnaire, from one answer

Enter the propertyOne answer starts the project. ePlan names it and looks up the place.
Answer three questions3 more questions, each with a "not sure yet" way out.
See the cost; read the questionnaire freeThe draft marks what to check (amber), what to pick (blue) and what to fill in (violet).

What you get

ASTM E1527-21 user questionnaire and 2 more documents

The first draft is free to read. Each document after it is drafted from the same confirmed facts.

The first draft

ASTM E1527-21 user questionnaire

Environmental cleanup liens (40 CFR 312.25)
Activity and use limitations
Specialized knowledge or experience (312.28)
Purchase price compared with fair market value (312.29)
Commonly known or reasonably ascertainable information (312.30)
Obvious indicators of contamination

Modeled on: ASTM E1527-21, Appendix X3

Next · 2

Phase I cost and timing estimate

Site size and use
Records and aerials needed
Travel
Rush timing before closing
Published price ranges

Next · 3

Request for proposals to EP firms

Property and parcel
Scope: ASTM E1527-21 and 40 CFR 312
Deadline before closing
Who will rely on the report

From public data

What ePlan fills in, and from where

Regulated facilities nearbyEPA ECHO
Historical aerial photosUSGS EarthExplorer
Flood zoneFEMA Flood Map Service Center
WetlandsUSFWS National Wetlands Inventory

180 days

Interviews, lien search, records review, site visit and the EP's declaration must be done within 180 days before you acquire the property.
Source: 40 CFR 312.20

Questions

Phase 1 ESA cost calculator: what people ask

How much does a Phase I ESA cost?

Ohio EPA says a typical ASTM Phase I usually costs between $2,000 and $6,000. Larger sites, industrial history and rush deadlines push it higher.

Source: dam.assets.ohio.gov

What range should a small buyer budget?

Oklahoma's brownfields program tells buyers to budget between $1,500 and $12,000, depending on property size and whether they also order subsurface surveys.

Source: aem-prod.oklahoma.gov

How recent must the Phase I be?

All appropriate inquiries must be done within one year before you acquire the property, and the interviews, lien search, government records review, site visit and the environmental professional's declaration within 180 days.

Source: ecfr.gov

Which ASTM standard counts?

EPA recognizes ASTM E1527-21 for all appropriate inquiries, and E2247-23 for forestland or rural property. The older E1527-13 could be used only until February 13, 2024.

Source: ecfr.gov

What does the buyer have to provide?

The user, not just the consultant, must search for environmental cleanup liens and share specialized knowledge, whether the price is low because of contamination, and commonly known information about the site. The ASTM user questionnaire collects these.

Source: ecfr.gov